The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Rwanda is deeply committed to supporting the Rwandan Ministry of Health (MoH) and its partners in strengthening national health security and preparedness for global health emergencies. Recognizing Rwanda's unique geographical and demographic context, characterized by high population density and extensive cross-border movement, IOM Rwanda is launching the BRIDGE-RWANDA (Border Response and Integrated Disease Surveillance for Mpox and Other Global Health Emergencies) project. In line with this commitment and guided by national, regional, and global strategic frameworks, IOM Rwanda aims to implement a comprehensive Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) awareness-raising campaign to address Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) in the context of Rwanda.

This comprehensive intervention will significantly enhance Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategies to address Mpox and other potential public health threats, with a critical focus on Points of Entry (PoE) and surrounding border communities. Rwanda, as one of Africa's smallest and most densely populated nations, faces inherent public health risks due to its extensive borders and proximity to regions prone to highly pathogenic diseases. Recent outbreaks, including Marburg virus (detected September 2024, declared over mid-December 2024 with 66 confirmed cases and 15 deaths) and the ongoing Mpox situation (with 114 confirmed cases as of March 2025), underscore the urgent need for robust surveillance, prevention, and response mechanisms.

While Rwanda possesses robust public health surveillance systems and has demonstrated strong leadership in managing health emergencies, proactive and targeted RCCE interventions are crucial to prevent widespread transmission, reduce stigma, and ensure timely healthcare-seeking behaviors among the population. Effective RCCE strategies are paramount in an interconnected world where infectious diseases can rapidly spread, underscoring the need for strong community engagement, clear communication channels, and a specific focus on areas of high human mobility like Points of Entry. This approach aligns with Rwanda's Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) V (2024/25–2028/29), Rwanda's National Guideline for Surveillance and Management of Mpox, Africa CDC's RCCE framework, and WHO's Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (April 2025 update).

Mpox, a zoonotic disease caused by the Mpox virus, has seen a global resurgence, posing ongoing public health concerns and this campaign seeks to empower communities with accurate, timely, and actionable information, promote preventive behaviors, combat stigma, and facilitate early detection and rapid response to mitigate the spread of the disease, ultimately contributing to a resilient public health response.

This Terms of Reference (ToR) outlines the scope of work for prospective Implementing Partner (IP) to design and execute an impactful RCCE awareness-raising campaign for Mpox across identified vulnerable regions in Rwanda, with a particular focus on PoE and surrounding border communities. The campaign will integrate seamlessly with national health priorities, international best practices, and IOM's Health, Border and Mobility Management (HBMM) Framework, ensuring community-centered and mobility-sensitive public health interventions.

These interventions will be meticulously designed to empower communities and mobile populations with accurate, timely, and actionable information, promote preventive behaviors, combat stigma, and facilitate early detection and rapid response along the entire mobility continuum. The campaign will integrate seamlessly with Rwanda's Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP) V (2024/25–2028/29), the National Guideline for Surveillance and Management of Mpox, Africa CDC's RCCE framework and Strategic Framework for Strengthening Cross-border Surveillance and Information Sharing, and WHO's Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (April 2025 update), all within the framework of IOM's Strategic Approach on Migration and Health 2024–2028 and Health, Border and Mobility Management (HBMM) framework.

To address these challenges, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Rwanda's Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Rwandan Biomedical Center (RBC), is launching an intervention. The project aims to enhance health systems and mitigate Mpox-related risks by strengthening border surveillance and response mechanisms. This aligns with Rwanda's national health strategies and international health regulations.

The project will focus on the following key areas:

• Improved Coordination: The project will help finalize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for health surveillance at POEs and establish a data monitoring system. It will also facilitate coordination meetings between Rwandan health authorities and their counterparts in neighboring countries to enable timely information sharing and joint action during health emergencies.
• Enhanced Screening and Surveillance: The intervention will provide comprehensive training on Mpox screening protocols for border officials, ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge. It will also support regular supervision at POEs to ensure compliance and assist in maintaining essential equipment, such as thermal scanners, and replenishing supplies like personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Community-Based Prevention: The project will work with local NGOs to raise awareness about Mpox among at-risk mobile populations at key locations like markets and bus stops. It will also strengthen the capacity of community health workers to conduct event-based surveillance, ensuring that communities are informed about risks and that public health alerts are communicated effectively.

