WHAT ARE WE LEARNING ABOUT COVID 19 GENDER RESPONSE ?

James Achanyi-Fontem, CEO Cameroon Link

"Gender-responsive design, implementation and monitoring of humanitarian programmes rely heavily on consultations, community-based approaches and face-to-face interactions with women and men, who are severely impacted by COVID-19 containment measures.. As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 rises among the estimated 160,000 Nigerian and Central African Republic refugees residing in 6 overcrowded areas in the far north and east regions of Cameroon, makeshift camps in Kousseri and Garoua Boulai, humanitarian agencies must change the ways they deliver programmes in order to maintain physical distancing and adhere to strict hygiene protocols. By examining how these changes are impacting the ability to deliver gender-responsive and gender-sensitive programmes (GSP), Cameroon Link hopes in this report to inform humanitarian responders and enable them to consider strategies to mitigate any risks. Cameroon Link explains here that, since 2019, gender actors in Cox's Bazaar tents have been working to focus the humanitarian response to the specific needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups. They have, for example, promoted gender equality through gender mainstreaming and used advocacy and other approaches to support the empowerment of women and girls. However, with community engagement strategies needing adaptation to COVID-19 containment measures, and some key initiatives such as capacity-building around women's leadership being largely placed on hold, the concern is that gains achieved in the past year could be reversed. To understand the situation, Cameroon Link conducted 4 key informant interviews from June 15-20, 2020 with gender and protection experts working across the humanitarian sectors in the Kousseri and Garoua Boulai refugee response. The researchers also examined publicly available secondary data. Kousseri perceptions included in the report were collected by the International Organization for Migration (IOM)'s Communicating with Communities (CwC) team, which includes camlink field researchers, through a weekly awareness and data collection exercise guided by COVID-19 analytical framework.

The analysis identified risks such as: • Given the rapid pace of the COVID-19 response, GSP may not be prioritised because it is not considered life-saving, and protection issues may be overlooked during a time where protection needs are actually increasing - creating further discrimination, exploitation, and unequal access to services. • Limited access of gender and protection staff to the field due to COVID-19 restrictions entails risk that the response will be unable to quickly identify and respond to urgent gender and protection needs going forward. • In addition to facing increased insecurity in the camps, camlink female volunteers report being stigmatised and harassed due to their association with international humanitarian workers, who are perceived as vectors of the disease. Furthermore, socially restrictive norms limit the access of women and girls to public spheres; women who do not strictly adhere to these norms often experience backlash. The resultant reduced presence of female staff and volunteers could diminish humanitarians' ability to equally serve women and men. In the strict social-religious context of Kousseri and Garoua Boulai communities, it is not acceptable for women to substantially interact with men outside of their households, which is why the presence of female staff and volunteers is essential to delivering humanitarian assistance and services to women.

COVID-19 has disrupted face-to-face interactions in safe places such as women friendly spaces (WFS), which have been a key way to reach those in need of safe gender-based violence (GBV) - the rates of which are elevated during lockdown - and child protection case management and referrals. Movement and access restrictions limit the ability of case managers to interview survivors privately and confidentially, and experts report that women do not trust or feel comfortable using phones for such sensitive issues. • Poor mobile and internet connections have made it difficult to inform the population of changes to services and of COVID-19 developments, as well as to ensure they have access to humanitarian services. This is particularly the case for women (as well as children and the elderly), who are substantially less likely than men to have access to (and/or time to use) mobile communication. • Essential awareness messages not specific to COVID-19, such as on GBV, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and gender, often disseminated through distribution sites and service centres, may not be prioritised over public health messages. Moreover, public health messages are not always gender-responsive, resulting in information being either inaccessible to women and girls (in format and content) or not relevant to them. • Providing essential information and ensuring continuous engagement and consultation with the affected population is challenging in the COVID-19 context, especially for women, girls, and other vulnerable populations with less access to public space. Specifically, the voices of women and other marginalised groups are likely to be underrepresented when relying solely on the remote data collection methods that are necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, there are some potential benefits to emerge from this situation; for instance: • The increased role of volunteers in the response necessitated by restrictions on official humanitarian workers presents an opportunity to build on past efforts to empower refugee volunteers, especially women, to work within their own communities to identify problems, and solutions. Specifically, more than 20 volunteers across all 6 camps and adjacent Garoua Boulai communities in the east region are conducting awareness sessions and outreach to the most vulnerable to disseminate life-saving messages. Despite social and cultural challenges, Kousseri and Garoua Boulai women in particular have been self-mobilising, forming networks, and raising awareness on COVID-19 across all camps. • Major changes in distributions, particularly door-to-door modalities, have some positive impacts on gender-sensitive programming, including: reducing the need for vulnerable households, particularly female-headed households, to travel to distribution points and carry heavy items; ensuring that distributed goods (e.g., menstrual hygiene management kits) make it to households; and helping deliver life-saving messages door to door to those with less access to public spaces who would not normally receive such messages. • Some gender experts highlighted that, as their normal protection programmes have been put on hold due to the restrictions, they have been able to shift their attention to increasing capacity to strengthen gender and protection mainstreaming in essential assistance and services such as isolation and treatment centres. • Reportedly, funding for gender programming has not been negatively impacted in the short term by the COVID-19 pandemic

