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Communication Technical Assistance

Links Media provides expert consultation services to the U.S. Agency for International Development in support of the development and implementation of an avian and pandemic influenza communication strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean. Working in collaboration with partners in Latin American and Caribbean countries, Links Media has provided technical assistance and support for the development of planning and capacity-building activities in several countries.

Our efforts to date have resulted in the development of a number of strategic communication plans and informational and communication materials; as well as training of journalists, spokespersons, and key stakeholders.

See our brochure for more details about our technical assistance framework.
Download the brochure in PDF format. (English | Spanish).

Current Activities and Examples of TA:
Bolivia begins development of the Operational Communication Plan

Links Media, in collaboration with Bolivia’s National Communications Technical Committee, began the development of the National Risk Communication Plan for Disasters and Outbreaks alongside the ministries of Health, Agriculture, Education, and Defense, as well as international and non-governmental organizations.

In May 2010, Links Media team members traveled to Bolivia to facilitate a 3-day working meeting in support of the development of the National Operational Communication Plan, which will contain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the key sectors involved in response to a pandemic, an influenza outbreak, or other disaster risks. Additionally, the plan will include an M&E Plan to monitor and document progress in order to adapt and/or update the communication strategy and SOPs.

The meeting served as a working space for members of the National Communications Technical Committee, where results included a set of agreements between Committee members to continue working together and finalize the Plan. Links Media will continue technical support to the Committee and facilitate content development and editorial review, in accordance with USAID and Links Media guidelines. See media coverage: http://www.influenzalac.org/extras/MSD_82.pdf   http://www.procosi.org.bo

Additionally, as part of the on-site TA activities, Links Media facilitated two spokesperson training workshops with government officials including ministers and vice ministers, and with technical officials including epidemiology directors, hospital administrators, and other health workers. The workshops took place at the offices of the Pan American Health Organization of the World Health Organization in Bolivia (PAHO/WHO/Bolivia).


Guatemala spokesperson trainings

Links Media led and facilitated a set of spokesperson training workshops for the national network of health promoters and for key municipal-level communicators who have access to municipal leaders and who will be able to replicate the workshop to other audiences (i.e., communicators from other municipalities and municipal leaders). The workshops trained participants on how to be effective communicators with the public and the media in time of risk or crisis. Links Media, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, scheduled these workshops to take place during the country’s influenza A(H1N1) vaccination campaign. The workshops took place in Sololá, Chiquimula, and Guatemala City. See news coverage: La Hora press release (Media Clip: H1N1 vaccine is safe


Guyana Avian and Pandemic Influenza Communication Plan:

Links Media is working with the Guyana Ministry of Health to provide support and guidance to the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Communications Subcommittee. In January 2010, Links Media staff members traveled to Guyana to facilitate a working meeting to develop the Operational Communications Plan. This plan will include the standard operating procedures and the monitoring and evaluation plan as part of the national strategy for avian and pandemic influenza preparedness and response. See media coverage:
Capacity building for H1N1 response continues today (Guyana Chronicle)
Health Ministry to introduce communication plan to better address influenza (Kaieteur News)


Ecuador AI Communication Strategy:
In February and May 2009, Links Media worked onsite with Ecuador’s Ministry of Health’s National Inter-institutional Communication Committee for pandemic influenza to review the communication strategy and the existing operational plan, to assess the country’s technical assistance needs for responding to a pandemic, and to plan future activities related to making this strategy operational.

In July 2009, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development and Ecuador’s National Inter-institutional Communication Committee, Links Media conducted a working meeting to strengthen the existing inter-institutional communication plan to prevent and respond to pandemic influenza, review lines of action to respond to the A(H1N1) flu pandemic, and develop a work plan for the Committee.

In November 2009, Links Media staff traveled to Quito, Ecuador, to work onsite with the National Inter-institutional Communication Committee in order to finalize the country’s Operational Communication Plan, which includes Standard Operating Procedures, a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, and a work plan, as part of the national strategy for avian and pandemic influenza preparedness and response.


Nicaragua Communication Plan:

In the fall of 2006, Links Media collaborated with the U.S. Agency for International Development and Nicaragua's health network and disaster planners to assist in developing the country's avian and pandemic influenza communication plan and accompanying multimedia informational materials. After conducting an assessment of existing resources and technical assistance needs, Links Media and its partners conducted a series of workshops with key participants from multiple sectors to develop the national plan. These workshops resulted in a matrix for desired behavior change; preliminary recommendations for the national plan; identification of key materials needed for various audiences; and a plan for finalizing and operationalizing the communication strategy, as well as for developing and validating the materials identified.


