Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) as a consortium member, has been implementing the project, “Strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement and Vaccine Communication for COVID-19 Prevention” through 5 community radio stations located in different 5 Upazilas covering approximately 2,119,000 population in rural Bangladesh.

The purpose of the campaign is to prevent pandemic COVID – 19 by engaging the community and ensuring vaccination for all. BNNRC is assigned for building awareness of the community and animating all stakeholders so that they can maintain health protocol, reinforce collective action to combat rumors and misinformation, and get the vaccine as early as possible.

Achieving the goal, BNNRC has been fostering 4 major activities by mobilizing 5 community radio stations. The interventions are developing and broadcasting Public Service Announcement (PSA), Jingle, radio call-in shows and facilitated courtyard meetings on COVID-19 at community levels.

The activities of the project are achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 i.e. good health and well-being, SDG 4 i.e. quality education; SDG 5 i.e. Gender equality and SDG 10 i.e. reduced inequalities. The project has targeted to keep lives and livelihoods functioning through COVID – 19 vaccinations for all.

BNNRC has developed a one-pager on the project activities, outlines and guidelines for Call-In show programs and courtyard sessions, contents of programs, and guidelines for developing Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) materials like Public Service Announcement. Initially, BNNRC facilitated a virtual orientation session with the Community Radio broadcasters to brief the project goals, objectives, activities, strategies, reporting and data collection formats, and the role of consortium members and broadcasters. BNNRC facilitated several fortnightly program coordination meetings with the radio broadcasters.

Six common banners were developed and shared with the selected 5 radio stations for using them in the events like- Radio Call-In Show, Courtyard meetings, and on their Facebook pages. A special banner was developed and shared with the radio stations so that they could use it during the special programs on Booster doses of vaccination.

The campaign is reaching approximately 2,119,000 population of 49 Upazilas (9 full) under the districts of Bhola, Barguna, Gaibandha, and Kurigram of Barishal and Rangpur division. A total of 444 youth and youth women community broadcasters have been contributing to running the program where 225 are male and 219 are female.

In the meanwhile, all 5 community radios have organized and broadcasted 23 Radio Call-In shows. Besides, facilitated 40 courtyard sessions covering 1,165 community people where 181 were male, 771 were female, 141 were girls, and 70 youth and youth women participated. The objectives of the events were to animate the youth to come forward to taking collective initiatives to prevent COVID – 19. BNNRC has mobilized and guided radios with the necessary information, guideline, and topics for discussion.

Five radios have developed and been broadcasting eleven PSAs and eight jingles on health protocol, vaccination, side effects, and post-vaccination preparation in consultation with UNICEF and the Led consortium member, The Hunger Project (THP). Radio stations have also exchanged the PSAs among them and broadcasted 3 PSAs daily by rotation and in the prime air times. In addition, radio stations have captured 13 messages of Deputy Commissioner (DC), Civil Surgeon (CS), Mayor, Upazila Chairman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer, and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) inviting community people for getting booster doses of the vaccine.

It is to be noted here that meeting the trend of audiences, all five Community Radio stations have been streaming Radio Call-In shows live through mobilizing social media “Facebook” and uploading Public Service Announcements (PSA) and Jingles with some pictorials.

The project is run by 5 consortium members in the collaboration with 157 local and national NGOs and 11 Community radios. So common understanding is a great concern for blending online and offline activities.

BNNRC is responsible for coordinating and monitoring the ongoing awareness-building campaign activities broadcasted by 5 Community Radios of Barishal and Rangpur division and provides them with the necessary feedback to ensure the quality of programs. This is an emergency response short-term project duration of 6 months.

A total amounting to BDT 2,956,365 (US$ 34,503) is allocated for five community radios to implement the project activities. All 5 collaborative community radios will receive a total amounting to BDT 5,91,273.00 (Taka five lac ninety-one thousand two hundred and seventy-three only) i.e.

• Community Radio Meghna will receive BDT 5,91,273.00 i.e. (US$ 6,901),
• Community Radio Krishi will receive BDT 5,91,273.00 i.e. (US$ 6,901),
• Community radio Lokobetar will receive BDT 5,91,273.00 i.e. (US$ 6,901),
• Community Radio Sarabela will receive BDT 5,91,273.00 i.e. (US$ 6,901), &
• Community Radio Chilmari will receive BDT 5,91,273.00 i.e. (US$ 6,901).

for implementing the project activities. The project kicked off on March 17, 2022, and will be concluded on September 16, 2022.