Central Africa COVID 19 Emergency Fund Project

CAMLINK FM Radio Network Report of Activities

By James Achanyi Fontem, camlinknews Role of Community Radio Stations in the Fight with Corona During lockdowns ordered as part of COVID-19 prevention, people are advised to remain at home. "Stay home and stay safe" is a very famous tagline in these days. During this period, people are using different ICTs [information and communication technologies] for giving and receiving information, and for education on many aspects. People are using YouTube, social media such as WhatsApp, https://camlinknews.blogspot.com, and many other sources on the internet. Community radio is a local and participatory medium of communication that provides information to the rural community in official and local languages. In Cameroon , half of the population lives in rural areas. The majority of people are poor in Cameroon. It is very difficult for them to access the internet. In this situation, community radio - a local and participatory type of radio - plays a very important role in disseminating information among the rural community. Rural people want valid and reliable information on Corona. During this time, community radio plays a very important role in broadcasting information on Corona. Presently, over 100 community radios are operational in Cameroon. They broadcast different programmes on different issues, including what protections to take to protect oneself from Corona, such as social distancing information.

Community radio programmes on Corona: 1. University community radio in Buea, Douala and Bamenda: These radio stations are broadcasting programmes like "Break the Fake News Chain" to make the community aware about Corona. 2. Thesecommunity radio stations are broadcasting programmes on health - with a special focus on mental health, ways to deal with alcohol withdrawal, spotlights on various initiatives by individuals and NGOs [non-governmental organisations] like Cameroon Link, appeals on understanding facts and the importance of fighting misinformation, and community testimonies. 3. Cameroon Link Community Radio FM Network is running a programme called "Block corona virus", where different stories from different groups are being used to convey messages related to coronavirus. They also broadcast a programme on importance of social distancing, hygiene andsanitattion, handwashing, etc. 4. Cameroon Link Community Radio FM Network is providing online information to the community, though this station is operated by minimum staff. This radio station shifted all programmes to digital mode. Listeners are to be encouraged to develop 5-minute audio and uploaded it to YouTube and Facebook. Authorities also taking follow-up measures on digital Platform. 5. Cameroon Link Community Radio FM Network : Operating in Grand Hangard – Bonaberi, Douala neighbourhood , broadcasts information received from the district health services, chief medical officers, and other government authorities, including entitlements of extended schemes. This station broadcasts the programme "7 on 7 get in", which features messages from an expert along with a thematic poem on frequent handwashing, access to healthcare services, physical distancing, importance of sports, and time for self-learning on a daily basis to spread positivity in people. We provide information on the coronavirus outbreak through discussions and folk songs. Some sessions are live and some are interactive. In the period of lockdown, visits to each and every village are not possible. In this case, community radio and information through the digital mode is very important to make the community aware of different issues. 6. Cameroon Link Community Radio FM Network broadcasts and share programmes on timings and locations of weekly markets, adhering to rules on safe distance, and the status of local ATMs in local languages like Douala, Nweh, Bameleki, Ewondo, Hausa and Pidgin English. This radio station works as a fact checker in the lockdown situation. The station is playing a very important role in educating people about the outbreak of COVID-19. 7. Cameroon Link Community Radio FM Network provides a voice to underprivileged groups of society, shares information about the pandemic. Thus, we can say that community radio plays a very important role in dissemination of need-based information among the rural community. As with all of the blogs posted on our website, the content above does not imply the endorsement of The CI or its Partners and is from the perspective of the writer and contributions from Farm Radio International Canada. COVID-19: Best Strategies - What Are We Learning?: Cameroon Link Community Radio FM Network, Lake site FM Kumba, Achenadia FM Radio Bomono, Rock Pilote FM Radio Sodiko an Farm Radio International Canada contributed to this work which we are sharing with you. In addition to the question asked above, Cameroon Link has more questions and wait for your responses to assist us in our work. Here are the questions:WHAT ARE WE LEARNING?

