Sierra Leone Strengthens Community-Centred Emergency Preparedness Through National RCCE Operational Training
Freetown, Sierra Leone – September 2026:
Sierra Leone has strengthened its capacity for community-centred public health emergency preparedness and response following the successful completion of two cohorts of the National Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Operational Training held in Makeni and Kenema.
The first cohort was conducted in Makeni from 7–11 September, followed by the second in Kenema from 14–18 September 2026. A total of 81 participants (63 male (77.8%) and 18 female (22.2%)) were recorded across the two cohorts, bringing together national and district-level professionals and representatives of One Health institutions.
The training was led by the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and with technical and operational support from the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST), Population Services International (PSI), GOAL, ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) and other One Health partners.
From communicating to communities to working with communities
The training was designed around a central principle: communities should not simply be recipients of public health information. They should be active partners in identifying problems, shaping solutions and evaluating whether interventions are working.
Over five intensive days in each location, participants strengthened practical skills in emergency coordination, One Health RCCE, stakeholder engagement, evidence generation, community feedback, social listening, Behavioural Intelligence and Infodemic Management (BIIM), inclusive risk communication, media engagement, Community-Led Action (CLA), monitoring and evaluation, and emergency action planning.
The programme placed particular emphasis on using evidence from communities to inform decisions. Participants explored how concerns, rumours, misinformation, emotions, trust, service experiences and behavioural barriers can influence whether people accept or reject recommended public health actions.
Rather than focusing only on what communities know, participants were encouraged to ask a deeper question: Why are people behaving the way they do, and what must the response system change as a result?
Learning through practice
A major feature of the training was its practical approach. Technical presentations were combined with experience sharing, group discussions, case studies, pre- and post-training assessments and practical exercises.
Participants also worked through a progressive Viral Haemorrhagic Fever simulation, applying RCCE interventions across different stages of an emergency—from alert and investigation through response and community transmission.
The simulation provided participants with a practical opportunity to apply key RCCE skills, focusing on RCCE data collection, validation and analysis of information, and action planning. Participants worked through a simulated VHF scenario to identify and assess community concerns and information needs, interpret the available data, and determine appropriate RCCE actions. The exercise also highlighted the cross-pillar relevance of RCCE and the importance of collaboration with other response functions during a VHF outbreak..
Regional experience strengthened the learning
The training also provided an important platform for regional learning, with contributions from colleagues from Liberia National Public Health Institue, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and ECOWAS RCSDC.
Visiting colleagues shared case studies and lessons from previous outbreaks, allowing participants to compare country experiences and identify approaches that could be adapted to Sierra Leone.
Dr. Imabong Udo Isang of ECOWAS RCSDC, together with other national and regional colleagues, supported the rollout of the simulation exercise and helped connect the Sierra Leone experience with wider regional preparedness and response priorities.
The regional participation reinforced an important message: health emergencies frequently cross borders, and stronger national RCCE systems contribute to stronger regional health security.
Participants valued the practical and community-led approach
Reflections from participants and facilitators highlighted the collaborative and highly practical nature of the programme.
Participants particularly valued the opportunity to learn from colleagues working in different sectors and countries, practice RCCE decision-making through simulation, and examine how community evidence can be translated into concrete public health action.
Regional participants also highlighted the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and build new professional connections across West Africa.
The training environment itself was recognised as a strength. The openness, energy and collaborative spirit of facilitators including Olive Leonard and Sharon Reader from UK-PHRST , Patrick , Harold Thomas of NPHA along with Shirley and Aminata from GOAL helped create an environment in which participants could freely share experiences, challenge assumptions and learn from one another.
One of the strongest reflections emerging from the training was the importance of moving from community participation to genuine community leadership in public health preparedness and response.
Communities at the centre after the training
The real measure of the training will be what happens after participants return to their districts, institutions and communities.
Participants developed practical priorities for applying and cascading the knowledge gained. The expectation is that national and district teams will strengthen mechanisms for routinely listening to communities, identifying emerging concerns early and ensuring that community feedback reaches decision-makers.
This means engaging community health workers, traditional and religious leaders, women, young people, persons with disabilities, local authorities, civil society organisations, the media and other trusted community structures before, during and after emergencies.
Community feedback should also result in visible action. When communities raise concerns about health services, referrals, vaccination, surveillance or emergency interventions, RCCE teams must work with the appropriate technical pillars to respond and then return to communities to explain what was heard, what was done and what happens next.
This feedback loop is essential for building and sustaining trust.
Partnership driving stronger RCCE systems
The success of the training reflected strong collaboration among government institutions and partners.
The NPHA and Ministry of Health provided national leadership and ensured that the programme was linked to Sierra Leone's public health emergency structures and priorities.
The UK Public Health Rapid Support Team and PSI provided significant technical expertise and facilitation support, working closely with national colleagues to tailor the programme to the Sierra Leone context.
GOAL contributed technical, operational and partnership support, while ECOWAS RCSDC and participating regional colleagues strengthened cross country learning and helped connect national capacity building with the wider West African RCCE and BIIM agenda.
The collaborative approach demonstrated that strengthening RCCE requires not only trained individuals but also strong institutions, functioning coordination mechanisms and sustained partnerships.
From training to action
With the completion of the Makeni and Kenema cohorts, attention now turns to translating learning into measurable improvements at national, district and community levels.
Priorities include cascading relevant skills, implementing national and district action plans, strengthening community feedback and BIIM mechanisms, improving coordination across One Health sectors, and ensuring that community evidence routinely informs preparedness and response decisions.
The training ultimately reinforced a simple but important principle:
Effective public health response starts with listening. Communities must be engaged not only as beneficiaries of interventions, but as partners in understanding risks, identifying solutions, building trust and protecting lives.
The UK-PHRST is an innovative partnership between the UK Health Security Agency and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, funded with Official Development Assistance (ODA) by the UK Department of Health and Social Care.