Report on the Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence's (SANTHE) COVID-19: where art and science meet project. The project, supported by the DELTAS Africa CPE Seed Fund in 2020, brought scientists and young African creatives together to explore the COVID-19 infodemic
Lifeology is an online platform and communication tool that engages broader audiences in science, health and research in a fun, accessible way. They do this via beautifully illustrated, science-backed, bite-sized “flashcard” courses.
Published Literature: Rumours, Riots and the rejection of mass drug administration for the treatment of schistosomiasis in Morogoro, Tanzania
by Julie Hastings, Mesh Editorial TeamThis article from 2016 in the Journal of Biosocial Science outlines the case of a mass drug administration programme in Tanzania which had to be suspened after community riots
Guide: WHO Addressing violence against children, women and older people during the covid-19 pandemic: Key actions
by World Health Organisation, Mesh Editorial TeamSeveral countries affected by COVID-19, have seen increases in levels of violence occurring in the home, including violence against children, intimate partner violence and violence against older people. This WHO brief dated 18 June 2020, compiles key actions that the health sector can undertake within a multisectoral response to prevent or mitigate interpersonal violence based on existing WHO guidance.
Guide: WHO Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
by World Health Organisation, Mesh Editorial TeamThe considerations presented in this document have been developed by the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use as a series of messages that can be used in communications to support mental and psychosocial well-being in different target groups during the COVID-19 pandemic
Guide: MSF Harnessing social and digital media to better reach vulnerable populations
by Médecins Sans Frontières, Mesh Editorial TeamThis project from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is developing a toolkit for MSF teams to harness social and digital technologies to better reach vulnerable displaced populations that face barriers in accessing health care. This toolkit is focussed on healthcare but will have useful insights for community engagement with health research.
Guide: WHO COVID-19 Global Risk Communication and Community Engagement Strategy – interim guidance
by World Health Organisation, Mesh Editorial TeamWHO's COVID-19 Global Risk Communication and Community Engagement Strategy, December 2020 - May 2021 is underpinned by a socio-behavioural trends analysis and builds on the learnings from the response to-date. The shift presented in the document is towards the community engagement and participatory approaches that have been proven to help control and eliminate outbreaks in the past.
The COVID-19 Communication Network is a reliable site for social and behavior change (SBC) professionals, and other responders in need, to access and share high quality communication materials, tools and resources from global partners to address the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic.
Guide: The COVID-19 Communication and Community Engagement HUB
by The Communication Initiative Network, Mesh Editorial TeamComminit.com aims to convene the communication and media development, social and behavioural change community for more effective local, national, and international development action. They have a dedicated COVID-19 hub with shared materials and knowledge
Guide: The Red Cross Community Engagement Hub: COVID-19 Resources
by The Red Cross, Mesh Editorial TeamThe Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has developed a hub to share our information, knowledge and resources about community engagement and accountability. Their COVID-19 area provides tools and resources to help incorporate community engagement and accountability into COVID-19 humanitarian operations
Guide: Compass COVID-19: Resources for Social and Behaviour Change
by The Compass, Mesh Editorial TeamThe Compass is a curated collection of social and behavior change (SBC) resources. This special Trending Topic of SBC resources contains links to a vast array of data, infographics and guidance on topics such as risk communication, rumours and misinformation and stigma.
This article shares documents on working with journalists and the media from the perspective of a research programme, including through Media Advisory Groups and a Journalists in Residence program
The SciCommer is a weekly global science communication newsletter created by Heather Doran - a Science Communication and Public Engagement specialist based in Scotland. It provides a weekly roundup of science communication news and events, including academic research in the area, conferences, festivals, training and job opportunities.
Published Literature: Science Communication Research: an Empirical Field Analysis
by Mesh Editorial TeamThis in-depth empirical analysis of the research field in science communication published in 2020 looks both at strengths and weaknesses of research in the field, and a reflects on its future needs and perspectives.
Unicef's Vaccine Misinformation Management Field Guide was published in December 2020 and offers guidance for addressing a global infodemic and fostering demand for immunisation.
This short guide is designed to assist development and humanitarian agencies to think through how risk communication and community engagement activity related to Covid-19 can be carried out without face-to-face interaction with communities.
This article introduces the ICA:UK's free resource library which is intended to support facilitation best practice.
The NCPPE in collaboration with UK university scientists have created a guide on how to use social media effectively for public engagement.
Academic Literature: Development of a set of Community-informed Ebola Messages for Sierra Leone
by Kinsman, J., et al 2017, Mesh Editorial TeamThis paper summarises a project based in Sierra Leone during the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak that produced a set of culturally contextualised Ebola messages. The messages are based on findings from interviews and focus group discussions with community members from two Ebola ‘hot-spots’.
Event: The International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases Festival
by Mesh Editorial TeamArticle: Culturally relevant experiences in informal science education institutes
by Mesh Editorial teamInformalScience.org is a central portal to project, research and evaluation resources designed to support and connect the informal science education community in museums, media, public programs and a growing variety of learning environments
Red Cross's Jemilah Mahmood Offers 5 Principles for Improved Community Engagement During Humanitarian Action
by Mesh Editorial TeamDr. Jemilah Mahmood, undersecretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies gave the keynote at the Medicine Sans Frontiere annual Scientific Day 2017. Her message was that humanitarian work needs to work far closer with local populations before, during and after humanitarian action. She emphasises five key principles to achieving this all of which would be relevant to those working in engagement with research in low income settings as well as humanitarian aid workers.
Literature: Book: The Science of Science Communication
by Mesh Editorial TeamReview of 2017 publication containing 47 essays on science communication through broadcast, social media and scientific publication channels.
Guide: Community Toolkit
by Mesh Editorial teamGuide: Dilemmas cafés: A guide for facilitators
by Mesh Editorial teamGuide: Performing Ethics: Using Participatory Theatre to Explore Ethical Issues in Community Based Participatory Research
by Mesh Editorial teamProject Report: TrypanoGEN
by Mesh Editorial TeamProject Report: The Lucky Specials
by Mesh Editorial TeamMwangi Chege, participant of the 2017 Wellcome Trust workshop "It’s Complicated: navigating scientific complexity in public and community engagement" reflects on learning from the workshop. In particular, the Kenyan premiere of The Lucky Specials, a feature film designed as both entertainment and engagement with audiences about Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis and the importance of drug adherence.
Information about Citizen Science Reporters (CSR), a group in Southeast Asia that runs workshops to teach community members how to film and edit video documentaries using a smart phone. The videos are then used to explore health issues faced by the community.