Expected Results

The campaign's objectives and their corresponding expected results are:

      Objective 1: Increase Knowledge and Understanding

•   Increase knowledge of Mpox symptoms, transmission, prevention, and healthcare services by at least 35% among the general population in targeted areas. This will be measured through pre- and post-campaign surveys.
•   Achieve at least a 40% increase in knowledge among travelers, transport workers, and border community members at targeted PoE regarding Mpox risks, prevention, and reporting protocols. This will be assessed through rapid surveys.
•   Develop and distribute at least four different types of communication materials (e.g., posters, flyers, radio jingles, videos) in multiple languages, including Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Swahili. These materials should be accessible to at least 85% of targeted households.

Objective 2: Promote Timely Healthcare-Seeking and Reporting Behaviors

• Increase the number of individuals seeking information or reporting suspected Mpox cases at health facilities, with a 20% increase in referrals from community levels and PoE to health facilities for suspected cases.
• Establish and promote at least five effective and confidential feedback mechanisms, such as hotlines, community suggestion boxes, and regular community dialogues, to address public concerns and facilitate case reporting.

Objective 3: Combat Misinformation and Stigma

•   Reduce reported stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals affected by infectious diseases by at least 25%, as measured by qualitative assessments or perception surveys.
•   Conduct at least 15 community dialogue sessions in each targeted district and border community to dispel myths and promote accurate information.

Objective 4: Strengthen Community and PoE Engagement and Participation

• Implement at least one innovative community-led initiative, such as peer education programs or mobile information kiosks at PoE, to raise awareness about Mpox and general health.

Objective 5: Enhance Cross-border Information Sharing and Coordination

• Participate in at least one formal cross-border coordination meeting with authorities in neighboring countries to harmonize RCCE messages and strategies at shared PoE.
• Develop a brief report on best practices and lessons learned from cross-border RCCE activities to contribute to regional knowledge sharing.
• The overall target for this campaign is to reach at least 20,000 individuals through direct and indirect awareness-raising activities over the four-month period. A specific goal is to directly reach at least 9,000 individuals at or near Points of Entry and in immediate border communities.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. With a longstanding presence in Rwanda since 1996, IOM has been actively involved in supporting the government's efforts in various humanitarian and development initiatives, including public health emergencies and strengthening border health management. IOM's expertise at Points of Entry is well-established, contributing to enhanced disease surveillance, prevention, and response along mobility pathways.

In the framework of IOM Rwanda's public health mandate and its commitment to supporting the Rwandan Ministry of Health, IOM invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from qualified organizations to implement an RCCE awareness-raising campaign for Mpox. This campaign is critical to support Rwanda's preparedness and response capabilities, ensuring that communities, especially those interacting with Points of Entry, are well-informed, empowered, and equipped to take appropriate actions, thereby contributing to national, regional, and global health security. The campaign will build on lessons learned from previous outbreaks (e.g., COVID-19, Ebola) and align with existing national and international guidelines for Mpox management.

The BRIDGE-RWANDA project, for which these RCCE Terms of Reference are issued, is a direct response to the identified public health risks and the need for sustained efforts to improve border health services and capacities in Rwanda. It is guided by the findings of a recent Population Mobility Mapping (PMM) exercise (completed January 2025), which provides a fact-based analysis of border health preparedness and disease transmission risks at major PoE and mobility routes. The PMM report, currently under publication, tracks human movement patterns to understand mobility dynamics and helps identify areas and communities at risk of public health threats, informing targeted health interventions for improved detection, prevention, and response to health emergencies. Building on these insights, IOM invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from qualified organizations to implement the critical RCCE component of the BRIDGE-RWANDA project. This campaign is pivotal to Rwanda's preparedness and response capabilities for Mpox and other threats, ensuring that communities, particularly those interacting with PoE, are well-informed, empowered, and equipped to take appropriate actions, thereby contributing to national, regional, and global health security.

