Lesson 8: From Data to Action: Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness and Response through Community-Led Monitoring

On 24 April 2025, the 8th Learning Exchange Session (LESSONS) brought together over a hundred civil society representatives from Asia and Africa to explore the critical role of community-led monitoring (CLM) in pandemic preparedness and response (PPR). Organised by the COPPER Knowledge Hub in collaboration with the Activists Coalition on TB – Asia-Pacific (ACT! AP) hosted by APCASO, and the Africa Coalition on Tuberculosis (ACT! Africa), the session was co-hosted by the Regional Learning Hub for Anglophone Africa.

The webinar began with an overview of CLM presented by Ms Raine Cortes, Senior Programme Officer for the COPPER CLM Community Responses and Systems Strengthening Team under the Community, Rights and Gender (CRG) Department of The Global Fund. In her discussion, she explained the role of CLM in bridging the gap between health systems and communities through the following:

• Building the capacity of CLM implementers on country governance, core concepts, and systems requirements of PPR
• Strengthening community and health systems readiness through the utilisation of CLM data on HTM and PPR
• Evidence and Learning (tools, resources, research grants, documentation, and learning)

She presented the CLM cycle which includes the following key actions implemented iteratively:

1. Identification of service-related needs and deficits from the affected community
2. Collection of information at the facility and community level
3. Analysis and interpretation of information to develop solutions and action points
4. Dissemination of information and development of advocacy strategies
5. Advocacy for solutions and decision-maker engagement to implement change Monitoring the change