COVID-19 poses some serious challenges for all who use information and engagement strategies to pursue their goals. So, what are we learning about what works best? Some starter questions could include: Which strategies seem to work? Which new strategies do we need to adopt? Which present strategies do we need to adapt? What research is urgently required? What are the main challenges on which you would welcome suggestions and other input? What works for policy engagement on the overall country and global strategies that are being developed? Other learning? Whether you are working through community engagement, social change, entertainment-education, behavioural science and change, media development, freedom of expression, public interest media, social marketing, campaigns, message development, social media, social networks, social movement or any other strand of an information and engagement strategy ... ... please share what you are learning in support of the work of others. To contribute either click on https://camlinknews.blogspot.com access any article and enter your comment at the end of the article you read or youtube you listened to. You can also reply to these reports by email to camlink99@gmail.com Thanks for engaging to share your learning in support of the work of others - camlinknews We invite you to the Commonwealth of Learning The COVID-19 Communication and Community Engagement HUB - the Network for Shared Knowledge and Active Dialogue in Support of Effective COVID-19 Action You will have information on the following issues: Combating Rumours and Misinformation The Communication Initiative Please support and encourage people in your networks to join The Cameroon Link FM Radio network at this link – https://camlinknews.blogspot.com

The Communication Initiative of Cameroon Link

Message from James Achanyi Fontem

CEO, Cameroon Link Hi and huge support for your very important work which is crucial in the present environment.Many thanks to everyone who submitted and/or followed and reviewed the initial COVID-19 dialogue. The purpose of these dialogues is peer-to-peer support for your work. That initial COVID-19 dialogue asked this question: In your assessment, what are the three strategic and/or programming priorities for an effective response to COVID-19? This conversation and debate received over 100 sms and posts (to date). There have been 90,000 interactions through social media re-posts, full email opens, etc) Perhaps just complete the overall survey here with comments specific to COVID-19? Thank you!

FRI Canada Launches Central Africa COVID19 Emergency Fund

By James Achanyi Fontem, camlinknews

Accordinging to Mrs. Blythe McKay, Director of Broadcaster Resources at Farm Radio International, Ontario; Canada; in late May 2020, it was decided that FRI could offer a COVID19 Emergency Fund to broadcasting partners in Central Africa. The Global Affairs Canada COVID-19 Support For Radio Stations aims at assisting broadcasters to engage in prevention of the pandemic. It is likely that most applicants will be from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cameroon, although there may be some other applicants from other Central African countries (Congo-Brazzaville, Burundi, Rwanda), given that FRI Canada has broadcasting partners in these areas and are connected to these partners via email and WhatsApp. The application process Two separate application forms have been created based on the existing English and French application forms for other FRI countries. The fund and these application forms has been promoted primarily via WhatsApp, but also through email and reminder, beginning early June 2020. Applications are gathered into two spreadsheets (one English, one French) in the Element 4 > Emergency Fund Requests folder on the Gdrive. The review process The evaluation committee includes:

