Improving communication, engagement and accountability in all we do.
Community engagement and accountability (CEA) is an approach to Red Cross Red Crescent programming and operations. It is supported by a set of activities that help put communities at the centre of what we do, by integrating communication and participation throughout the programme cycle or operation.
CEA is the process of and commitment to providing timely, relevant and actionable life-saving and life-enhancing information to communities. It is about using the most appropriate communication approaches to listen to communities’ needs, feedback and complaints, ensuring they can actively participate and guide Red Cross Red Crescent actions. CEA supports those involved in programmes and operations to adopt innovative approaches to better understand and engage with people and communities and help them address unhealthy and unsafe practices. It maximizes the Red Cross Red Crescent’s unique relationship with the community to help them speak out about the issues that affect them and influence decision and policy-makers to implement positive changes.
What is CEA?
Minimum actions
The CEA Guide
The CEA Toolkit
How to Use Social Media to Better Engage People Affected by Crises
Together with ICRC, and with the support of OCHA, we have published a brief guide on how to use social media to better engage people affected by crisis. The guide is geared towards staff in humanitarian organisations who are responsible for official social media channels.
Recent additions to the CEA resources library
These annexes should be used in conjunction with the Guide – How to Establish and Manage a Systematic Feedback Mechanism with Communities. The annexes are available as a single download (below) but individual elements can be downloaded separately. Anne …
CEA in Action
In focus: World Radio Day
Radio is a powerful tool to engage and help affected communities across the world. Read more about our work.
In focus: Ebola
Community engagement has been central to responding the Ebola emergency in West Africa and to keep communities safe and the virus contained.
In focus: Migration
Virtualvolunteer.org helps migrants find local support and provides tips on how to keep safe and healthy.
In focus: TERA
The TERA system provides life-saving information when and where it is needed during an emergency or crisis.
News stories
From 2014 to 2016, Ebola killed 11,000 people in West Africa, mainly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Red Cross volunteers and staff across West Africa worked around the clock to help halt the disease from spreading, including in the 10 neighbourin …
By Rosemary Nalisa, Namibia Red Cross Society Hileni Naukushu is a respected local leader (headwoman) of the Okadhilodhi Area. She is also known for wearing a different hat as the head and champion of the Namibia Red Cross Society Community Mobilisatio …
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies across Africa are set to improve the way they work with people affected by disasters, thanks to a newly trained team of community engagement and accountability (CEA) specialists who are ready to be deployed whenever and wherever needed.