The Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has piloted a risk communication assessment tool in seven countries. The tool, which complements the risk communication indicators in the IHR self-assessment tool, was developed to help understand where gaps exist between current practices and IHR requirements. It explores three primary areas:

human resources;

organizational communication practices (including processing of information); and

channels of communication.

The assessment tool intends to serve as a useful baseline to identify gaps and to start discussion and dialogue on developing national risk communication strategic frameworks.