community-based disaster risk management and the media media kit

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MEDIA KIT
Although the dissemination of the information is optimal
from national level down to the village, we observed
however that the dissemination of the information within the
village (from EWS village volunteer to the villagers) were
not as expected. Evaluations showed that the information
did not reach all the villagers, especially the households
far from the board, illiterate people, and women head of
family.
The volunteer fulfi lls his responsibilities of displaying the
information on the board but does not undertake any other
dissemination activities such as meeting with villagers
and visits to vulnerable household. Social barriers and the
absence of economic compensation for the volunteer are
believed to be important limitations.
Moreover, the board remains complicated. Even with
the use of colors and arrows, illiterate people still have
diffi culties to access the information. People living far from
the board have diffi culties to reach the board during fl ood
season, a problem affecting especially the women head
of families.
Conclusion and Way Forward
A too technical top-down approach, which, however,
allowed setting up the system, had certainly some part of
responsibility in the diffi culties encountered.
A more systematic participatory approach with the villagers,
the possibility for the villagers to choose their preferred
way to receive the forecast and the simplifi cation of the
board will certainly improve the access of everybody to
the information (in terms of reception and understanding).
The use of other communication channel (i.e. FM radio,
television) is now investigated and will be the key to
reach all the population especially the vulnerable groups.
Messages should be simplifi ed as much as possible.