www.ifrc.org

Saving lives, changing minds.

#02March 2013

Welcome note:Welcome to the second edition of the BC Outreach newsletter! Since our last Outreach pub-lication in November 2012, we received many positive and encouraging comments from readers. Not surprisingly for this second edition, we received an increased number of out-standing BC stories from around the globe.

In this edition, you will come across stories of a radio broadcasting training in Indonesia, statistics on the number of people reached through mobile cinema and the impact of solar powered portable radios which has led to the establishment of community based ‘Listening Group Volunteers’ in Sierra Leone, and a cash transfer programme in Jordan utilising SMS and ‘hotline’ phone line to communicate with beneficiaries. Look out for new BC tools, information and marketing brochures, participation of BC team members at global events and partnership discussions with telecommunication operators.

The third edition of Outreach shall be released on 3rd June. Please send your articles by 17th May 2013 to valli.ponniah@ifrc.org and an article should contain no more than 300 words with supporting photograph(s) and captions.

Thank you, enjoy the newsletter and wishing everyone a successful second quarter of 2013

Valli Ponniah

News at a glance

Asia Pacific zone South Asia

• India – RDRT training • Afghanistan and Bangladesh – 2013 BC plans • Nepal – BC developments • Pakistan – BC evaluation Southeast Asia

• Philippines – Listening to communities • Vietnam – 2013 BC plans • Indonesia – Radio broadcasting course • Regional BC tools Pacific

• Papua New Guinea – TERA developments

Africa zone • Sierra Leone – Communities reached

Middle East and North Africa zone • Jordon – SMS and phone-in ‘hotlines’ for beneficiaries

Global developments: • GSMA Mobile industry association • Vodafone • Digicel

Networking

NEW promotional tools!•TERA(TrilogyEmergencyResponseApplication)–internal&externalmarketingkit

A comprehensive information kit has been developed to give people a better understanding of the TERA system. These brochures are now available on BC FedNet page at https://fednet.ifrc.org/en/resources/HD/beneficiary-communication/bencomms-resources/

• BC animation: https://fednet.ifrc.org/en/resources/HD/beneficiary-communication/

Country Updates

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Networking

GSMA Mobile industry association

The mobile industry association, GSMA is further rais-ing the profile of digital humanitarianism. Its annual Global Mobile Awards feature a category for ‘Best use of Mobile in Emergency or Humanitarian Situations’ and the TERA system was on the shortlist of five nomi-nees for the 2013 Awards. Although the TERA did not win the award, Ian Beckett, vice president of informa-tion technology at Trilogy International Partners says, “It has been heartening to receive this recognition, not only for the technology itself but for the potential it has to equip vulnerable populations with information as aid”.

The IFRC is now working to replicate the TERA model through mobile telecommunication partnerships in disaster-prone regions worldwide. “We are in various stages of negotiation or rollout with regional networks such as Telenor Group in Asia, Safaricom in Africa and Digicel in Central America,” says Will Rogers, Global beneficiary communication coordinator. Adding that, “priority is being given to areas of the world with espe-cially high levels of disaster risk, such as the American, Africa and Asia”.

Vodafone Following high level meetings in London with the Head of the Vodafone CSR department it was decided

to investigate the possible cross fertilisation of the TERA with the Vodafone Instant network system. Vodafone tested their Instant network in the Philip-pines during Typhoon Bohpa and also in Nairobi with the Kenya Red Cross. The Instant network is a port-able mobile network system packed into three cases weighing approximately 100kg. The system allows responders to set up a small mobile network in areas where the countries’ mobile network is down follow-ing a disaster. Incorporating the TERA system into the Instant network will be beneficial to many. The IFRC and Vodafone are in the discussion stage and in the coming weeks further tests are expected to be car-ried out. Talks have also started around how IFRC can partner with Vodafone in deploying the TERA system to some of their 70 plus partner networks globally.

