WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
WHO/EHA
EMERGENCY HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA
2. TOOLS
2.11. Community Participation for
Emergency Preparedness
Panafrican Emergency Training Centre, Addis Ababa, July 1998

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11. Community Participation for Emergency Preparedness
Overhead Transparencies
2.11.1. Community Participation, Components
2.11.2. Public Education .1
2.11.3. Public Education .2
2.11.4. Participatory Planning .1
2.11.5. Participatory Planning .2
2.11.6. Capacity Building .1
2.11.7. Capacity Building. 2
2.11.8. Capacity Building. 3
2.11.9. Capacity Building. 4

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.10. Community Participation for Emergency Preparedness
Trainers' Guide
Objective:
To illustrate the basic components of, and the processes leading to community
participation in emergency preparedness. One example -preparedness against
earthquakes - can be used to accompany this module. (Attitudes)
Key-message:
“Community education” is NOT ENOUGH. The community must be empowered, that is
given the means to do something. Plans do not Work, People Work.
2.11.1. Community Participation, Components
Present and discuss. Education alone is not enough. The community must be
informed, must be involved in planning and must be given the administrative means
and the material resources that are needed.
2.11.2. Public Education .1
Present and discuss. This must start by discussing the hazard to which the
community is exposed, then proceed through the early warning signs and the
measures for protection. These include protection for individuals for their property
and for the systems - water, energy, access etc - which are critical for the
community to survive.
2.11.3. Public Education .2
Present and discuss. The education of the community must proceed by dealing with
a series of specific techniques that are relevant in most if not all emergencies.
These include general behaviour vis-à-vis the hazard, search and rescue, first aid
and Co-ordination of first relief operations.
2.11.4. Participatory Planning .1
Present and discuss. Planning is a process that starts by identifying the right
partners. It continues with the community mapping the risks and outlining what
are the priority areas of work and the major hypothesis for permanent reduction of
the risk of a disaster.
2.11.5. Participatory Planning .2

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
Present and discuss. The planning process should include the overall protection of
the community’s vital systems vis-à-vis the most prevalent hazards. It should also
cover essentials of planning that would come useful in any contingency: access,
shelter and sanitation, water, food supply, health care, communications, etc. Many
hazards entail secondary hazards in their wake: contingency planning should cover
these too.
2.11.6. Capacity Building .1
Present and discuss. Human resources (or ‘capabilities’) are essential, and they
must be ensured by training volunteers in the basic techniques that will come useful
in most emergencies
2.11.7. Capacity Building. 2
Present and discuss. Human resources are not enough if they are not supported by
appropriate equipment and supplies. Material resources need administrative
procedures, for their maintenance and prompt mobilisation.
2.11.8. Capacity Building. 3
Present and discuss. One campaign of education is not enough. Preparedness must
be sustained by keeping the community updated on the situation and on the key
elements of the preparedness plan. Community participation means dialogue and
empowerment.
2.11.9. Capacity Building. 4
Present and discuss. A planning process never ends. Plans must be periodically
rehearsed, evaluated and readjusted.
Stand-alone. Complementary to Protecting the Community’s Vital Systems (2.9.) and
Civil Protection (2.10.). Can be accompanied by Community Participation for
Preparedness against Earthquake, as an example.
Essential Reading:
ƒ Coping with Natural Disasters, The role of local health personnel and the
community, WHO/IFRC, 1989
ƒ Coping and Survival Mechanisms in the Context of Disaster Management,
WHO/PTC, 1993

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.1. Community Participation, Components
Communication Participation
for
Preparedness
Public education. 1
• Hazards
• Warning signs
• Awareness of the Risk
• How to reduce personal vulnerability
• How to reduce the vulnerability of buildings
• How to reduce the vulnerability of vital systems

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.2. Public Education .1
Communication
Participation for
Emergency Preparedness. 1
Public Education
• Prevailing hazards and warning signs
• Awareness of risk
• Ways to reduce personal and community
vulnerability
• What to do in the event of an emergency (possibly
with drills)
• How to form response teams

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.3. Public Education .2
Community Participation
for
Preparedness
Public education.2
• What to do if one hazard
materialises
• Search and rescue
• First aid
• How to form response teams

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.4. Participatory Planning .1
Community Participation
for
Preparedness
Participatory planning.1
• Identify and involve partners
• Identify the most vulnerable areas
and/or sections of the population
• Assess the vulnerability of the vital
systems
• Consider relocating the most vulnerable
groups of population

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.5. Participatory Planning .2
Community Participation
for
Preparedness
Participatory planning. 2
• Plan for long-term protection of vital systems
• Plan for Contingencies:
⇒emergency access
⇒temporary shelter
⇒alternative access to food
⇒alternative delivery of health care
⇒emergency communication, information
and co-ordination systems
Plan for the main hazard and for
the secondary hazards

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.6. Capacity Building .1
Community Participation
for
Preparedness
Capacity Building .1
Train Volunteers:
• building triage
• search and rescue
• first aid
• rapid need assessment

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.7. Capacity Building. 2
Community Participation
for
Preparedness
Capacity Building .2
Ensure the rapid availability of essential
response equipment
• physical access
• stockpiles
• administrative access:
⇒who keeps the key?
• state:
⇒does it work?
⇒when was it checked?

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.8. Capacity Building. 3
Community Participation
for
Preparedness
Capacity Building .3
Inform the Community
• on plans
• on responsibilities
• on focal points
• on the situation

WHO/EHA/EHTP Draft 1 - 1999
2.11.9. Capacity Building. 4
Community Participation
for
Preparedness
Capacity building .4
Rehearse and readjust
the plans