Communication and dissemination WP2

Objective

To achieve efficient and effective visibility, awareness and acceptance of the project to internal and external stakeholders.

To achieve efficient and effective visibility, awareness and acceptance of the project to internal and external stakeholders.

To promote the project and its results by providing targeted information to multiple audiences, in a strategic (i.e., messaging clearly linked to the strategic priorities of the EU) and effective manner. 

To support all work package leads by collaborative communications and dissemination planning for each of their deliverables using a campaign approach.  Subsequent implementation and evaluation of each campaign.

Dissemination activities should build on best practices to date and include actions on visibility and awareness, including use of social media. 

To support work package 4: Integration in National Policies and Sustainability, in the development of an advocacy strategy on identified priorities

Expected results/Outcome

Communication and dissemination of deliverables is a key element of EU funded projects.  Dissemination refers to the process of making the results and deliverables of the project available to internal stakeholders and, importantly, to a wider specialist audience who can take decisions on the take-up and use of results.  For example, in policymaking or practice improvements.

The communications and dissemination function supports the objectives of all other work packages.

The communications WP aims to generate long term, sustainable benefits by increasing communications and dissemination capability and capacity across the work packages. The intention is to leave a blueprint for effective programme communications for future Joint Actions.

Milestones, Activities, Outputs, Deliverables

2019

2020

  • January 2020 SHARP Joint Action – Social media rationale and usage guide published internally
  • 29 January 2020 Visual identity of the joint action finalised by work package 2.
  • 29-30 January 2020 Workshop for assessing and strengthening IHR core capacity, Latvia.  WP2 collaborated with WP3 to include Communication and Dissemination questions in the WP5 Workshop 1 post survey. The results showed that the majority (66.67%) identified conference and SHARP JA website as channel preferences and expressed a wish for work package 2 to provide examples of good practises for relevant crisis/risk communication was expressed.  The latter prompted planning for the online Workshop 2: Risk Communication in March 2022.

The impact of COVID-19 on SHARP JA

On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization declared that the outbreak of COVID-19 constitutes Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).   The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the weaknesses and major challenges in the international approach to managing public health emergencies. Enormous pressure was placed on the public health institutes within the Joint Action.  The pandemic has put health systems under extreme stress, with personnel having to adapt to unexpected and changing circumstances while continuing to provide high quality deliverables for the Joint Action.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, SHARP supported the EC and the Member States, and especially work packages for laboratory preparedness and responsiveness (WP7 in coordination with the ECDC) and for case management and infection prevention and control preparedness (WP10).

Work package teams were put under pressure and sometimes reassigned to their national Covid-19 responses. This meant a significant decrease and delay in all activities.  Plus, the need to revisit the scope of some work packages.

While reorienting and gearing a proportion of its activities and resources towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, SHARP Joint Action continued the implementation of its with a view to enhancing and further consolidating key achievements over the period of the joint action.

2021

SHARP Joint Action internal newsletter
20 December 2021

2022

2023

SHARP Joint Action final conference tweet
SHARP Joint Action final conference tweet

In Development

  • Dissemination of Vector Borne diseases table top exercise September 2023
  • Task 2.6: Measurement and evaluation of communications activity captured in D2.5 Final communication and dissemination report 
  • D2.3 Layman version of the executive summary final SHARP Joint Action report.   A short (e.g. 10 pages) policy briefing using engaging graphical formats for external dissemination to political bodies, European organisations, media, civil society and to the public.

Work package 2 key organisations and people

Work package lead: Public Health Wales – affiliated to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) who since April 2021 is responsible for England-wide public health protection and infectious disease capability.  It is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). 

A memorandum of understanding enabled the UK to continue participating in the SHARP Joint Action post-Brexit.

