Background & Rationale:?

Risk information is critical for the success of building disaster resilience in all phases of the DRM cycle and equally important is how this risk information is communicated and understood for making risk informed decisions. Disaster risk communication aims for making the public aware of the risk in their neighbourhood, improve their knowledge on possible disasters and how they could be prepared. Further, it also seeks to change public attitude towards disaster preparation and change eventually their behaviour for risk-informed decision-making. However, the main challenge of risk communication is the need to improve communication at all levels to ensure that information on risks flows freely and effectively across all of society, and better exchange of access to risk management resources should be guaranteed (United Nations, 2019). Another recent challenge that most countries are facing is dealing with rumour and false information during the current COVID-19 pandemic.? ?

Course Goals & Outline:?

This online fee-based course is designed to offer practical guidance and hands-on experience to participants on developing a disaster risk communication plan, thereby improving risk communication and establishing effective risk-informed decisions at all levels and strengthening disaster resilience. This course looks at risk communication from a multihazard and gender perspective, and mainly focuses on natural hazard-induced disasters (both rapid and slow onset), including epidemics, such as, Covid-19). However, risks arising from man-made hazards have not been considered.?

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At the end of the course, participants will be able to:?

• Raise awareness, knowledge and skills on effective disaster risk communication plan;??
• Develop or enhance their draft disaster risk communication plan in the new normal; and?
• Identify initiatives and good practices on effective disaster risk communication;

The course is comprised of 10 sessions that will be covered over 3 weeks (15 Nov – 03 Dec 2021):?

?Session 1. Course Overview?

This session will focus on the need for disaster risk communication and disaster risk communication plan; and provide a course overview – objectives, contents, design and methodology, and schedule.??

?Session 2. Overview of DRM concepts and frameworks

This session will focus on the concepts, terminologies and frameworks related to DRM. It will also explore linkages between DRM and Disaster Risk Communication.?

Session 3. Situation Analysis?

This session will focus on providing a conceptual understanding to participants about the concept of risk, risk information, risk perception, and risk management options. It will also provide an understanding on risk perception factors in the context of both rapid and slow onset events, including disease epidemics. This session will also cover the general procedures for conducting situation analysis, including methods and how to conduct situation analysis. Finally, participants will be developing their own situation analysis through the Peer Group Work Assignments for the Disaster Risk Communication Plan.??

?Session 4. Disaster Risk Communication Approaches?

This session will focus on various disaster risk communication approaches, including the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Strategy adopted by WHO during COVID-19. Special emphasis will also be placed on gender-responsive and inclusive approaches to risk communication. Lastly, participants will be developing or selecting and using these approaches through the Peer Group Work Assignments for the Disaster Risk Communication Plan.?

?Session 5. Understand your Audience?

This session will focus on audience analysis and segmentation. It will focus on defining and explaining the step-by-step process of audience analysis and segmentation. The participants will learn about determining the important characteristics of an audience in order to choose the best style, format and information for disaster risk communication. Finally, participants will be working on their own audience analysis and segmentation, and identify priority audiences through the Peer Group Work Assignments for the Disaster Risk Communication Plan.?

?Session 6. Establishing Goals/ Objectives?

The core of this session is about guiding you on how to develop goals and SMART objectives for your disaster risk communication plan. It focuses on providing a deeper understanding with examples on desired results of a disaster risk communication plan; namely, changes in behaviour or for the audience to take actions. Lastly, participants will be developing and establishing goals and SMART objectives through the Peer Group Work Assignments for the Disaster Risk Communication Plan.?

?Session 7. Developing Right Message?

This session will help participants to develop the right message by discussing ‘what to say’ and ‘how to say’ for disaster risk communication. It will include examples on ‘how to talk about the hazard’, ‘what to do’ as well as message – style, tone, demeanour, accuracy, and so on. This session will also discuss the importance of developing key messages, getting the right message and getting the message right, and case studies to identify pertinent disaster risk information which may help in aligning the DRC plan. Finally, participants will be working on developing right messages for their prioritized audiences through the Peer Group Work Assignments for the Disaster Risk Communication Plan.?

?Session 8. Delivering Right Message?

This session will focus on tools that are useful when communicating risk to the public, such as, awareness tools, knowledge tools, decision-making tools, and implementation tools. Tools (i.e., traditional and modern) for communicating risk related to disease epidemics with examples will be discussed. Lastly, participants will be working on different tools they will be using to deliver their right messages to the prioritized audiences through the Peer Group Work Assignments for the Disaster Risk Communication Plan.?

Session 9. Monitoring and Evaluation

This session will focus on monitoring and evaluation frameworks for improving the effectiveness of Disaster Risk Communication Plan. The participants will be discuss and identify steps for preparing and implementing monitoring and evaluation plan.? ? ? ?

Session 10. Return Demonstration?

This session will provide opportunity to participants to review and finalize their disaster risk communication plan. The participants will be presenting their final Plan to the panel experts who will be providing specific recommendation on ‘how’ participants can implement their plan when they return to their organization.? ??

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Course Design:?

?This course contains of following components:?

• ?Power point presentation
• Course evaluation
• Evaluation Quizzes
• Course Curriculum
• Online Institutional Community visit
• Online Discussion Forums
• Peer Group Work for Assignment for Disaster Risk Communication Plan
• Coaching and Mentoring?

?Target Audience:??

The target audience for this course are organizations dealing with disaster risk communication; namely,

• National, Local and Sub-national Governments,
• Private Sector and Professional Organizations
• Non-Governmental Organization and Civil Society Organizations
• Education and Research Institutions
• Media
• Regional Organizations including IGOs
• UN, International Organizations

Program/Project managers, including mid-to-senior level staff and personnel from above types of organizations, dealing with risk communication from disaster, public health, and relevant fields are encouraged to apply. Motivated individuals who are interested in enhancing their knowledge and skills on disaster risk communication are also encouraged to take this course.?