TOP Research programmes

Research for advocacy and communication programmes is mainly done in the formative stage while the programme is being designed. It normally includes:

• situation analysis,
• developing the key desirable behavioural result,
• current knowledge levels, attitudes and practices,
• priority market segments,
• SWOT analysis,
• consumer needs, wants, desires,
• positioning, competitors
• communication situation.

Pre-testing

Pre-testing concepts, messages and communication materials is essential to assess whether materials actually communicate what is intended. This helps to save a lot of wasted posters and money.Outcomes and impact research is needed to improve program impact and to promote sustained behaviour change.

JHU/CCP Research and Evaluation section

The Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, one of the better-known universities in this area has a useful online research and evaluation section. The JHU/CCP Research and Evaluation Division has developed a multi-method, applied research system specifically for family planning communication programs. The following principles guide their applied research and evaluation approaches:

• The primary purpose of research and evaluation is to improve program impact and promote sustained behaviour change.
• Research and evaluation is built into every project at the beginning.
• Research and evaluation results belong to the entire health community.
• Coordination of research efforts increases efficiency and reduces costs.
• Standardisation improves quality and comparability.
• Training in research and evaluation is essential to capacity-building and institutionalisation.

See also targets, indicators and monitoring section.

Here is a list of ongoing research on issues for advocacy and organisations involved in advocacy, which can aid advocacy and communication planning. We start with issues related to the WASH campaign of the WSSCC.

HYGIENE

1. Sustainability in hygiene behaviour
This is a three year (2001 - 2003) research and exchange project to find out more about the sustainability of changes in hygiene behaviour. Organisations: IRC and 8 project partners: LSHTM (UK), GTZ (Germany), NEWAH (Nepal), COSI (Sri Lanka), SEUF (India), WaterAid (Uganda), CWSA (Ghana) and NETWAS (Kenya). The European Commission and the Dutch Government funds the project.

2. School Sanitation and Hygiene Education
Implementation of a school sanitation and hygiene education project. Organisations: UNICEF's Education and Water, Environment and Sanitation Programme, IRC and local partners in Burkina Faso, Colombia, India, Nepal, Nicaragua, Viet Nam and Zambia.

3. The Global Initiative for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Handwashing
The World Bank and the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and other partners, launched this global initiative in 2001, as a PPP initiative to promote handwashing in the state of Kerala, India and in Ghana.

4. Hygiene Improvement Framework
Organisation: Environmental Health Project EHP), see also their Hygiene Bulletins and reports section. The Hygiene Improvement Framework helps us understand the means to prevent diarrhoea and the obstacles that must be overcome to do so.