Advocacy, communication and partnerships
Advocating for the realization of the rights for every child
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Challenges
Although various media channels have proved to be best ways to create awareness about behaviour change communication, especially regarding children and women’s rights, the Guinea-Bissau’s media sector requires continued support.
Some of the country current needs in this sector is to increase engagement of women to appreciate radio, since current data shows a low level of radio use by women. According to MICS 5 survey, only 15 per cent of women read a newspaper or a magazine against 82 per cent who listen to the radio and 48 per cent who watch television at least once a week. However, according to the same study, men aged 15-49 report a much higher level of exposure than women. These results highlight that radio and television are the communication channels more used by population. On the other hand, the use of a computer, mobile phone and internet to access social media and online communication platforms is also strongly associated with the residence, educational level and economic well-being.
Solutions
There are about 50 radios including community radios, a big number for such a small country. However TV coverage and use is very little, mostly since electricity coverage is very poor. Given the current media landscape, community radios, with awareness programs produced and aired in local languages, play a very important role within rural communities.
In a bid to strengthen partnerships and alliances in Guinea-Bissau, UNICEFs advocacy communication and partnerships section continues to broaden its mandate of changing behaviours and attitudes to improve development results for women children and enhance child survival through CHW promotion of the 16 key family practices. To attain this goal, strategic partnerships are established with community and national radio stations, religious and traditional leaders, youth organizations, teachers, journalists, NGOs, and CBOs.
Resources
In 2018, UNICEF Guinea-Bissau’s efforts have been directed to produce evidence-based analysis of the situation of children, pursue technical support to the government (national plans and policies) to amplify its advocacy for children and leverage additional resources.
Throughout the year, the main focus for UNICEF advocacy was immunization. To increase the demand for vaccination, partnership with religious and traditional leaders was strengthened: two national forums were organized with UNICEF support. The outcome was the formal commitment signed by 78 traditional and religious leaders to ensure that all children under one will be immunized and registered at birth.
As a direct operationalization of this commitment, social mobilization committees were established in the 6 administrative sectors of two regions, Oio and Gabu (out of 10 planned). Health staff capacity was enhanced around interpersonal communication (IPC) in relation to vaccination: a training manual on IPC was developed by UNICEF and a team of 77 health managers was trained. In turn, they trained 865 community health workers.
The women and children's institute and the national children’s parliament (NCP) have been driving advocacy activities for children, with the support of UNICEF and other partners. In collaboration with the NCP, UNICEF supported the inauguration of the new executive committee for the 6th legislature of the national children’s parliament and the organization of their first national session which gathered 102 child parliamentarians for 4 days. Furthermore, UNICEF organised a training administered to 64 members of the child parliament on the use of software and tools to produce multimedia content.
UNICEF National Ambassador, the singer Tchuma Bari, continued to demonstrate her strong commitment to advocacy. On 14 December, she performed a live concert in Bissau for hundreds of children and their families. The event was organized for the launching of her UNICEF-sponsored CD with 8 songs about child rights under the title “We take care of our children”. This launch was done under the patronage of the First-Lady, who continued to actively champion child rights.
