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Communication Review Evaluation and 2013 Planning

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Summary

Communication review evaluation
In 2012, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan held polio communication reviews, and Afghanistan held one in October 2011. The nature of these reviews varied according to country needs, with themes and geographic focus for the reviews finalised to address the specific needs of each country programme. While anecdotal feedback on the reviews is mostly positive, we have not yet evaluated the impact of reviews on improving country-level activities or outcomes. The survey you’ve been asked to participate in is designed to solicit inputs from the country polio teams and others who have been involved in communication reviews to help assess their value and make future investments more relevant and helpful to the country programmes.

The information below is designed to provide more in-depth background information on the history and objectives of communication reviews and the role that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and The Communication Initiative (The CI) have played.

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Background
Polio communication reviews were first rolled out in 2006 as a refinement of the global polio Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) held initially as multi-country reviews in 2005 (Cameroon) and 2006 (Harare, Zimbabwe). The country-specific communication reviews were developed as a means to provide independent, in-depth, programme-specific technical guidance to polio communication efforts in the four endemic countries (Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan). They were modelled after surveillance reviews, in that participants spend time in the country examining all relevant facets of the programme, after which recommendations are presented to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners. The communication reviews were designed to maintain flexibility in team composition, processes, and focus in order to meet the changing polio programme needs. Since 2007, there have been over 20 communication reviews in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

As the lead GPEI partner for communication and social mobilisation, the UNICEF country polio teams lead in organising the reviews in consultation with government and other GPEI partners. This includes: facilitating planning and finalising dates, selecting panel members, providing in-country support/logistics, and presenting and finalising the review report. Other GPEI partners and donors support the reviews globally by sending staff to participate as panel members; they do so in-country through additional logistics and participation in review activities. The CI has played a significant role in developing, supporting, and participating in all the communication reviews held to date and, with financial assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is able to identify, contract, and deploy technical experts from outside the GPEI to participate as review panel members. The CI also contributes to the review as needed by developing tools, leading and/or supporting in-country review processes, and finalising recommendations into a consolidated report.

The basic communication review process includes the following steps, completed in consultation with government, GPEI country partners, and with assistance from UNICEF headquarters (HQ), The CI, and other partners:

  • Determining themes and geographic focus for the polio communication review: Reviews can look at the entire communication programme or focus on specific aspects of the communication effort, such as media, data, or efforts to reach special populations. Themes can include aspects of the programme such as end-game strategies or integration of polio with other child survival interventions. Additionally, reviews often look at activities in high-risk areas, such as the northern states of Nigeria or polio sanctuaries in Pakistan, but can also include an overview of the entire communication strategy or structure.
  • Setting dates for the communication review: The review usually takes a total of 7-10 days in country, with 1-2 days for the initial orientation, 3-5 days field time, 1-2 days to refine recommendations, and a final day to present findings to GPEI partners. Field time is dependent on travel time in country and the types of review activities required.
  • Identifying participants who have skill sets appropriate for the themes: Review panels typically consist of one international expert who is paired with a national expert, although teams can be larger if needed to complete review activities. The country polio partnership has the final say in selection of panel members. The UNICEF Country Office (CO) typically issues short-term contracts for nationals who participate in the review. Internationals are often funded by their parent organisations (the World Health Organization (WHO), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Rotary International, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The CI, UNICEF HQ, Regional Office (RO), or CO staff, etc.), and The CI can identify and/or contract panel members who are not affiliated with any of the traditional GPEI partners. Although it is good to get new ideas and fresh viewpoints, it is important to pair up teams so that at least one member knows the country and polio programme well in order to get solid recommendations in such a short period.
  • Finalising logistics: The agendas for review panel teams need to be thought through and logistics and background documents put in place. This includes: obtaining security clearances; making in-country travel arrangements; confirming meetings; developing support documents such as terms of reference (TORs) for each theme, presentation and reporting template; and gathering background documents.
  • Orienting review panel members in country: This usually takes about half a day and consists of an overview of the country polio programme, the communication strategy and main activities, and a summary of the review process, themes, and reporting requirements.
  • Deploying to the field: Teams usually travel to the field to observe activities, conduct interviews, and participate in events. It is important to arrange meetings with government, partners, and UNICEF staff, as well for orientations and debriefs. Usually, members of the UNICEF polio (national or field office) team accompany review panel teams to the field. If security or other factors inhibit travel, review teams can remain in the capital but, depending on the theme they are assigned, this can limit their ability to make solid recommendations.
  • Refining findings: Prior to presenting recommendations to government and drafting a report, one day is typically reserved for teams to collect their thoughts and go through the basic findings with a core team from the country programme. This can be done as a group with all review teams participating, individually with each team discussing their findings, or both. The debrief allows technical focal points from the country programme to listen to and give feedback on the draft recommendations to ensure consistency among the various panel teams and help teams make recommendations appropriate for the context of the programme.
  • On the final day, review teams give a presentation of findings to the GPEI partnership in country. This is an opportunity for government and other GPEI partners to seek clarification or give inputs towards the final set of review recommendations.
  • Upon completion of the review, usually within a week, the teams submit a report summarising their work and findings. These reports are usually submitted to UNICEF and the government, and can be in the form of separate reports for each review team or consolidated into a final document. The CI is often available to oversee the final report writing process, but this must be spelled out early in discussions.
  • After receiving the final recommendations, country teams then must decide what aspects they will adopt in the yearly work plan. Communication review recommendations are not binding, but are intended to provide country programmes with in-depth analysis of progress, barriers, and a suggested way forward. It is incumbent upon country teams to accept, modify, or reject recommendations as appropriate for the programme. In India, this has been done systematically by holding meetings after the review to prioritise recommendations and integrate them into programme workplans.

See also: Reflections on Experience: Towards More Effective Polio Communication Reviews

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