Consolidating practice in social science research for Ebola, DRC.

The response to the Ebola epidemic in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of Congo has been described as one of the most complex that national and international communities have had to face.Given the complexity of this protracted epidemic, social science research has become a critically important part of the response in order to help contextualise strategies, investigate social determinants of infection, and inform understanding and reception of interventions employed for outbreak control. To routinely generate this intelligence, an innovative solution has emerged in the form of the Cellule d'Analyse en Sciences Sociales. UNICEF-funded, this group is made up predominantly of local and national social scientists. Other ad hoc social science research is also being conducted in the field. Through this proposal we aim to consolidate learning and articulate what is needed to replicate similar initiatives in future outbreaks. We will provide remote technical support, conduct structured critical appraisal of the field experience, capture lessons learned, and develop guidance and tools for the current and for future outbreaks. Our vision is to contribute to better outbreak prevention and response through excellence in social and behavioural science research, integrated into current and future responses to infectious disease threats.