March 2013

#02

News at a glance
Networking Global developments: GSMA Mobile industry association Vodafone Digicel Country Updates Asia Pacific zone
South Asia

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 outstanding 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

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 promotional tools!

TERA (Trilogy Emergency Response Application) internal & external marketing kit 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/

New Guinea TERA developments

Africa zone Sierra Leone Communities reached Middle East and North Africa zone Jordon SMS and phone-in hotlines for beneficiaries
www.ifrc.org

Saving lives, changing minds.

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Beneficiary Communication Outreach Edition 2, March 2013 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Networking

GSMA Mobile industry association

The mobile industry association, GSMA is further raising 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 nominees for the 2013 Awards. Although the TERA did not win the award, Ian Beckett, vice president of information 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 especially high levels of disaster risk, such as the American, Africa and Asia.

to investigate the possible cross fertilisation of the TERA with the Vodafone Instant network system. Vodafone tested their Instant network in the Philippines during Typhoon Bohpa and also in Nairobi with the Kenya Red Cross. The Instant network is a portable 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 following 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 carried 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.

Digicel
Digicel, 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 carried 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 putting 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 relocate 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 working 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.

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

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Beneficiary Communication Outreach Edition 2, March 2013 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Country Updates

Asia Pacific zone South Asia

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 Preparedness for Safer Communities programme in Kathmandu. The TERA system, along with other communication tools such as radio and Facebook, will serve as platforms to provide key information on earthquake preparedness to at-risk communities.

BC evaluation in Pakistan
Initial discussions are being held around an evaluation 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 activities within the Pakistan Red Crescent Societys programmes.
Louise Talyor Participants at the RDRT training

BC in RDRT training in New Delhi

A South Asia Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT)

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

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 explanations as to the importance of two-way communications 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 assignments. The BC module will now become a permanent part of the RDRT curriculum as well as a key component in RDRT activities.

Southeast Asia
Philippine Red Cross Communities are important source of information
Merlyn 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 commonly used dialects in the Compostela Valley. She is now a community-health volunteer for the PRC and

2013 BC plans in Afghanistan and Bangladesh

A big thank you to the Swedish Red Cross Society for

BC developments in Nepal
The 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

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

Caroline Austin

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.

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Beneficiary Communication Outreach Edition 2, March 2013 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

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 community, Meryln is considered a trusted source of information by the community members. There is a sense of relief when I speak with my community members, and they appreciate being listened to. The information is critical for our well-being, Meryln 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/ 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 humanitarian contexts. Safriyal , the Income generating coordinator of RPMI said, in the next round of classes we want to involve Red Cross volunteers from every district 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

2013 BC plans for Vietnam

The Vietnam Red Cross in collaboration with the IFRC

Regional BC tools and case study:

BC crowd map: To foster learning and sharing within 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://ifrcbcsoutheastasia.crowdmap.com/

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 complemented 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 Vietnams transition to sustainable development in climate-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, Indonesia

The 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 Journalism 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 training modules are based on the National Broadcasters

BC info graphic: http://goo.gl/vpwwK BC case study: Indonesia Red Cross (PMI) case study: http://goo.gl/AR5f4 If you have any queries on BC developments in SEA please contact Caroline Austin at caroline.austin@ifrc.org

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Beneficiary Communication Outreach Edition 2, March 2013 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Country Updates

Pacific
TERA developments in Papua New Guinea (PNG)
The IFRC and the Secretary General of Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society have held preliminary discussions

on BC development within the societys 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 BeMobile. The society together with the IFRC will continue working on the TERA deployment process.

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 listening group of people who already own battery powered radios. Across the country, the branch health officers have reported that the radios, the Red Cross radio show and listening groups are highly appreciated, with communities feeling more empowered, connected and motivated. 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.

Africa zone
BC developments in Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society has distributed four

Reached the unreachable with the mobile cinema

hundred and eighty portable wind-up solar-powered radios across the country. Donated by the New Zealand Red Cross, the portable radios were distributed to Red Cross volunteers running established community groups such as Mothers clubs, Youth Peer Educators clubs, People Living with HIV/AIDS, Disaster Vigilance committees and Fathers 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 societys health education and training manager Raymond Alpha commented, Communities arent restricted 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 societys 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
The mobile cinema team: Garber is 2nd from the right and Daniel is 4th from the right.

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

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Beneficiary Communication Outreach Edition 2, March 2013 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

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 information on how to protect themselves and the cinema provided that. And everyone gets a chance to be involved and to participate in the show. When communities get involved, it is an opportunity for the National Society to learn what the communities think and understand 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 communities 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:
Total people attending a cinema show Communities visited Schools visited School pupils reached Bars of soap handed out Cholera awareness leaflets distributed 47,008 67 57
Ibrahim Malla/IFRC A Syrian refugee woman validates her registration details to receive food and hygiene parcels distributed by JRC.

Middle East and North Africa zone

Jordon Red Crescent Society BC component in cash transfer programme
In 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 messaging. 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 beneficiaries 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.

25,717 16,018 8,500

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

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

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

www.ifrc.org Saving lives, changing minds.