Pathogen and disease detection under the PREDICT and PREDICT-2 projects as well as other research initiatives have generated a strong evidence base on the drivers of zoonotic diseases. In Liberia, the finding of Ebola virus antibodies in a bat provided evidence that Ebola is circulating in wildlife in the West Africa region and signaled that there are ongoing spillover risks requiring public health attention.
Involvement and partnership of international and national institutions ensured best practices in research activities. The National Public Health Institute provided important leadership to support outreach on the significance of the Ebola finding. Another key factor was the model practices demonstrated by the sampling team, involving safe handling and sampling and attention to animal welfare, which itself helped to increased awareness of these aspects by observant communities.
In the past, communities in Liberia have distrusted foreign researchers and do not typically have direct access to the findings from research activities. Communities were aware of the sampling activities around their villages; by seeing Liberian scientists involved in this work with their own eyes, they were more receptive to the findings.
Many people interact with wildlife and domestic animals in Liberia, but overall awareness about zoonotic disease risks is low. Raising awareness involved information about the purpose of the project, as well as dedicated engagement using the 'Living Safely with Bats' visual book. This messgaing integrated biodiversity and health information, in line with a One Health approach.
Collaboration on an international project allowed for sharing and optimization of materials, including adaptation of the information and visuals in the 'Living Safely with Bats' book to the Liberian context. Holding engagement sessions as a group allowed for questions and norms to be considered in a respectful and open community-led manner. The trust established allowed for the messages to be positively received.
Changing perceptions and norms takes time and sustained engagement, particularly in settings where health literacy is limited. With accurate information and practical strategies for their context, communities are empowered to take on actions that reduce disease risk and protect animals and ecosystems.
Communities were initially concerned about outsiders coming to their villages. Sustained engagement with community leaders, and outreach to community members, helped to establish trust over time. In particular, a key feedback was hearing the appreciation that the team came back to share information.
Implementation by Liberian scientists ensured the local conditions, complexities of the issue, and needs were considered. Building in time and resources to return to communities from the start of the project was important, to be able to honor promises to return to share information from the evidence base.
Perception and understanding of the issues varies by community. Local leaders, such as Paramount Chiefs, play a crucial role in their communities and are vital partners in trust building.
Meetings, field visits and seminars to bring parties together
CSEC
Local government authorities and a few private parties are involved in the trade. Collaboration is greatly appreciated which is the key to the success of the stormwater trade.
Public and private parties have the willingness to collaborate for a common goal, which is to better utilize stormwater as a resource, save tap water usage, and reduce the costs such as landscape irrigation.
Conferences, seminars, and meetings were arranged to allow learning and discussions on building the stormwater trading platform.
Since this is something new in China, international experience and case studies were introduced by technical committee experts which help the parties understand the common goals and evenly reach the agreements.
Poster - Education near stormwater harvesting site
Chinanews
Stormwater Harvesting Site with Educational Information
China CCTV
At the early stage of the trading platform planning, public education and outreach were conducted to promote the Sponge City concept and to introduce trade.
Many local community residents come to visit and learn, which stimulated the residents' interest in the utilization of rainwater resources.
Public seminars and meetings near the site have also been arranged to meet the needs of different parties, from local residents to professionals. The community rainwater collection system has signs, posters, and billboards designed for local residences' and students' environmental education.
It takes time for the local residents to learn new things. Sponge City is a new concept in China, and so is the stormwater trade. Public education and outreach need to be planned before the design and construction of facilities, so the residents can be noted at the very beginning from the design, construction, and operations.
It is also important to have educational materials near some demonstration sites to introduce Sponge City and rainwater harvesting, etc.
In some communities in Changsha, this effort has been implemented at the very beginning of the Sponge City initiative, which greatly allows the stormwater trade being progressed smoothly.
Residents of the local community who participated in the transaction expressed their support for rainwater harvesting, reuse, and trades.
This is a landscape approach where farmers leave deliberately selected native tree species on their farm land either as tree stand or as co-exsisting with crops or both. The farmer manages the trees in such a way that they do not deprive crops of the growing factors. Otherwise the trees in the farm lands improve the soil fertility and structure, protect soil from erosion while supplies wood energy and livestock fodder to the farmer. The silvicultural practices include pruning, treaming, thinning and coppicing.
Availability of stumps in the farm land is an opportunity that hundreds of hactorage can be achieved within short period of time. Community involvement is almost obvious as the individual farmers become the primary beneficiaries of the technology unlike other solutions. The regenerants are independent of harsh conditions such as inadequate rains. The shoots start sprouting right in dry season as the mother stump has well established roots. Hence the technology never register unsuccessful results.
Farmer managed natural regeneration is a successful solution. As the regenerants originate from well established stumps which is native, the technology withstands unfavourable weather circumstances such just it is the promising, yielding and profiting project.
AREECA project officials and government interacting with Gomeza Community and pupils at Gomeza Primary School, Ntcheu, Central Malawipartners
Taken by contributor who authorized use
Although Gomeza Community used Self-drive to restore the forest reserve, the community attracted attention from government and non-governmental organisations. The partnerships led to provision of technical capacity building to the community on sivicultural aspects. Other insitutions also supported the community in their vision. This led to reduced resource need per institution to work with the community.
Accommodating
Cooperation
Joint planning
Prevent the duplication of efforts by close cooperation and joint planning
Building trust and improved networking are key elements of starting partnerships
