The disaster risk communication process
BBC Media Action recommends a basic process to guide disaster risk communication, with four phases and related activities that circulate in a continuing loop (see Figure 1).
Contents of Disaster Risk Communication Hub
- Understand – Take time to assess the people, problems and context related to your topic – including the local media and communication context.
- Plan – Consider exactly what you aim to achieve with your communication, how it will happen, and why you think it will work.
- Do – Communicate in ways that reach and resonate with diverse audiences and support your specific aims.
- Improve – Learn from what worked and what did not, over the short-term and longer-term.
Three cross-cutting principles apply across this process: collaboration with actors from different sectors, creativity to overcome challenges, and learning for consistent advancement.
The process encourages use of a “theory of change” – an approach commonly used in development and social change that explains what changes the initiative aims to achieve, how and why that will happen.
The disaster risk communication ‘loop’ proposed is a dynamic process, not a linear one. You might end up moving back and forth between the different segments. For example, after understanding a problem and starting to plan, you may need more information to inform your plan. Likewise, once your communication activities have started (in Do), you may need to fine-tune your objectives, backing up to ‘Plan’.
Resources
World Health Organization (2018), Communicating risk in public health emergencies: a WHO guideline for emergency risk communication (ERC) policy and practice