FRI representation: Kathryn Burnham & Hannah Tellier Finance representation: Abdoul Aziz Zonou Regional representation: Representatives from CORACON & Cameroon Link The FRI representatives check the spreadsheets regularly (minimum 3 times a week) and share any new applications with the rest of the committee who consider the merits of these applications. The FRI representative verifies that the applicants are existing broadcasting partners. The representatives from Cameroon Link & CORACON are helping to validate and verify these applications as well, by contacting the organizations to gather the following information: - Proof that the key contact works at the station, which is registered in its country - Verification of the stated needs in the application & ability to procure the equipement desired (if applicable) - Bank information for the organization and individual to transfer the funds. The selection process The evaluation committee meets at least twice, the first time in late-June to review the applications already submitted and to award the funds. (A second round of selection may take place in July or August , 2020 based on the level of demands.) For a list of criteria, see the following document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xAZCgoB29CvrlThBaiKnDhVTawJIKAHSY3KJ9MUQ0wI/edit The transfer of funds FRI will handle transfering funds to the selected stations, preferably through a bank transfer to the station’s account, or using individual transfers and Western Union if necessary. If the station is in an area without access to Western Union or bank, CORACON will assist with a transfer through mobile money. Follow up Representatives from CORACON and Cameroon Link are assisting in following up (in August and September 2020) with stations awarded the funds to gather: - A photo of the station / broadcasters - A short description of how the funds were used and how the station staff & listeners benefited (with an emphasis on how women, youth, and marginalized communities may have benefited). - A short description of how their radio station addressed the COVID-19 situation with its programming. - Feedback on FRI’s resources, particularly resources & services produced related to COVID-19 - Have they used any of FRI Canada resources? How? What did they like or dislike? - Did they participate in our WhatsApp discussions with experts? What did they like or dislike? - How would they rate their satisfaction with the emergency fund process? The application process? The transfer of funds? The follow up from local networkers? Radio Broadcasters’ Team Leader for Francophone Africa, Sébastien Negre cautioned that the goal is to help FRI have a conversation on specific topics that enhances collective work. The documents shared should have concrete information about the activy carried out and that is exactly what is expected from postulants and contributors to the project. - Feel free to contact Radio Broadcasters’ Team Leader for Francophone Africa, Sébastien Negre , Hannah, Katie or Cameroon Link on whatsapp +237674374951 or +237653101286 - Telephone: +237677758840 - +237694340874 - Email: camlink99@gmail.com – jafontem9@yahoo.com

Formation des Agents de Santé Communautaire sur les ISDC

Formation des Agents de Santé Communautaire sur les Interventions Sous Directive Communautaire (ISDC) a Souza, District de Santé d’Abo Par Ojong Helen Ayamba,camlinknews

13 ASC additionnels du District de Santé d’Abo ont suivi une formation de sept (7) jours sur les Interventions Sous Directive Communautaire (ISDC) a Souza du 11 au 18 Mai 2020 sur la supervision de M. TchanaEric, Regional Field Supervisoor (RFS) of IRESCO pour le Littoral. Adressantles participants, M. M. TchanaEric a dit que lq formation est fait dans le contexte de COVID 19 et les recommandations du gouvernement devraient être respectés. La formation était effectuée par M. Mbebi Felix Elie, Cadre au District de Santé d’Abo et M. James AchanyiFontem, Coordonnateur de l’OSCD Cameroon Link. Ils ont dispensés 16 modules touchant sur les généralités de la formation, communication, le paludisme, diarrhée, WASH, IRA, Tuberculose/VIH, La Sante des enfants et Vaccination, nutrition, la sante de la mère et planning familial, VBG, la sante du nouveau-né eten registrèrent des naissances, la surveillance, décèsmaternelle, signaux et COVID 19, la gestion des intrants des ASC, utilisation des outils des ASC et conception un plan d’action communautaire. Chaque module a commencer avec un pré-test et termine par un posttest. Les facilitateurs ont évalué le niveau de compréhension des participants avec organisations des travaux en groupes et présentation des rapports des différents groupes avant les échanges et corrections. Les exercices pratiques et jeux de roles ont étaientorganises par les participants sur tous les modules.

