Overview

The Avian Influenza Control and Human Pandemic Preparedness and Response Project, a three-year project funded by the World Bank, aimed to provide a strategic, multilevel and participatory communication campaign around Avian Influenza. Led by UNICEF, the project provided behavior change communication, advocacy, capacity building and community/social mobilization support to minimize the risks of avian influenza spreading throughout the Republic of Tajikistan. This was achieved by ensuring citizens were aware of the symptoms, understood the threat and were willing and able to engage in behaviors that protect themselves and their community. CCP provided technical assistance to the project’s action plan and assisted in harmonizing consistent messages across all partners to increase awareness about the potential pandemic.

Accomplishments

• Developed TV spots on human protection and safe poultry for rural households, as part of a series of TV spots and BCC materials in support of Tajikistan’s national AI communication program.
• Trained decision-makers, administrators, health educators, program officers, and donor agency field staff in strategic health communication.
• Provided communication research training to UNICEF staff, researchers of the State Strategic Research Center, Department of Statistics, and other relevant partners.
• Created a half-day training to give government representatives and key district-level officials the tools to navigate the realities of speaking to the public, media, partners, and stakeholders during a public-safety emergency, specifically an avian and/or pandemic influenza outbreak.