Public Health Wales NHS Trust (PHW) is the national public health agency in Wales and exists to protect and improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities for people in Wales. Part of the NHS and reporting to the Cabinet    Secretary     for     Health,     Well-being     and     Sport     in     the     Welsh     Government.     PHW provides advice, expertise and specialist services to Welsh Government, seven health boards, two NHS Trusts, 22 local authorities, other agencies and to the population of Wales. It We provides the public health knowledge, scientific expertise and intelligence to lead transformational change and to drive a focus on ensuring that we deliver tangible improvements in health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce health inequalities in Wales. Public Health Wales, health boards and local authorities work closely together to promote public health in their areas and jointly identify and set the local strategic agenda in partnership with communities, housing, education, police, fire and rescue and the voluntary sector.

Co-lead: THL Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is a research and development institute under the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 

THL is a governmental research institute and a public health agency under the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The main mission of THL is to promote health and welfare in Finland and to provide reliable, evidence-based information for the government, decision-makers and other actors in the social welfare and health sectors.

The Department of Health Security at THL oversees preventing, combating and monitoring infection and environmental threats on a national level. The Department maintains preparedness to diagnose and control infectious diseases, and it directs, supports and develops national monitoring and surveillance systems for infectious diseases and the national vaccination programme.

THL is part of international networks (ECDC, WHO), and it serves as national IHR and EWRS focal point. THL has been key partner in development of WHO Joint External Evaluation (JEE) process for IHR assessment and THL has participated and led several JEE missions globally.

Core team

Dr Giri Shankar is the Professional Lead Consultant for Health Protection at Public Health Wales. His role involves overseeing the operational delivery of health protection services across Wales. He is the consultant lead for health protection programmes including sexual health, substance misuse and health & justice. Prior to joining Public Health Wales, Giri worked for Public Health England as the Deputy Director for Health Protection. Giri obtained his basic medical degree and masters in community medicine from India and subsequently moved to the UK. He trained in the West Midlands obtaining both his Masters in Public Health from the University of Birmingham and higher specialist public health training certification from the West Midlands Deanery. He is also a fellow of the Faculty of Public Health.

Leah Morantz is the Head of Communications for Public Health Wales and has extensive experience across a variety of internal communications, marketing and PR roles for the financial services and regulated utilities sectors. Leading the Communications function for the organisation, Leah acts as a strategic advisor helping internal stakeholders to meet their business objectives through planning and execution of internal and external communications strategies. Accustomed to managing complex change across a large, matrix organisation, Leah is a skilled project manager with the ability to balance priorities in a fast-paced, demanding environment. A leader in her field, Leah employs a collaborative approach to her work and enjoy coaching others. Outside of work, Leah has been the co-Vice Chair of the Women’s Network of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) where her focus was on ensuring that the voice of women remains central to the design and provision of women’s healthcare. She is past Chair of the Maternity Services Liaison Committee for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board where she set the strategic direction of the committee to focus more on public and patient involvement.

Karen Dancey is a professionally qualified, marketing and communications specialist with expertise across a broad range of sectors, but particularly the public sector.  Investment in post graduate qualifications, including Prince2 project management practitioner, provides the vision and tools for strategic development and business planning; plus the solid theory to underpin tactical delivery of projects. Achieved Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute in 2012.

Fanni Appleberg, Communication Officer, THL brings a Masters Degree in Organisational Communication to WP1 and WP2 dissemination activity.

Mari Isomäki Mari brings a bachelor’s degree in World Politics and Master of Social Sciences, World Politics, underpinned by a BA (Hons.) in Modern Languages to WP1 and WP2 dissemination activity.  Experience includes liaison officer during Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union; research for Demos Helsinki tank;  external and internal communications for Helsinki EU Office; and most recently 2 years + in communications for the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

News

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SHARP Joint Action Final Conference on 19th and 20th June in Helsinki – register now!

19.05.2023
SHARP Joint Action is approaching its final stages as the project is… Read more SHARP Joint Action Final Conference on 19th and 20th June in Helsinki – register now!

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