Table 1 Mitigating activities implemented or increased during the humanitarian crisis
Mechanism | Challenges | Activities to counteract the challenges |
|---|---|---|
Community dynamics | *Political climate and polarized views *Accelerated deterioration of basic services and safety *Logistics affecting staff and participants *Mistrust in local funding | -Off-site activities (trainings, assessments, events). -Circuits of communication via instant messages/social media. -Scenario exercises. -Liaison with drivers, family members of staff, participants, and law enforcement to facilitate mobilization of participants. -Focus groups, community consultations for solutions. |
Morale of researchers, staff, and participants | *Ethical issues *Staff emigration *Logistics affecting staff and participants | -Increased communication. -Social marketing through various channels. -Empowering local teams. -Flexible schedules and work from home. -Reflection time included in work hours. -Workshops on coping skills for staff and participants. -Develop sense of ownership in the community. -Weekly debriefing with program managers. -Networking with the emigrated staff. |
Financial viability | *Augmented burden for administrative and financial management *Mistrust in foreign funding *Supply difficulties | -Adjustment of protected time for research in contracts -Continuous communication with assessment sites. -Direct import of lab supplies and project supplies. -Maintain stock of supplies to use per year. -Efficient negotiations with providers, staff, sites. -Integration with current flows of work. -Organizational capacity development. -Partnership management strategies. -Lobby donors. |
Components of the research processes | *Logistics affecting staff and researchers *Augmented burden for administrative and financial management *Supply difficulties | -Flexibility, contingency plans. -Standardized training and more supportive monitoring. -Redundant local data storage on hard drives and physical transfer. -Incorporation of home visits and phone interviews for assessments. -Rigorous enforcement of protection of human subjects. -Detailed job descriptions in advertisements. -Weekly documentation of progress. |
Health of staff, participants, and their families | *Deterioration of basic services and safety *Ethical issues *Staff emigration *Political climate and polarized views | -Free meals provided for participants. -Distribution of free antipyretics and condoms during Zika virus epidemic. -Free medical consultation for participants. -Partnering with private healthcare providers for consultations & exams of participants (neurology, cardiology, psychology, ophthalmology) when needed. -Educational programs. -Management of referral network. -Engagement with local healthcare authorities and directors of healthcare centers. |