Paraguay Communication Strategy:
Paraguay Strengthens Communication Capacity:

In June 2010, Links Media staff traveled to Asunción, Paraguay to facilitate various meetings and workshops with communicators and authorities from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Wellbeing (MOH) and with journalists. The following contributions were made:

  • Strengthening the National Network of Health Communicators by providing them with technical assistance to develop the national operational communication plan and standard operating procedures.
  • Strengthening the Rapid Response Team by providing them with technical assistance to develop the national protocol for responding to emergencies.
  • Strengthening the capacity of national and regional spokespersons, journalists that cover health topics and MOH directors by training them on fundamental principles for communicating during a crisis.
  • Providing regional and national MOH authorities with a targeted internal and external communication and advocacy plan in support of implementing the national healthcare reform plan that seeks to improve access and quality to health services.
  • Establishing a dialogue between MOH authorities and journalists and identifying recommendations on how to improve dissemination of critical information to the public during emergencies and crisis.

See media coverage of the meetings and workshops:

In July 2009, authorities from Paraguay’s Ministry of Public Health and Social Wellbeing participated in a working meeting facilitated by Links Media in Ecuador. The objectives of this meeting were to strengthen the existing Ecuador’s inter-institutional communication plan to prevent and respond to pandemic influenza, review lines of action to respond to the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, and develop a work plan for the country’s Ministry of Health’s National Inter-institutional Communication Committee for Pandemic Influenza. For Paraguay’s team, the meeting served as an opportunity to share the experiences, lessons learned, and best practices related to communication and crisis management planning efforts for the pandemic influenza outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) in the LAC region; and to initiate the review process of its national communications plan.

In December 2009, Links Media staff traveled to Asunción, Paraguay, to facilitate a workshop to introduce the country’s current communications plan and strengthen communication efforts during a pandemic. The meeting also served as an opportunity to officially launch the National Network of Communicators, an event of great importance for the country and the region. The main objectives for this working meeting, which took place on December 14 and 15, included: (i) present the country’s communications plan to face the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic; (ii) provide technical assistance to finalize the country’s Operational Communication Plan and the Rapid Response Team’s Communication Protocol; and (iii) increase capacity building on basic principles of crisis communication.

Dr. Esperanza Martinez, Minister of Public Health and Social Wellbeing, Dr. Edgar Jimenez, Vice Minister of Public Health and Social Wellbeing, and various directors from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Wellbeing attended the working meeting and expressed their commitment to continue to support the National Network of Communicators as part of the country’s efforts to effectively respond to a pandemic and other health emergencies. See media coverage:


Saint Lucia AI Communication Strategy:
In July 2008, Links Media employed a new methodology to assist Saint Lucia in developing and operationalizing an AI communication strategy. This methodology involved convening the persons responsible for developing the national communication plan from all sectors considered to collaboratively create Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

In April 2009, Links Media, in coordination with the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), organized and facilitated a meeting to review and complete the country’s communication strategy and SOPs. The result led to the acquisition of valuable feedback which was incorporated in the revised version of the strategy. Saint Lucia's updated communication plan was approved by the Government and posted on its Web site.

In November 2009, Links Media staff traveled to Castries, Saint Lucia, to participate in a Mid-Course Review Meeting with the country’s National Influenza Communications Committee. The main objectives of this meeting were to discuss how effective the national pandemic communications plan has been in the face of a pandemic, and if this plan has helped the Committee to adopt the necessary measures for a suitable response to the current A(H1N1) pandemic.

During this visit, Links Media also participated in a Dissemination Conference to officially launch the national pandemic communications plan, titled National Influenza Plan, Volume 3: Communications Strategy. The conference, organized by Links Media in coordination with NEMO, was attended by high-level authorities and multisector partners. The goal of this conference was to formalize commitment by securing the necessary resources for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the protocol. See the materials from this event:

  • Media materials and media coverage

Development of AI materials for Central America:
In July 2007, Links Media organized a 3-day workshop in Panama for government officials from seven countries—Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama—to identify and develop AI and pandemic Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials for use throughout the region. This workshop resulted in the drafting of 7 sets of materials; agreement on monitoring and evaluation indicators; and a process for validating, producing, and disseminating materials. Following the workshop, Links Media facilitated the validation and production of these materials.



DISCLAIMER:The information provided on this Web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.

Last Updated on January 31, 2011