Introduction to basic counselling and communication skills : IOM training manual for migrant community leaders and community workers

The manual is designed for use by humanitarian workers such as development and community health workers and leaders who engage with migrants and mobile populations. The manual will strengthen counselling and communication skills that can be used to assist children, adolescents, adults and families living in migrant and host communities, and help them cope before, during and in the aftermath of a pandemic or any other crisis. This manual can be used in a variety of settings such as institutions or communities. The manual uses participatory methodologies and is organized into sessions to allow flexibility for trainers and users to reschedule the time frame as needed. Developing counselling and communication skills takes time and practice. The exercise in this manual can be practiced several times in different settings to strengthen these skills. These skills can also be used in several humanitarian crisis situations other than a pandemic. This manual has been field tested in Cairo, Egypt as part of the Pandemic preparedness for migrants and host communities project funded by USAID through the Central Fund for Influenza Actions (CFIA).