Empowering Communities to Fight Zika: Capacity Strengthening During the Zika Outbreak Response

Breakthrough ACTION conducted a wide array of capacity strengthening efforts during the USAID Zika Response in Latin America and the Caribbean. This document outlines the role of Breakthrough ACTION’s capacity strengthening activities while spotlighting the importance of enhancing interpersonal communication skills of frontline workers to improve household uptake of Zika prevention behaviors. Household visits performed by frontline community workers were a cornerstone activity in the USAID-funded Zika response, providing a unique communication opportunity between families and community workers. The document also highlights several useful resources created under the Breakthrough ACTION project, including a job aid to support frontline workers and a training of trainers guide for interpersonal communication.