Joint Evaluation of the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Collective Service: Evaluation Report

Overview

The Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Collective Service, established in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, is a collaboration between the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Its aim is to improve coordination and collaboration for community-led responses to public health emergencies.

The evaluation found that the Service made a number of positive contributions in the technical areas of RCCE coordination, guidance, and information management and that its achievements provide much to build on. It concludes that the original vision of the core partners for the Collective Service has proven valid: that they need to work together to deliver high quality and effective RCCE, strengthen coordination at different levels, empower communities, and reduce the spread of COVID-19.

However, the evaluation also identified challenges that have emerged, including a mismatch between the objectives set for the Service and the resources available, limited communication about the Service's purpose, insufficient integration into the mainstream work of core partners, and an inadequate formal agreement on which to base the partnership. To address these, the evaluation outlines strategic options and recommends actions aimed at developing a future vision and model for the Collective Service and shaping key elements such as its services, membership and fundraising approach.