Deadline: 28-Aug-2026
UNICEF Burundi is inviting civil society organizations (CSOs) to support the development and broadcasting of interactive radio programs that improve emergency preparedness, health communication, and community engagement. The initiative focuses on cholera, Mpox, and potential viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak preparedness by promoting accurate health information, protective behaviors, early warning systems, and inclusive communication.
Selected CSOs will collaborate with communities, health stakeholders, and radio stations to produce multilingual programs in Kirundi, Swahili, and French, ensuring access to health information for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities and minority communities such as the Batwa.
Overview of the UNICEF Burundi Emergency Radio Communication Initiative
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched a call for expressions of interest for civil society organizations to strengthen emergency preparedness and response through interactive radio programming in Burundi.
The initiative aims to improve community access to reliable health information during public health emergencies by using radio as a trusted communication channel.
The selected organization will support the design, production, and dissemination of interactive radio programs focused on health emergency preparedness, outbreak response, and community participation.
Purpose of the Program
The main objective is to strengthen risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) during health emergencies.
The program seeks to:
- Increase awareness about health risks and prevention measures
- Promote protective behaviors during outbreaks
- Improve community participation in emergency response
- Strengthen early warning and reporting systems
- Address misinformation and rumors
- Ensure inclusive access to health information
Emergency Context
The initiative supports Burundi’s preparedness and response efforts related to:
- Cholera outbreaks
- Mpox outbreaks
- Potential viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks
- Future public health emergencies
Radio programs will serve as a platform for communities to receive accurate information and interact directly with health experts and emergency response actors.
Key Focus Areas
Health Emergency Communication
Programs will provide communities with information about:
- Disease prevention
- Symptoms and treatment information
- Emergency response measures
- Access to healthcare services
Risk Communication and Community Engagement
The project will encourage communities to:
- Understand health risks
- Participate in prevention activities
- Share concerns and questions
- Report misinformation
Inclusive Health Information Access
The initiative emphasizes communication that reaches:
- Persons with disabilities
- Minority communities
- Batwa communities
- People with specific communication needs
Programs will be designed using accessible formats and appropriate languages.
Who Is Eligible?
The opportunity is open to:
- Civil society organizations (CSOs)
- Non-governmental organizations working in Burundi
- Organizations with experience in community engagement, health communication, media production, or emergency response
Eligible organizations should have the capacity to:
- Develop community-focused communication strategies
- Work with radio broadcasters
- Engage vulnerable populations
- Produce multilingual content
- Coordinate with health emergency stakeholders
Geographic Areas Covered
Activities will be implemented in the following provinces of Burundi:
- Rutana Province
- Bujumbura Rural Province
- Kayanza Province
- Gitega Province
- Rumonge Province
- Muyinga Province
- Kirundo Province
- Ruyigi Province
Responsibilities of the Selected Civil Society Organization
The selected CSO will support the complete development cycle of interactive radio programs.
1. Develop an Editorial Strategy
The organization will create a communication strategy covering:
- Priority health themes
- Target audiences
- Program formats
- Languages
- Broadcast schedules
- Communication approaches
2. Prepare Production Plans
The CSO will develop detailed production plans including:
- Program topics
- Episode formats
- Content schedules
- Target communities
- Partner radio stations
3. Engage Communities
The organization will involve communities through:
- Interviews
- Focus group discussions
- Community consultations
- Feedback collection
This process will help ensure that programs respond to real community concerns.
4. Produce Interactive Radio Content
The selected organization will work with radio stations to produce programs including:
- Expert interviews
- Community discussions
- Question-and-answer sessions
- Health education segments
- Emergency preparedness information
Content will be produced in suitable languages, including:
- Kirundi
- Swahili
- French
Radio Production and Broadcasting Process
The program production process will include several stages.
Content Development
Activities include:
- Collecting field information
- Identifying relevant experts
- Preparing program outlines
- Developing scripts
- Finalizing episode structures
Testing and Validation
Before broadcasting, draft programs will be tested with:
- Persons with disabilities
- Minority groups
- Target community representatives
Feedback will be used to improve message clarity and accessibility.
Broadcasting Activities
The selected CSO will:
- Establish agreements with radio stations
- Coordinate national and community broadcasts
- Schedule programs during prime listening hours
- Promote broadcasts through communication spots
Interactive Features
Programs will encourage community participation through:
- Listener questions
- Live discussions
- Expert participation
- Call-in sessions
- Community feedback mechanisms
The initiative may also include:
- Facebook Live sessions
- Sign language interpretation
- Digital engagement activities
Monitoring and Evaluation
The organization will monitor program effectiveness through:
- Radio station tracking dashboards
- Broadcast monitoring systems
- Community listening groups
- Feedback collection
Monitoring will help assess:
- Audience reach
- Community engagement
- Message understanding
- Program effectiveness
How to Apply / Expression of Interest Process
Interested organizations should prepare an expression of interest demonstrating:
Organizational Capacity
Applicants should describe:
- Previous experience in health communication
- Community engagement expertise
- Media production experience
- Emergency response capacity
Technical Approach
Applications should explain:
- Proposed communication strategy
- Radio production approach
- Community engagement methods
- Inclusion measures
- Monitoring plans
Partnership Capacity
Organizations should demonstrate their ability to collaborate with:
- Radio stations
- Health authorities
- Community leaders
- Emergency response partners
Tips for a Strong Application
Highlight Relevant Experience
Applicants should emphasize previous work involving:
- Public health campaigns
- Emergency communication
- Radio programming
- Community outreach
Focus on Inclusion
Strong proposals should explain how they will reach:
- Persons with disabilities
- Minority populations
- Remote communities
Demonstrate Local Knowledge
Applicants should show understanding of:
- Local languages
- Community communication practices
- Health challenges in target provinces
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Proposing general media campaigns without emergency response focus
- Ignoring vulnerable communities
- Failing to include multilingual communication approaches
- Not explaining monitoring methods
- Lacking partnerships with radio broadcasters
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the purpose of the UNICEF Burundi radio program initiative?
The initiative aims to strengthen emergency preparedness and health response by providing communities with accurate, inclusive, and interactive health information through radio.
2. Who can apply for this opportunity?
Civil society organizations with relevant experience in health communication, community engagement, media production, or emergency response can apply.
3. What health issues will the programs address?
The programs will focus on cholera, Mpox, potential viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, and broader emergency preparedness.
4. Which languages will be used for radio programs?
Programs will be developed in languages suitable for target audiences, including Kirundi, Swahili, and French.
5. How will communities participate in the programs?
Communities will participate through interviews, focus groups, listener questions, interactive discussions, and feedback sessions.
6. How will accessibility be ensured?
Programs will include inclusive approaches such as testing messages with persons with disabilities and minorities and may include sign language interpretation during digital sessions.
7. Where will activities take place?
The initiative will cover selected provinces across Burundi, including Rutana, Bujumbura Rural, Kayanza, Gitega, Rumonge, Muyinga, Kirundo, and Ruyigi.
Why This Initiative Matters
Effective communication is essential during health emergencies. Communities need timely, accurate, and accessible information to protect themselves, prevent disease spread, and participate in response efforts.
By combining radio broadcasting, community engagement, and inclusive communication methods, this UNICEF-supported initiative strengthens Burundi’s ability to prepare for and respond to public health threats.
Conclusion
The UNICEF Burundi Call for Expressions of Interest provides an opportunity for civil society organizations to support emergency preparedness through community-centered radio programming. Selected organizations will help improve health awareness, reduce misinformation, strengthen outbreak response, and ensure that vulnerable communities have access to essential health information.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.