Please Note: CDAC has wound up its activities in Pakistan. This website remains for those of you who wish to reference or check on some of the initiatives and approaches documented here; and also to access some of the resources, for example the results of the audience information needs and access research (see ‘Research’ under ‘CDAC Activities’).
While CDAC network activities have finished in Pakistan, it’s important to note that by far the most substantial activities are those in-country programs of CDAC member organisations. These continue and in several cases are expanding. Activities of CDAC member organisations in Pakistan can be accessed through the links on the right-hand side-bar.
CDAC would like to thank all of the organisations and colleagues who participated in these activities, and who provided support, insight, and ideas. We are sure that the experiences and links developed in Pakistan will provide valuable input into boosting communication practice in future humanitarian responses.
If you wish to contact CDAC, please write to Matt Abud (former CDAC Pakistan Representative) on m.abud@pobox.com, or Rachel Houghton, CDAC Global Coordinator, at coordinator@cdac-global.org.
CDAC in Pakistan, February 2011
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In a disaster, communities need information as much as they need material aid. Their questions are urgent: “Where can I get food and water?” “How can I get health care?” “What can I do to make sure my family is safe?” “When can I return home?” “Who will help me rebuild my house?”
And, crucially, “Who will listen to me so that I can explain my problems, and find answers?”
Information saves lives; dialogue supports dignity. It’s a crucial part of humanitarian response, and it’s something we want to improve and expand.
IFRC Communications Team in Charsadda camp
Hello and welcome to Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities, or CDAC, in Pakistan. We’ve set up a quick blog site so that you can find updates and key information about the CDAC network in Pakistan’s flood response.
You’ll find details on CDAC members’ activities, and a number of experiences that will hopefully give you some ideas of your own (and which we’d then love to hear about). You’ll also find services that we can offer to any humanitarian organisation that wants to improve two-way communications with communities.
For us, effective two-way communications by all means possible is essential to strengthening the aid effort, and to strengthening communities themselves. Please look around this simple site and get in touch if you think the same way, and let’s see if we can collaborate on trying to improve this crucial part of our humanitarian response work.
CDAC Pakistan 