WHAT IS THE PLATFORM
This Platform has been set up by the World Health Organization for community stakeholders. It embraces collaborative construction of knowledge and experiences for building sustainable and resilient communities that are able and ready to respond quickly and efficiently to emergencies of all hazards.
Community stakeholders, including but not limited to community based and civil society organizations, are well positioned to advocate for their constituencies and should be systematically engaged with local and national governments and partners, as well as international partners for strengthening sustainability and resilience of their communities. This often requires knowledge and experiences beyond the available resources. To meet this need, this Platform offers an informal collaborative space through its Discussion Forum to:
- generate new and access the existing knowledge,
- share experiences and practices,
- discuss challenges and find solutions
This Platform is inclusive of everyone who is committed to finding sustainable solutions for health and wellbeing of their communities. The Discussion Forum is moderated by the Community Readiness and Resilience team of the World Health Organization and is accessible to registered users.
Take a tour of the Platform (video tour)
GENERATING KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge and resources in this Platform are generated by users. By sharing, we go beyond available resources – we generate new ones. By sharing, we reach the unreachable. By sharing, we leave no one behind.
Registered users can share through voices from communities, participatory community structures, and case studies in the form of writing, photographs, illustrations, and videos.
Voices from communities
Community voices have the power to influence decisions and build strong networks for sharing experiences and success, finding sustainable solutions to common challenges, and building resilient communities.
“HOPE gave me and many others an opportunity to turn over a new leaf.”
Hakima Baloch, empowered by HOPE USA.
“As artists, we believe that it’s our duty to raise people’s awareness.”
In Idleb, Northwest Syria, artists drawing COVID-19 prevention and control messages on the ruins of war-destroyed buildings. Coordinated by Relief Experts Association.
“We as youth have a crucial role to play.”
In Kisumu, Kenya, Organization of African Youth supporting local government in COVID-19 response.
Participatory community structures
Participatory community structures put communities at the centre of decision making on their wellbeing and help to improve accountability and inclusion.
Migrant TV, ASAM, giving access to education, health and social services to asylum seekers and refugees.
Case studies
Case studies help to better understand persistent challenges, find solutions and plan efficiently for needed actions. Case studies help to generate evidence and knowledge. Case studies also celebrate success and make compelling stories heard.
Ecuador: Meaningfully engaging community stakeholders
PAHO/WHO Ecuador Country Office is committed to scaling up meaningful engagement of community stakeholders to position health as central to the agenda of equity and inclusion, which should become the driving force for building resilient national and local health systems and resilient to emergencies communities. The CSO engagement initiative has demonstrated the need to step up systematic engagement at the community level to facilitate quality service delivery to communities within the global commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage.
Perspectives
Insightful thoughts and strategies shared by our mentors, thought leaders, influencers offer guidance and inspire innovation.
Informed responses require CSOs at the table
"We cannot have an informed-sensitive and rights-sensitive engagement with communities without them at the table."
Dr Jaya Shreedha
Health and Development Journalist, Internews.
Building on lessons learned
“We must develop ways to work more with CSOs to be better prepared for response to any emergency in the future.”
Dr Custodia B. Florindo
National Director of Operations, Servisu Nasional Ambulancia Emergencia Medika, Ministry of Health, Timor-Leste.
Knowledge bank
Registered users have unlimited free access to the knowledge bank with tools, guidelines and publications on building resilient communities.
Join us to access the resources.
Discussion forum
Registered users can access the discussion forum to share their experiences and practices, learn from each other, share challenges and solutions, and build networks. Join us to start a discussion.
Registered Organizations
This Platform is inclusive and open to anyone who is dedicated to sustainable solutions for the health and wellbeing of their communities.