Proposed Interventions and Beneficiaries

The RCCE awareness-raising campaign will be implemented across selected provinces/districts in Rwanda, with a strong, prioritized focus on areas with significant human mobility, including major official and informal Points of Entry (land, air, and potentially lake crossings) and their surrounding border communities, as identified in the PMM report. Activities will also extend to highly populated urban centers and areas identified as at higher risk based on population density, existing health infrastructure, and epidemiological data.

The campaign should primarily target the following groups, with a clear indication of how gender, age, disability, and other intersectional vulnerabilities will be considered throughout the intervention:

• General Public: All individuals residing in the targeted project areas (provinces/districts).
• Populations at Points of Entry and Border Communities:
• Travelers: Both incoming and outgoing international and cross-border travelers.
• Transport Workers: Including formal and informal drivers, bus/taxi/moto operators, and truck drivers.
• Border Officials: Immigration, customs, security personnel, and health screening staff at PoE.
• Porters and Informal Traders: Operating at border crossings and within border communities.
• Residents of communities immediately adjacent to PoE and along key mobility corridors.
• Vulnerable Populations (across all targeted areas): This includes, but is not limited to:
• Migrants, cross-border traders, and other mobile populations: Due to their potential for cross-border transmission, varied access to health information, and specific vulnerabilities.
• Youth and Adolescents: As key agents of change within their families, schools, and communities.
• Healthcare Workers and Community Health Workers (CHWs): To ensure they have accurate and up-to-date information for dissemination and can effectively address community concerns, including those at PoE.
• People Living with HIV/AIDS: Who may be more susceptible to severe outcomes from certain infectious diseases.
• Key Population Groups: As identified by the Ministry of Health, with tailored messaging to address specific needs and reduce stigma.
• Community Leaders and Influencers: Including religious leaders, local administration, and traditional leaders, to facilitate information dissemination, trust-building, and behavioral change within their communities.

Proposed interventions and beneficiaries

The proposed target for this RCCE component of the BRIDGE-RWANDA project is to reach at least 20,000 individuals through direct and indirect awareness-raising activities over the 2-month period, with a specific target of at least 9,000 individuals reached directly at or near designated Points of Entry and within immediate border communities.

The beneficiaries of the affected populations for this intervention will include Displaced and Non-displaced people.

1. Displaced Populations- IDPs, Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and vulnerable populations - Pregnant and Lactating women, Girls, Boys and Men, People with Disabilities, chronically ill household members, people below the poverty line, and those living in Remote and hard-to-access populations. Additionally, potentially marginalized groups.
2. Non-Displaced populations: Host and Non-Host communities.

Target Locations

The RCCE campaign, as a key component of the BRIDGE-RWANDA project, will strategically focus on the following provinces/districts, with a pronounced emphasis on identified major official and informal Points of Entry (PoE) and their surrounding border communities, informed by the PMM report:

• Eastern Province: With strong focus on Kagitumba (Uganda border), Rusumo (Tanzania border), and other key border crossings and mobility corridors.
• Western Province: Focusing on Rusizi I & II (DRC border), Rubavu (DRC border), La Corniche, Poids Lourds and active informal crossing points.
• Northern Province: Targeting Gatuna (Uganda border) and Cyanika (Uganda border).
• Southern Province: Addressing potential cross-border movements with Burundi, particularly at targeted informal border points, Bugarama, and Buziba.

IOM reserves the right to amend the list of locations and specific PoE based on evolving epidemiological data, security considerations, donor requirements, and any other factors that may change during project implementation, always in close consultation with the MoH and relevant authorities.

Partnerships and collaboration

For pre-qualification and successful implementation, the prospective Implementing Partner should demonstrate a solid network of reliable partnerships and proven successful collaboration with the following stakeholders, aligning with Rwanda's Health Sector Strategic Plan V which emphasizes strengthened leadership, management, coordination, and planning, and the BRIDGE-RWANDA project's partnership framework.