Les ASC sont les Chargés de Communication sur le COVID-19 dans leur communautés a insisté M. James Achanyi Fontem, en citant le VALEURS et PRINCIPES de leur action, inscrits au sein de la CHARTE du Cameroun : 1. Le patient d’abord 2. Révolutionner la médecine humanitaire 3. Responsabilité et liberté 4. Améliorer la qualité de nos actions 5. Faire confiance 6. L’intelligence collective 7. SOIGNER – INNOVER – ENSEMBLE : 8. Depuis sa création en 1991, Cameroon Link est engagé a soigné plus de 3 millions de patients par les conseils, et déploie aujourd’hui ses opérations dans le district de sante d’Abo. En 2018,CAMLINK avait projeté de travailler dans 3 projets dont 3 projets de recherche axés sur la malnutrition, le virus Ebola et l’allaitement maternel. L’ensemble de ces projets se fait en appui aux autorités sanitaires nationales à travers plus de 20 structures de santé (dont 2 hôpitaux et 18 structures de santé). CAMLINK intervient en réponse à des crises humanitaires et les patients sont au cœur de toutes les actions. OSC CAMLINK travaille en partenariat dès que cela est possible afin d’ assurer que les patients bénéficient de l’expertise là où elle se trouve, que ce soit au niveau du Cameroun ou du reste du monde. 9. En parallèle, face à la propagation du Covid-19 au Cameroun, CAMLINK se coordonne depuis fin janvier 2020 avec les autorités sanitaires nationales dans lesquels elle intervient afin d’appuyer non seulement pour apporter des réponses locales aux cas de Covid19 mais pour coordonner des actions de plaidoyer afin de développer une stratégie globale de réponse au virus. Ainsi, CAMLINK travaille avec les autorités de plusieurs pays africains et développe une réponse en soutien aux Ministères de la Santé Publique du Cameroun.

Sous la supervision du responsable Urgences COVID-19 au Cameroun, en liaison avec les équipes opérationnelles sur les missions et l’équipe Communication du siège à Douala, le/la chargé(e) de la communication d’urgence appuie les activités de communication sur les opérations Coronavirus dans: • Gestion des relations media (nationaux et internationaux) • Production de contenus pour la presse, le grand public et la et la levée de fonds • Appui aux actions de communication opérationnelle sur les terrains d’intervention Les missions de chargé de communication sont définies en collaboration entre la mission et le responsable de communication. Les 13 personnes formes dans le district de sante d’Abo sont : Bakehe Parfait Emmanuel, Bessoungkang, Tel : +237 675114923 Bille Ekwadi ARIS, Bessoungkang, Tel : +237690521019 Engome Monique, Bessoungkang, Tel : +237 690556806 EndalleDipanda Christine, Bessoungkang, Tel : +237 690719054 Kongolo Jean Manfred, Mangamba, Tel : +237 653567844 NGO Epanda Martin, Mbonjo, Tel : +237 690449087 Ngo Hermine, Mbonjo, Tel : +237 697367054 Fanmeugnie Nina Diane, Miang, Tel: +237 699213836 KediNseke Rose, Miang, Tel:+237 697966972 BokopNdjansep Dorine Flavie, Souza, +237 670545110 DjouelonKambiet Aristide Sylvie, Tel, +237 696019620 KoegneTadjou Caroline Desire, Souza, Tel : +237 698868110 Ngatchou Patrice, Souza, Tel : Tel ; +237 694697966 Ces ASC ont appris technique de remplissage des registres sur les VAD et plaidoyer, registre de consultation et fiche de référence. Avant de prendre les matériels de travail de l’ASC pour démarrage des activités dans leurs aires de santé.

