Effective child engagement strategies are essential to optimise the response to disease outbreaks and minimise their impact while ensuring children’s protection, well-being and resilience. When children understand disease outbreaks, they are better able to cope, contribute and recover. This promotes well-being and both protects children and recognises their agency. The Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region is prone to disease outbreaks including Ebola and other haemorrhagic fevers, measles, cholera, anthrax and meningitis, all of which can disproportionately affect children.
This brief explores why, when and how to engage children in the prevention, response and recovery stages. Drawing on published and grey literature, including project reports, and the authors’ extensive experience, it provides guidance to support the design and development of child-friendly communication and engagement strategies related to disease outbreaks. The brief covers efforts involving children and adolescents under 18 years and recommends three levels of participation. Organisations and practitioners can select a level based on organisational objectives, resources and readiness to engage with children.
This brief is available in English, Spanish, Portugese, French, Swahili and Arabic.
