LAUSR

and collaborative effort between civil society, the private sector and government that works best where there are established structures and systems in place, and partnerships built on trust that have been forged before a crisis strikes. Methods: Case study. Results: Communities are central to epidemic and pandemic preparedness. Conclusion: Global and national public health expertise must recognize this role and work toward how engagement with communities and civil society, can become central to their preparedness and response efforts. Through the presentation of several case studies from the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, best practice and opportunities for improvement will be showcased. Case studies from a variety of contexts will show how it is possible to include joint planning and implementation, moving beyond risk communication to effective two-way participation, ensuring public health response is understood by, and designed for, the communities they serve in acute and recovery phases.