Academy for Educational Development

The PREVENT project will develop and implement effective behavior change and communication interventions as part of USAID's new program on Emerging Pandemic Threats.  PREVENT is slated to work in four geographic areas: the Gangetic Plain; Amazon River Basin; Congo River Basin; and Southeast Asia. The program reflects the recognition that more than 60% of all new human illnesses such as HIV, SARS, avian influenza, and H1N1—have emerged from animals, especially wildlife. The project will focus on identifying these zoonotic diseases before they move to full-scale human to human transmission.

AED’s activities will identify high-risk practices and groups and formulate the behavior change strategies and interventions to meet the challenges posed by these emerging diseases. This award builds on the work AED has done over the past four years in behavior change and communication related to H5N1 (avian flu) and pandemic H1N1 influenza.