Guidance on evidence for community protection in public health emergencies

This guidance provides a normative framework to support the generation, synthesis and use of evidence for community protection in public health emergencies. It responds to persistent gaps observed in recent outbreaks and humanitarian crises, where community-related evidence is often fragmented or insufficiently integrated into decision-making, and emphasizes the need to complement epidemiological and clinical data with social, behavioural and experiential insights. Developed through a multidisciplinary and consultative process, the document is intended for decision-makers, researchers, practitioners and operational partners involved in emergency preparedness, response and recovery.

The guidance outlines key principles and considerations for designing and implementing evidence-generation activities, including stakeholder and community engagement, ethical practice, data governance and methodological rigour. It also examines how evidence can be translated into action through partnerships, accessibility and values-based decision-making, and highlights the importance of strengthening systems that support evidence use. Structured across conceptual, operational and enabling domains, it promotes flexible and context-sensitive approaches to support timely, evidence-informed decisions and more effective, community-centred public health responses.

This resource relates to R2HC funded study Communities at the center of mpox and Ebola emergency responses: Driving local level impact through social and behavioural science