DigicelDigicel, the largest mobile operator in Haiti recently purchased Voila, the mobile network through which the TERA system was first deployed in 2010. Following the acquisition, discussions and tests have been car-ried out to assess the compatibility of the TERA with the Digicel network. The negotiations with Digicel have been on-going with different BC team members put-ting great effort into convincing them (Digicel) to take on the TERA system. If the deployment, is successful it will mean that the TERA will have access to over 5 million people. It is planned that the BC team will re-locate both the TERA and the IVR system to the Digicel Network. The IVR system allows beneficiaries to call a dedicated short code number, allowing them to hear pre-recorded information and respond to questions using their mobile phone keypad. The BC team is work-ing closely with the Digicel and Trilogy Management teams to finalise the technical planning aspects of the TERA and IVR installation. The team is also exploring potential leads to fund the deployment.

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Country Updates

Asia Pacific zone

South Asia

Southeast Asia

Philippine Red Cross – Communities are important source of informationMerlyn Inongan lives in a ‘tent city’ in Compostela Val-ley, on the island of Mindanao, Philippines, established by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and Swiss Red Cross (SRC). Merlyn has been residing in a tent since her home was damaged by Typhoon Bopha that struck on 4 December 2012.

Meryln speaks Bislayn and Manday dialects, two com-monly used dialects in the Compostela Valley. She is now a community-health volunteer for the PRC and

BC in RDRT training in New DelhiA South Asia Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) induction training was held in India between 13th to 21st December 2012. The course curriculum was led by Asia Pacific zone and the training was organized by the SA IFRC delegation. A total of 21 staff and volunteers from SA National Societies and three IFRC delegation participants from other regions were introduced to concepts of beneficiary communication.

During the session participants were given explana-tions as to the importance of two-way communica-tions in early-recovery activities such as assessments and distributions. They were also equipped with tools that they could take to the field on their next assign-ments. The BC module will now become a permanent part of the RDRT curriculum as well as a key compo-nent in RDRT activities.

2013 BC plans in Afghanistan and BangladeshA big thank you to the Swedish Red Cross Society for their contribution to the future developments of BC programming in Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Initial scoping missions have been initiated to each country to evaluate the next steps in BC development within the respective country National Societies.

BC developments in NepalThe TERA system deployment supported by the Ameri-can Red Cross is on-going with discussions being held between the Nepal Red Cross Society and local mobile

operators. While the TERA discussions are underway, the IFRC is collaborating with the British Red Cross to develop a wider BC pilot using the ‘Earthquake Prepar-edness for Safer Communities’ programme in Kath-mandu. The TERA system, along with other communi-cation tools such as radio and Facebook, will serve as platforms to provide key information on earthquake preparedness to at-risk communities.

BC evaluation in PakistanInitial discussions are being held around an evalua-tion of the BC component in the Pakistan 2010 Floods operations. The findings and recommendations from this evaluation will serve as a basis for future BC ac-tivities within the Pakistan Red Crescent Society’s pro-grammes.

If you have any queries on BC developments in SA please contact Louise Taylor at louise.taylor@ifrc.org

Participants at the RDRT training

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Merlyn Inongan is pictured here with Kristine Joyce Calamba and Michelle Khan Abellana of the Philippines Red Cross.

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curriculum of Indonesia. Mr Alaidinsyah, the chairman of PMI says, “The Indonesian Red Cross in Aceh Province is happy to see this project moving along and hope that in the future they will be able to offer more advanced courses around media and communications in commercial and humanitar-ian contexts”. Safriyal , the Income generating coordi-nator of RPMI said, “in the next round of classes we want to involve Red Cross volunteers from every dis-trict in Aceh, this will allow the Radio Rumoh PMI team to build stronger beneficiary communication capacity across the region”. Safriyal goes on to say, “the more people we have with these skills the better, especially in times of disaster”. For more information on the courses please contact Safriyal on: safriyal_se@yahoo.co.id