• Ministry of Health (MoH) and Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC): Essential for alignment with national health policies, access to epidemiological data, technical guidance, official endorsements of messaging, and integration into the national Mpox and other public health emergency surveillance and response plans. This includes relevant departments focusing on public health emergencies, health promotion, disease surveillance, and port health. (Directly aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA's overall partnership with MoH and RBC).
• Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration (DGIE) and Rwanda National Police (RNP): Crucial for facilitating access and coordination of RCCE activities at Points of Entry and along mobility routes. (Directly aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA's partnership with DGIE).
• Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA): For coordination at One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and engagement with cross-border trade communities. (Directly aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA's partnership with RRA).
• Local Government Authorities (Provinces, Districts, Sectors, Cells): To ensure needs assessment, verification of data, coordination of field activities, and support for community mobilization and engagement at all administrative levels, including border areas.
• Community Leaders and Gatekeepers: Including religious leaders, traditional leaders, and local administration, to facilitate targeted assistance, identify and address community-specific needs, and involve local leaders in monitoring campaign effectiveness, particularly in remote and border communities. (Directly aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA's beneficiary group of community leaders and community health focal points).
• Other Humanitarian Actors and Development Partners: Including UN Agencies (e.g., WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR), Africa CDC representatives, international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community-based organizations (CBOs) working in health, migration, and border management, to coordinate efforts, enhance joint impact, and avoid duplication. This includes active participation in relevant national and regional health clusters or working groups, and specific PoE coordination platforms. (Directly aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA's overall coordination mechanism with Africa CDC and other actors).
• Media Outlets (National and Local Radio, TV, Print, social media): For broad dissemination of accurate information and public service announcements, with specific focus on channels popular among mobile populations and border communities, and leveraging established media partnerships for rapid deployment of messages during emergencies.
• Cross-border counterparts/authorities: Where feasible and in coordination with MoH, DGIE, and other relevant Rwandan authorities, engagement with health and border authorities in neighboring countries to harmonize RCCE messages at shared PoE, aligning with Africa CDC's framework for cross-border surveillance and the BRIDGE-RWANDA project's cross-border coordination objectives (Output 1.1.3).

Proposed timeline:

1 November 2025 – 31 December 2025.

Implementation activities

The IPs should design a clear strategy for RCCE interventions that aims at raising awareness about Mpox and other public health threats, promoting preventive behaviors, strengthening community resilience, and specifically targeting populations at Points of Entry and in border areas, integrating seamlessly into the broader BRIDGE-RWANDA project structure and activities. IP interventions should be coordinated with other actors in the same area to avoid duplication and potential overlap, ensuring synergy with national, regional, and global plans.

For effective awareness-raising and community engagement, the IP's approach should involve Community Health Workers (CHWs), local leaders, border officials, and other influential community members. These individuals will be instrumental in conducting health information, education, and communication (IEC) sessions, and behavior change communication (BCC) activities among their respective communities and at PoE. These interventions should empower CHWs/leaders and PoE personnel to fully engage in their duties, foster healthy behavior changes among target beneficiaries, and ultimately contribute to improving population-based health indicators.

Expected RCCE awareness-raising interventions should cover some or all of the following broad activities, with specific considerations for PoE, directly supporting Output 1.3 ("Mpox prevention and response is strengthened through awareness raising among at-risk mobile populations and community event-based surveillance in border locations") of the BRIDGE-RWANDA project.

