Risk Communication and Community Engagement Success Stories

"In a public health emergency, it is important to consider the needs of vulnerable groups who may face barriers to information, services and support in ways that most of the population does not."



This series of success stories shares some of the social and behaviour change (SBC) activities implemented under Breakthrough ACTION's Global Health Security (GHS) programme, which seeks to enhance risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) capabilities for handling priority zoonotic diseases (PZDs) and emerging issues in 17 countries.



Operating with a multi-sectoral One Health approach, the GHS project works to strengthen local RCCE capacities as measured by tools such as the World Health Organization's Joint External Evaluation (JEE) tools and international health regulation benchmarks. Activities address various diseases like Lassa fever, rabies, and anthrax, alongside emerging concerns such as antimicrobial resistance. These efforts, supported by diverse partners, build on previous work and integrate lessons from COVID-19 and PZD responses to fortify preparedness and communication capacities. As Breakthrough ACTION explains, in 2023, GHS programming reached over 80 million individuals through various media channels and community engagements, produced numerous materials, and provided extensive training and coordination activities across sectors to bolster preparedness and response mechanisms.



The following success stories or case studies explain how some of these activities were implemented and in some instances highlight challenges and lessons learned from project implementation:  



Advancing Infodemic Management in Côte d'Ivoire: An Overview of the National Rumor Management System [PDF, 3 pages]: This success story outlines the development and implementation of a rumour management system in Côte d'Ivoire designed to combat misinformation during public health emergencies. Breakthrough ACTION and the government of Côte d'Ivoire began working on the rumour management system in 2019, which was repurposed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rumour management system involves a network of community key informants, hotline operators, and social listening tools to track and respond to rumours in real time. Over the years, the rumour management system has collected and analysed thousands of rumours, providing insights for public health messaging and interventions. Lessons learned include the importance of community engagement, diverse data sources, and a systems-building approach. The rumour management system continues to evolve, serving as a national resource for managing public perceptions during health crises beyond COVID-19.



Building Innovative Partnerships for Disability-Inclusive Risk Communication and Community Engagement in Mali [PDF, 2 pages]: In Mali, Breakthrough ACTION recognised the need to ensure inclusivity in RCCE during public health crises, particularly for people with disabilities. This success story describes how the project partnered with the Malian Federation of People Living with Disabilities to develop tailored communication materials, including videos with sign language and braille for frequently asked questions (FAQs) about vaccines to address the unique needs of this vulnerable group. Training sessions for federation members empowered them to raise awareness about PZDs and COVID-19 prevention and vaccination within their communities. This collaborative effort provided information to previously marginalised groups, contributed to reducing exclusion, and helped uphold the rights of people with disabilities. According to Breakthrough ACTION, this partnership signifies a significant step towards enhancing disability inclusivity in RCCE efforts in Mali.



Community Workers in Ethiopia Help Save Lives Thanks to One Health Risk Communication Training [PDF, 3 pages]: This success story outlines how community workers play a crucial role in safeguarding public health in Ethiopia. The story explains how an animal health worker and a health extension worker received specialised training in risk communication organised by Breakthrough ACTION. After the training, they conducted orientations for various community stakeholders, educating them on zoonotic disease prevention and control strategies. Through collaborative efforts, they facilitated discussions to address root causes hindering behaviour change, such as poverty and access to healthcare services. Their efforts culminated in community decisions to avoid consuming meat from dead or sick animals, leading to a significant reduction in anthrax cases. When a village reported an anthrax case, the community health workers also coordinated with local authorities to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. The story highlights the significance of community-driven solutions and the transformative potential of the One Health framework in promoting holistic health outcomes.



Hidden Gems: How Outcome Harvesting Revealed Breakthrough ACTION's Impact in Guinea [PDF, 4 pages]: This success story highlights Breakthrough ACTION's impact on SBC in the context of zoonotic disease prevention and response in Guinea. Since 2019, the project has worked with key stakeholders such as the Government of Guinea and the Ministry of Health to build capacity and develop national-level strategies for unified action against PZDs. However, measuring the impact of such a multifaceted project posed a unique challenge due to the complexity and dynamic nature of activities. To overcome this challenge, Breakthrough ACTION employed a flexible and adaptive monitoring and evaluation approach known as outcome harvesting. By retrospectively identifying and verifying changes influenced by the intervention, Breakthrough ACTION captured the intended and unintended outcomes of project activities. Interviews with stakeholders demonstrated tangible successes, such as transforming community messaging approaches, enhancing journalist capabilities, and significantly increasing vaccine coverage through community dialogues.



