For the Red Cross Red Crescent, the Haiti earthquake response was the first time a dedicated beneficiary communications delegate was deployed – and beneficiary communications activities included in the overall strategy – from the very beginning of an operation. Embracing new technology and mass-media tools such as radio, SMS and other tele- communications technology, the Red Cross Red Crescent beneficiary communications programme in Haiti has aimed to use these to reach more people, more quickly and more effectively than ever before. This review looks at how these tools have been deployed, how effective they have been, and suggests some next steps for furthering their impact in the future, both in Haiti and around the world.