• Development and Dissemination of Culturally Appropriate and Mobility-Sensitive Communication Materials: This includes, but is not limited to, posters, flyers, brochures, radio jingles/spots (to be broadcast on local and cross-border stations), short videos (for digital screens at PoE, bus terminals), social media content, and informational cards for travelers. All materials must be in Kinyarwanda, English, French, and other relevant border languages (e.g., Swahili for border areas), and must be reviewed and approved by the MoH/RBC and IOM, ensuring alignment with national guidelines. (Aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA Activity 1.3.1).
• Community Sensitization and Dialogue Sessions: Organizing regular community meetings, workshops, and focus group discussions to directly engage community members, address their concerns, clarify misconceptions about Mpox and other public health threats, and gather feedback on messaging. Specific sessions should be held with groups active at PoE (e.g., transport associations, informal traders, local business owners). (Aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA Activity 1.3.1).
• Innovative Communication Approaches: Utilizing local media (community radio, local TV, border area loudspeakers), traditional communication channels (storytelling, drama, music), and digital platforms (social media campaigns, WhatsApp groups, SMS blasts to registered travelers) to reach diverse audiences, including transient populations and those with limited literacy. (Aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA Activity 1.3.1).
• Establishment of Feedback and Grievance Mechanisms: Setting up accessible, confidential, and culturally appropriate channels for communities and travelers to provide feedback, ask questions, report concerns, and report suspected cases related to Mpox and other health threats, ensuring timely responses and corrective actions. This includes dedicated hotlines, suggestion boxes at PoE, and digital feedback channels. (Aligned with broader RCCE principles).
• Targeted Messaging for Specific Vulnerable Groups and PoE Populations: Developing and delivering specialized messages for mobile populations, youth, key population groups, and individuals at PoE, considering their unique needs, language preferences, and potential vulnerabilities to stigma or discrimination. Messages should highlight the importance of self-reporting symptoms, even when asymptomatic, and reinforce national health protocols. (Aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA Activity 1.3.1).
• Monitoring and Evaluation of Campaign Effectiveness: Regularly assessing the reach and impact of awareness-raising activities through pre/post-campaign knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) surveys, focus group discussions, analysis of community feedback, and tracking of health-seeking behaviors (e.g., referrals from PoE), contributing to the BRIDGE-RWANDA monitoring framework. (Aligned with BRIDGE-RWANDA monitoring principles).
• Support for PoE Health Communication Infrastructure: Where relevant and in coordination with PoE authorities, advising on the placement and visibility of Mpox and general health awareness materials at PoE, including digital screens, noticeboards, and designated information points, supporting BRIDGE-RWANDA's Output 1.2.3 related to equipment for surveillance and screening.

1. Role of IOM (within BRIDGE-RWANDA project framework):

IOM, as the executing agency for BRIDGE-RWANDA, will be responsible for:

• Providing overall project management and technical oversight for the RCCE component, drawing on IOM's global expertise in Migration Health, Border Management, and RCCE.
• Providing financial and technical assistance to the IPs for the effective implementation of RCCE activities.
• Building the capacity of the IPs for effective project management and strengthening IPs' service delivery systems, including best practices for RCCE at PoE.
• Facilitating coordination with national authorities (MoH, RBC, DGIE, RRA) and regional bodies (e.g., Africa CDC) for harmonized approaches and seamless integration of RCCE into broader surveillance and response efforts, as per BRIDGE-RWANDA's partnership and coordination strategy.
• Conducting regular project monitoring and evaluation to assess progress against set performance targets and make recommendations, with a specific focus on PoE and border community interventions, in line with the BRIDGE-RWANDA results matrix.
• Advising IPs on communication and visibility aspects during project implementation, aligning with IOM and donor guidelines.
• Making payments of agreed installments, including a portion of advance payment to allow the IP to commence activities.

2. Role of Selected Implementing Partner (for RCCE component):

The Implementing Partner undertakes to implement the RCCE component of the BRIDGE-RWANDA project in accordance with the agreement, technical proposal, work plan, project budget, monitoring indicators, and milestone tracking matrix.

The technical proposal should describe the IP’s systematic approaches to achieving effective RCCE awareness-raising for Mpox and other public health threats, strengthening community engagement, and specifically addressing the unique dynamics of Points of Entry and border communities, while contributing to the overall public health response in Rwanda. The technical proposal should clearly detail how they plan collaboration, coordination, and delivery of the above-mentioned activities, demonstrating alignment with the WHO Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, Africa CDC's RCCE Framework, Rwanda's National Guideline for Surveillance and Management of Mpox, and the overarching BRIDGE-RWANDA project objectives and outputs (specifically Output 1.3 and its associated activities).

Selection Criteria

Prospective applicants should note that IOM will supply RCCE materials, so partners need not budget for them in the proposal to be submitted.