Cameroon Link participe à la formation des formateurs sur les ISDC

Par James Achanyi Fontem, Coordonnateur OSCD d’Abo

Cameroon Link a participé à la formation des formateurs sur les Interventions sous directive communautaire (ISDC) à Douala du 05 au 08 Mai 2020. La formation était organisé par la délégation régionale de la santé publique et IRESCO pour préparer les formateurs à former les nouveaux ASC additionnels des districts de santé du littoral. La formation était organisé dans le contexte de la prévention de COVID 19. Les 17 modules ont touches les points suivant : • le renforcement des capacités des participants sur les outils utilisés en pédagogies comme la lecture dirigée, brainstorming, exercices pratique et discussions, les questions/réponses, jeu de rôle, utilisation de représentations visuelles et graphiques, exercices d’apprentissage par résolutions de problèmes et cours magistraux et présentations. Les facilitateurs ont insistés sur l’utilisation de la MILDA par la femme enceinte et les enfants de moins de 5 ans/Mesures barrière de prévention de COVID 19.Un point tres important était le renforcement des participants à la conduite du diagnostic communautaire et l’élaboration du plan d’action communautaire y compris le plan de communication. Le plan de communication est basé sur la communication pour développement, la restitution et échanges d’un plan de communication, la causerie éducative, la visite à domicile, la gestion des rumeurs, et technique d’élaboration des messages. Il y a eu les échanges sur le système d’information sanitaire et le suivi logistique des intrants pour les ISDC. Le facilitateur a touché les points sur la collecte et remontée des données dans le cadre des ISDC, les outils de collecte et remplissage, les indicateurs des ISDC, la validation et l’analyse des données pour la prise de décision. Dans le cadre de la conduite des différentes activités liés au ISDC, les participants ont travaillés en groupes et presentés les exercices pratiques sur les généralistes, la communication, le paludisme, diarrhée, WASH, IRA,TB/VIH et nutrition. La dernière journée de la formation de formateurs était focalisé sur la violence basée sur le genre et les enfants, la santé du nouveau-né et enregistrement des naissances, surveillance basée sur les événements, la prévention de COVID 19, la gestion des médicaments et intrants et approvisionnement de l’ ASC, diagnostic et plan d’action communautaire et le plan de la formation des ASC. COVID-19

LES VALEURS et PRINCIPES de notre action, inscrits au sein de la CHARTE de Cameroon Link: 1. Le patient d’abord 2. Révolutionner la médecine humanitaire 3. Responsabilité et liberté 4. Améliorer la qualité de nos actions 5. Faire confiance 6. L’intelligence collective 7. SOIGNER – INNOVER – ENSEMBLE : 8. Depuis sa création en 1991, Cameroon Link a soigné plusieur patients par les bonne messages, et déploie aujourd’hui ses opérations dans 5 régions du Cameroun. En 2018 a projeté de travailler dans 4 projets dont 2 projets de recherche axés sur la malnutrition, l’allaitement maternel, le paludisme et la tuberculose et VIH :Sida. L’ensemble de ces projets se font en appui aux autorités sanitaires nationales à travers plus de 20 structures de santé (dont 4 hôpitaux et 16 structures de santé). Cameroon Link intervient en réponse à des crises humanitaires et les patients sont au cœur de toutes les actions. Cameroon Link travaille en partenariat dès que cela est possible afin d’assurer que les patients bénéficient de l’expertise là où elle se trouve, que ce soit au niveau du Cameroun ou du reste du monde.: 9. Equipe En parallèle, face à la propagation du Covid-19 au Cameroun, Cameroon Link se coordonne depuis fin janvier 2020 avec les autorités sanitaires nationales au Cameroun dans lesquels elle intervient afin d’appuyer non seulement pour apporter des réponses locales aux cas de Covid19 mais pour coordonner des actions de plaidoyer afin de développer une stratégie globale de réponse au virus. Ainsi, Cameroon Link travaille avec les autorités de plusieurs pays africains et développe une réponse en soutien aux Ministères de la Santé Publique du Cameroun. DESCRIPTION GÉNÉRALE Sous la supervision du responsable Urgences COVID-19 au Cameroun, en liaison avec les équipes opérationnelles sur les mission et l’équipe Communication du siège à Douala, le/la chargé(e) de la communication d’urgence appuie les activités de communication sur les opérations Coronavirus dans les pays d’intervention : • Gestion des relations media (nationaux et internationaux) • Production de contenus pour la presse, le grand public et la levée de fonds • Appui aux actions de communication opérationnelle sur les terrains d’intervention