In Ethiopia, Digital Solutions Facilitate Communication Among One Health Partners [PDF, 3 pages]: In Ethiopia, the challenge of addressing zoonotic diseases is being met with digital solutions that facilitate communication among various stakeholders in the health sector. Recognising the significance of real-time information exchange and collaboration, Ethiopia established the National One Health Steering Committee (NOHSC) in 2017, bringing together entities such as the Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Forest and Climate Change Commission, and the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. The primary aim of NOHSC is to enhance multi-sectoral communication and coordination. This success story describes how the committee collaborated with Breakthrough ACTION to develop digital communication platforms to support this initiative. The platforms include the One Health Ethiopia website, which serves as a repository for national One Health information, and Telegram groups at the national and subnational levels that enable real-time sharing of updates, guidelines, and resources related to PZDs.



In Liberia, Collaborative Groups - and New Message Guide - Emerge from Training Sessions [PDF, 3 pages]: This success story describes how a partnership between Breakthrough ACTION and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) spearheaded an initiative to strengthen Liberia's One Health platform. Recognising the need for improved RCCE, stakeholders participated in training sessions facilitated by a new technical working group. Through this collaborative effort, Liberia developed a One Health Message Guide for Priority Zoonotic Diseases. This success story describes how Breakthrough ACTION and FAO addressed gaps in risk communication and laid the groundwork for sustained resilience in the face of future challenges by fostering transparency, ownership, and multi-sectoral engagement.



"Stopping Dog Bites" Campaign Changes Behaviors Around Rabies Prevention in Sierra Leone [PDF, 5 pages]: This success story details how the "Stopping Dog Bites" campaign, led by Breakthrough ACTION in partnership with the government of Sierra Leone, tackled the issues of dog bites and rabies in the country. Addressing challenges such as irresponsible ownership and misconceptions about rabies, the campaign employed a comprehensive approach integrating advocacy, community engagement, and mass media strategies. By leveraging the One Health framework, the campaign reached an estimated 2.5 million people through radio programmes, print materials, community mobilisation efforts led by Red Cross volunteers, and social media initiatives. Baseline and endline assessments demonstrated a significant increase in awareness and knowledge of rabies risks and prevention among exposed audience members, alongside tangible actions taken by community leaders to enforce proper dog care. The campaign's success underscored the importance of tailored messaging, media diversity, community ownership, and cross-sector collaboration in achieving sustained impact in public health interventions.

In Ethiopia, Digital Solutions Facilitate Communication Among One Health Partners [PDF, 3 pages]: In Ethiopia, the challenge of addressing zoonotic diseases is being met with digital solutions that facilitate communication among various stakeholders in the health sector. Recognising the significance of real-time information exchange and collaboration, Ethiopia established the National One Health Steering Committee (NOHSC) in 2017, bringing together entities such as the Ministry of Health, the Ethiopian Forest and Climate Change Commission, and the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority. The primary aim of NOHSC is to enhance multi-sectoral communication and coordination. This success story describes how the committee collaborated with Breakthrough ACTION to develop digital communication platforms to support this initiative. The platforms include the One Health Ethiopia website, which serves as a repository for national One Health information, and Telegram groups at the national and subnational levels that enable real-time sharing of updates, guidelines, and resources related to PZDs.



In Liberia, Collaborative Groups - and New Message Guide - Emerge from Training Sessions [PDF, 3 pages]: This success story describes how a partnership between Breakthrough ACTION and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) spearheaded an initiative to strengthen Liberia's One Health platform. Recognising the need for improved risk communication and community engagement, stakeholders participated in training sessions facilitated by a new technical working group. Through this collaborative effort, Liberia developed a One Health Message Guide for Priority Zoonotic Diseases. This success story describes how Breakthrough ACTION and FAO addressed gaps in risk communication and laid the groundwork for sustained resilience in the face of future challenges by fostering transparency, ownership, and multi-sectoral engagement.



"Stopping Dog Bites" Campaign Changes Behaviors Around Rabies Prevention in Sierra Leone [PDF, 5 pages]: This success story details how the "Stopping Dog Bites" campaign, led by Breakthrough ACTION in partnership with the government of Sierra Leone, tackled the issues of dog bites and rabies in the country. Addressing challenges such as irresponsible ownership and misconceptions about rabies, the campaign employed a comprehensive approach integrating advocacy, community engagement, and mass media strategies. By leveraging the One Health framework, the campaign reached an estimated 2.5 million people through radio programmes, print materials, community mobilisation efforts led by Red Cross volunteers, and social media initiatives. Baseline and endline assessments demonstrated a significant increase in awareness and knowledge of rabies risks and prevention among exposed audience members, alongside tangible actions taken by community leaders to enforce proper dog care. The campaign's success underscored the importance of tailored messaging, media diversity, community ownership, and cross-sector collaboration in achieving sustained impact in public health interventions.