ESAR Technical Working Group
The Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Technical Working Group (TWG) was established in March 2020 as one of four TWGs to to enhance regional partner coordination on operational and strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation as well as the support to countries on particular aspects of the preparedness and response to COVID-19.
The Terms of Reference were revised in February 2022 to encompass RCCE partner coordination for public health emergencies (PHE) with regional implications.
The RCCE TWG is co-chaired by UNICEF and IFRC with operational and technical support from the RCCE Collective Service for day to day management and follow up of TWG activities and actions. There are two subworking groups linked to the RCCE TWG-the Community Feedback SWG and the Media Taskforce. Membership and participation is open to all partners operating at regional level involved in RCCE response to address PHE. The RCCE TWG meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month between 11:00am and 12:30pm EAT.
Objectives
of the Eastern and Southern Africa Hub
Collaboration
Improve RCCE coordination and collaboration between partners responding to public health emergencies, including COVID-19, and the health components of humanitarian crises in Eastern and Southern Africa.
Knowledge Hub
Identify and share common approaches for addressing regional RCCE issues and challenges including contextualizing of shared resources and guidance for country level response actions.
Research & Data Analysis
Support compilation and analysis of behavioral insights, community feedback and social science data to support RCCE and cross pillar decision making
Capacity Building
Identify opportunities for training and capacity building of national RCCE TWGs, partners or thematic experts and facilitate cross-country experience sharing and learning webinars/sessions guided by best practices.
Case studies
What we learn from ESA region

Real-time Data for decision-makers
To respond to the infodemic, the Collective Service, UNICEF, AIRA and Partners developed a monthly Joint Report to triangulate data and provide recommendations to partners.

Information Management in Malawi
The Collective Service provided technical support to design with partners an operational presence mapping tools to make COVID-19 programming more efficient in Malawi.
COVID-19 mis-&disinformation: What risks does it pose for public health responses to other diseases?
April. 2022 – Webinar organized by Internews about misinformation about COVID-19 and skepticism about vaccination campaigns
Latest Reports
Reports developed by our partners in ESA region
Data 4 Action
March 2022
RCCE for COVID-19 Vaccine Demand in Eastern and Southern Africa

Joint Analysis
February 2022
Regional trend analysis of social data for advocacy and informed decision making

Community Feedback Trends
February 2022
Monthly report based on main feedbacks shared by countries and regional partners
Latest Meetings
Meeting presentations or minutes from technical subworking groups

RCCE Technical Working Group
23rd March 2022

Community Feedback Group
15th March 2022
- Meeting Presentation

Health Partners Group
29th March 2022
2nd March 2022
- Meeting presentation
Our Tools
Operational Presence
Mapping of partners and activities
Behavioural Insights
Social behaviour dashboard for ESAR Countries
Social Science Studies
Repository of social sciences research in ESAR
Community Feedback
Dashboard on community feedback shared by partners
Stay tuned
Upcoming events, meeting and training
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