Supporting Preparedness and Response to Cyclone Freddy In Madagascar- A Contribution from the Social and Behaviour Change Communication

Abstract

Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBC) is one of the vital strategic programs that aim to empower people to be resilient in preparation and response to emergencies. This paper outlines steps undertaken by SBC partners in Madagascar as a contribution towards preparation and response initiatives to cyclone Freddy, and discusses observations and lessons learnt to inform future programming in the country and other cyclone-affected regions. It bases its conceptual framework around the emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (PPRR), the Emergency Risk Management Framework (ERM) as well as the UNICEF Framework on Accountability to Affected Population (AAP) to define the interventions based on three major phases of the intervention i.e., before, during and after. An SMS-based survey was used as a feedback mechanism and as a tool to assess SBC interventions 3 days after the passage of cyclone Freddy. The survey used a structured questionnaire where 450 respondents participated from 13 regions of the country. Scouts (youth mobilisers) and other NGO partners in the emergency network conducted phone calls, entered data into a Kobo-Collect template and analysed the data using simple percentiles in excel sheets. Analysis of the processes and results of the survey indicated that there was adequate utilisation of systematic steps in emergency preparedness. These included strategic planning and prepositioning of communication materials in all the 23 regions of the country, coordination and partnership at national, regional and district levels, implementation of a mixture communication and engagement methods and efforts to collect and respond to feedback. Three days from the onset of Freddy, the affected people were highly exposed to life saving messages (86%) but needed more exposure to life improving messages i.e., health (29.6%), child stimulation (29.3%), WASH (29.3%), nutrition (18%), Gender-based Violence (10.2%) and Violence against Children (4%). SBC interventions showed positive results in the use of bed nets to prevent malaria (85.7%), hand washing with soap to prevent diarrheal diseases and COVID-19 (95.6%) and reporting of cases on gender-based violence and violence against children (31.6%). 50.9% of the interviewed individuals acknowledged having been well informed about humanitarian interventions.