C4D COVID-19 Communication Response

By James Achanyi Fontem, Coordinator, OSCD ABO

Welcome to this C4D COVID-19 Communication Response. During this CHW training you can keep up to date with the latest COVID-19 If you would like us to post a C4D COVID-19 Communication Response, send it to CAMLINK OSCD ABO at: https://camlinknews.blogspot.com . Stay safe and healthy during these challenging times. Signposting to E-Training , IEC and Educative Talk– relevant COVID-19. Shared Community Communication Materials & Strategies • Action – Volunteer, Share, Request – both C4D COVID ABO members and others are encouraged to be in touch with the ISDC/NFM2 Project: completing a short Survey that is both a needs assessment and a brief C4D mapping of COVID-19 Response in different communities; signing-up for weekly COVID-19 Communications Response and for sharing and feedback. • The strategy for COVID-19 ISDC/NFM2 2018-2020 Project Response service can be viewed here: ABO Concept Strategy. The Network’s resource documents: Guidance for Effective Local Communication Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) : The guide seeks to address questions about how we can face local communication challenges presented by the pandemic, and how communicators respond effectively to the situation through supporting our communities to cope and to protect themselves. COVID-19 Global Program Management May 11 - 18, 2020 We offer in addition to support: • an innovative work environment with a diverse and passionate team • 7 days of CHW’s Training Due to the urgency of the trzining, shortlisting will be done on a rolling basis and if the ideal participant is identified before the closing date, OSCD ABO reserves the right to close the recruitment of pzrticipants before the May 10 deadline. The role The COVID-19 Global Program Management leads and coordinates ISDC/NFM2’s global activities of evidence-based language support to the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak. It provides strategic leadership and oversight of innovative strategies, and has overall responsibility for timely and effective identification, planning and implementation of activities, partnership development, fundraising and community representation. Responsibilities Activity development and delivery • Lead the development of an ambitious, innovative activity of evidence-based, tech-enabled language support to risk communication and community engagement for the COVID-19 global response • Coordinate with internal and external experts to ensure the activity strategy makes the best use of available technology and best practices to maximize its impact for information-poor groups around ABO District • Work closely with the District and Community health service team to ensure that Community Health Workers ‘CHW) have the capacity to deliver high-quality language services and language tools, supporting, making best use of, and celebrating our large community of actors • In collaboration with IRESCO Crisis Response and Fundraising teams, mobilize funds to deliver the global activity • Lead and coordinate delivery and monitoring of project activities in line with donor and Health District standards • Manage acticity budgets, evaluation and reporting in line with IRESCO and donor requirements, with support from Ministry of Public Health and global Crisis Response colleagues • Collect, collate and share internally data on information gaps and opportunities, and use this to direct project activities and resources to ensure CHWs provide the most effective language support as the outbreak and our understanding of needs evolve • Oversee implementation of the local COVID-19 response and the global COVID-19 activity action plan, and liaise with ABO health district within COVID-19-related activities at community level, to maximize complementarity, cross-learning and impact Team leadership • Recruit, lead, empower and manage the high-performing team needed for the successful implementation of the COVID-19 global activity • Promote, model and take proactive steps to ensure a positive, innovative and supportive work environment • Work across the organization to ensure that CHW’s response is well integrated across with local languages, flyers, posters,, fundraising and communications teams • Manage and support the CHW COVID-19 Response Lead to deliver the IRESCO-funded activities with the health district • Actively promote understanding of CHWs Code of Conduct and safeguarding and government policies, and associated reporting procedures, and uphold CHW’s values (below) in all engagement with communities, partners and colleagues • In collaboration with Community Health Area (CAS° global team, ensure compliance with Public Healthprocedures Advocacy and coordination • Lead on context and trend analysis for the global COVID-19 response • Lead CHW’s advocacy and media efforts on COVID-19 in close cooperation with the global Senior Advocacy Officer (RFS) and Communication Senior Officer, to ensure that language issues are highlighted within the global response • Act as spokesperson on COVID-19, as delegated by the Head of Fundraising and Communication/Executive Team, and proactively and constructively engage with reputable journalists to promote coverage and understanding of language issues in the media • Represent CHW on relevant