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In a crisis, the media has the power to save lives. Effective communication can help people to survive, cope and recover.

In partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), we’re training media outlets, national Red Cross societies, NGOs, and Ministry of Health representatives in communicating effectively during emergencies.

We’ve conducted training workshops in eight countries (Kenya, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Uganda, Cameroon and Indonesia) covering a range of scenarios – including epidemics and pandemics, conflict, and disasters such as flooding and earthquakes.

By training participants in mixed groups, we’ve helped to nurture productive relationships between key government representatives and journalists – building trust and mutual understanding so they can work together more effectively should disaster strike.

The ultimate goal is that, in an emergency, affected and at-risk communities have better access to useful and actionable information from the media, to help them survive and cope, and to have a voice which enables them to play a greater role in their own recovery.

Our training is already being put to good use. In late November 2019, journalists from three radio stations in western Kenya, whom we had trained in Lifeline programming earlier in the year, sprang into action to provide vital information to communities affected by devastating flash floods and landslides. Coverage included interviews with the meteorological department who advised people to move to higher ground, information on where to receive first aid and medical services, a hotline number for non-affected people to donate emergency items, and interviews with local and national leaders.

As part of this project, we have produced a practical  which is free to download, use and share.

Project information