Regional BC tools and case study:• BCcrowdmap:Tofosterlearningandsharingwith-

in the SEA region, an easy-to-use visual crowd map is developed for volunteers and staff to allow them to share their current and future programmes, and ideas for communicating with communities. The map allows the user to upload their programmes and ideas via the internet, iPhone or any android devices. The map is availableat: https://ifrcbcsouth-eastasia.crowdmap.com/

• BCinfographic:http://goo.gl/vpwwK

• BCcasestudy:IndonesiaRedCross(PMI)casestudy:http://goo.gl/AR5f4

If you have any queries on BC developments in SEA please contact Caroline Austin at caroline.austin@ifrc.org

Country Updates

she shares critical information with her neighbours and friends on a daily basis. Meryln explains how relief and food distributions are conducted by the PRC, and what can be expected for the shelter assistance in the coming months. As a member of the same ‘tent’ com-munity, Meryln is considered a trusted source of infor-mation by the community members.

“There is a sense of relief when I speak with my com-munity members, and they appreciate being listened to. The information is critical for our well-being,” Mer-yln explains.

The PRC with the support of the IFRC, is making an effort to communicate with beneficiaries in all areas affected by Typhoon Bohpa. For more information on response activities in Bopha, please view: http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/philippines/

2013 BC plans for Vietnam The Vietnam Red Cross in collaboration with the IFRC and the American Red Cross, is working to develop sustainable BC programming in Vietnam. Some of the outcomes have included the society incorporating BC for the first time within its nationwide communication strategy. This strategic change is further complement-ed by the recent awarding of a USAID funded project to the society and its consortium partners. This project will commence soon and it will focus in accelerating Vietnam’s transition to sustainable development in cli-mate-resilience and low carbon emissions. This will see the implementation of a SMS system and the broader BC programming within the National Society.

Radio broadcasting and journalism course by PMI, IndonesiaThe team at the RPMI Aceh, the 24 hour radio station developed during the Tsunami response by the Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) and the Irish Red Cross (IRCS), recently developed a Radio Broadcasting and Journal-ism course that they are now providing at the RPMI studios in Aceh. The course covers both reporting for radio and radio broadcasting techniques. The training lasts for two months and gives people an opportunity to learn in studio and field based environments. The course is currently full with 20 new students. The train-ing modules are based on the National Broadcasters

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Country Updates Country Updates

Africa zone

BC developments in Sierra Leone

The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society has distributed four hundred and eighty portable wind-up solar-powered radios across the country. Donated by the New Zea-land Red Cross, the portable radios were distributed to Red Cross volunteers running established community groups such as Mother’s clubs, Youth Peer Educators clubs, People Living with HIV/AIDS, Disaster Vigilance committees and Father’s Clubs.

The radios are to encourage communities to listen to the weekly Red Cross nar Salone radio show, which broadcasts a wide range of topics from cholera and malaria prevention to preparation for fires and floods, and the promotion of Red Cross services. Listeners are able to hear from expert guests, phone in to ask questions and have their queries answered live on air. The society’s health education and training manager Raymond Alpha commented, “Communities aren’t re-stricted to listening to Red Cross Nar Salone radio show alone. They are encouraged to use the portable radios to listen to news and other important programmes on their local community radio stations, as well as other national and international radio stations.”

The society’s branch health officer in Bonthe District, Alice Kumabah explains the roles of the Listening Group Volunteers (LGV): “The listening group discusses the information they hear in each show and agree on

key points they want to share with the community. Each member has the responsibility to reach and share the information to not less than five people who did not manage to listen in to the programme.” She added that the beneficiaries of the wind-up solar radios have organised themselves into LGV networks and have even influenced the establishment of six new listen-ing group of people who already own battery powered radios.

Across the country, the branch health officers have re-ported that the radios, the Red Cross radio show and listening groups are highly appreciated, with commu-nities feeling more empowered, connected andmo-tivated. Branch health officer of Kambia, Christiana Kakpindi reported one group had even organised a community clean-up day after listening to a show on solid waste management.

Reached the ‘unreachable’ with the mo-bile cinema

A mobile cinema tour has reached nearly 50,000 people in Sierra Leone with vital information on the causes of cholera and how to prevent it. The tour visited all 14 districts in Sierra Leone, covering different schools and communities each day from September to December 2012. As well as being shown a short animated film, the audience took part in discussions about the causes of cholera, watched hand-washing demonstrations and learnt how to make homemade sugar salt solution to treat dehydration. Bars of soap and cholera awareness leaflets were also handed out.

Sierra Leone Red Cross volunteers, Garber Joseph and Daniel James were responsible for taking the mobile cinema on the road during the four months. Garber explains, “When I first heard about the mobile cinema I wondered how it would work. Then when it was all

The mobile cinema team: Garber is 2nd from the right and Daniel is 4th from the right.

Pacific

TERA developments in Papua New Guinea (PNG)The IFRC and the Secretary General of Papua New Guin-ea Red Cross Society have held preliminary discussions on BC development within the society’s programme activities. The Secretary General requested the support of the zone BC team to guide the deployment of the TERA system in PNG. Following these discussions, local mobile operators in PNG have been approached. So far there has been positive interest from the CEO of BeMo-bile. The society together with the IFRC will continue working on the TERA deployment process.

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Country Updates Country Updates

set up for the first time, I was impressed how visual and easy it was to understand. When we first start the show, you can see some people sitting at the side, but as the show gets going, you see them coming closer and getting involved, asking and answering questions.”

Daniel adds, “Peoples’ reactions have been great. When this cholera business started, people really needed in-formation on how to protect themselves and the cin-ema provided that. And everyone gets a chance to be involved and to participate in the show. When commu-nities get involved, it is an opportunity for the National Society to learn what the communities think and un-derstand their level of knowledge on a topic.”

Both Garber and Daniel would recommend mobile cinema to other Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Mobile cinema captivates people and lots of commu-nities have asked when the Red Cross mobile cinema will return. Despite the bad road conditions in Sierra Leone, the society reached the ‘unreachable’ with the mobile cinema. As part of the cinema tour, each Sierra Leone Red Cross branch is equipped with their own cinema equipment so they can continue running this activity after the cholera operation closes.

Cinema by numbers:

If you have any queries on BC developments in Sierra Le-one please contact Sharon Reader at sharon.reader@ifrc.org or Patrick Massaquoi at massaquoipatrick@yahoo.com

Total people attending a cinema show

47,008

Communities visited 67

Schools visited 57

School pupils reached 25,717

Bars of soap handed out 16,018

Cholera awareness leaflets distributed

8,500

Middle East and North Africa zone

Jordon Red Crescent Society – BC component in cash transfer programmeIn response to the humanitarian needs of families who have fled the ongoing violence in Syria, the Jordan Red Crescent Society, with support from the IFRC and the Swiss Red Cross, will soon implement a cash transfer programme to help affected families meet their basic needs.

As part of the cash transfer programme, the society in collaboration with a local bank, will distribute bank ATM cards to beneficiaries. Information on the cash transfer will be sent to beneficiaries via SMS messag-ing. The SMS will provide advise on usage of the ATM card and explaining that they are free to use their cards to withdraw money at their convenience. This is part of a broader beneficiary communication plan which will include small group meetings with selected beneficiar-ies to explain the programme, handover of the ATM cards and attend to queries. A ‘hotline’ is planned to be set up and made available to beneficiaries to ask questions, convey problems or complaints and request for assistance.

If you have any queries on BC developments in MENA please contact Raefah Makki at raefah.makki@ifrc.org

A Syrian refugee woman validates her registration details to receive food and hygiene parcels distributed by JRC.

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www.ifrc.orgSaving lives, changing minds.

For more information, please contact:

Will Rogers

Global beneficiary communication coordinator

Tel: +60 3 9207 5788 | Mobile: +60 19 323 2480 |

E-mail: will.rogers@ifrc.org | Skype: willrogers-1

International Federation of

Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFRC Asia Pacific zone

The Ampwalk, Suite 10.02 (North Block)

218 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur,

MALAYSIA. Tel: +60 3 9207 5700