coordination groups for risk communication and community engagement around COVID-19 and build the organization’s profile within the COVID-19 response community globally and in ABO Health District, ensuring professional and productive engagement with government authorities, UN agencies, national and international civil society partners and affected communities • Advocate for communication in languages and formats that are accessible to marginalized language speakers and other potentially vulnerable groups, and use evidence and analysis from our work and that of others to ensure that issues relating to language and risk communication/community engagement are taken on board in key strategic and planning decisions Qualifications The COVID-19 Global Management within ABO health District should be an innovative self-starter with a strong sense of initiative, an understanding of the humanitarian sector and management credentials, and enthusiasm about the importance of increasing access to knowledge. The CHW/CAS is an energetic team player and leader who agrees with community basic beliefs and values and who can work virtually with other members based in the community. Requirements • Demonstrated experience in mobilizing, organizing resources and establishing priorities • Proven ability to manage and build cohesive, productive teams and work collaboratively in consortia and across teams within the organization • Resourceful, able to get more out of small budgets and small teams • Good interpersonal skills; able to work well in a team-oriented, collaborative, cross-functional environment • Strong ability to multitask, prioritize, and work independently with minimal supervision • Excellent writing and presentation skills in French, English, Pidgin or local language • Fluency in other languages is a plus • Medical or health sector background is a plus • Interpreting or translation experience is a plus Background CHW is already working with partners to counter misinformation on COVID-19 with facts in the right language, under an activation of the ISDC/NFMS Fund. This grant runs to the end of December 2020, but expansion and extension are under discussion. With the announcement of a pandemic, CHWis developing plans for a far bigger, more innovative response program capable of delivering far greater impact to help control the spread of the disease. This is currently conceived of as three parallel work streams, all supported by advocacy: • Providing an evidence basis for better-informed risk communication and community engagement on COVID-19 in languages and formats accessible to people at risk • Research to identify information gaps and information-poor groups and languages using online tools and tapping into both partner knowledge and social media resources to gather information remotely • Language and literacy datasets and maps to inform targeted risk communication • Social media monitoring to track rumors, misinformation and questions as a basis for more effective communication, using tools such as CrowdTangle (Large Groups) to automate the process for speed Supporting the relay of accurate, accessible risk communication materials in accessible languages and formats • Translation of public-facing content into a wide range of languages, prioritizing formats accessible to low-literacy and second-language audiences • Terminology support to promote accurate and consistent translation into multiple languages • Language technology to speed communication Supporting dissemination of those materials, and COVID-19 content • Social media promotion of translated content • A repository of content to enable rapid development of new communication materials using existing verified content and translations Core Values Translators without Borders employees and volunteers are made of people who believe passionately about the value of this work and take personal responsibility for achieving the mission. Translators without Borders’ mission and organizational spirit embody the core values established in its strategic framework: Excellence: As the leading voice for communicating humanitarian information in the right language, Translators without Borders is a leader in the translation industry and in the non-profit sector. Integrity: Translators without Borders believes that every person, whether it is the people who we serve, our volunteers or our staff, has value, deserves respect and has inherent dignity. Empowerment: Translators without Borders believes in using language to empower people around the world to control their own development and destiny. Innovation: Translators without Borders recognizes and celebrates the power of innovation to address humanitarian and crisis issues around the world. Sustainability: Translators without Borders recognizes that meeting our mission necessitates establishment and maintenance of a solid financial and organizational infrastructure. Tolerance: Our staff and volunteers are highly knowledgeable and skilled; value each other, our partner and our recipients; create a supportive work environment; and, conduct themselves professionally at all times. Translators without Borders is an equal-opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion, and encourages qualified candidates of all genders and from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization.