RBM Communications Assessment

1. RBM Communications Assessment Challenges and Opportunities in Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda

2. Evaluation purposeMethodologyChallengesOpportunitiesCommunity preferencesCommunication strategy - best practiceKey considerationsNext steps

3. Evaluation Purpose • Institutional capacity • Evaluation status • Impact • Strategic fit to RBM objectives • Gaps and opportunities • Donor support • Regional strategies and activities • Participatory capacity • Role and impact of health information

4. Methodology • Rapid appraisal - ten days in each country • Semi-structured interviews • Stakeholder workshops • Focus group discussions • Secondary source review materials

5. Challenges 1 • Limited understanding and knowledge of development communications • Absence of or basic malaria communication strategies • Poor visibility of National Malaria Control Programmes • Lack of regional coordination and information sharing

6. Challenges 2 • Limited coordination and implementation capacity at sub-district level and below • MoH departments responsible for health education have limited capacity • Limited communications research and monitoring • Lack of involvement of communities in defining needs and priorities

7. Challenges 3 • Health communications monitoring and evaluation protocols not in place • Poor planning and development of messages • Continuum approaches to practice change not applied to communications programmes • Limited strategies to meet the needs of very poor and marginalised groups

8. Opportunities 1 • Commitment from partners to develop and implement communication strategies • Community health volunteer structures in place • Radio infrastructures provide national coverage • Evidence of positive development and participation practice

9. Opportunities 2 • Moderate capacity of private sector marketing organisations • New and significant investment into the marketing and distribution of bed nets

10. Community preferences • Local languages • ‘People like us factor’ • Accurate information • Localized channels of communication • Integrated approaches • Causal relationships and continuum practice • Relevant, affordable and practical

11. Communication Strategy - Best Practice • Understanding the problems • Building partnerships • Strengths and weaknesses • Building capacity • Design considerations • Strategic Framework • Designing messages and dialogues

12. Key considerations • How do we make RBM more visible? • How do we strengthen the in-country partnerships? • What are the needs and roles of communities, partners and technical support? • How might WHO fulfill a broader advocacy role beyond the scope of RBM communications?

13. Next Steps 1 • National level workshops are held to validate assessment findings and prioritize needs • Strategies developed at RBM Geneva, Regional RBM networks and at national level • Potential partners are identified

14. Next Steps 1 • Process and outcome indicators are developed as part of a monitoring and evaluation framework • Additional research is carried out into community information needs in-country • Guidelines on carrying out communications assessment are developed