This Communication Handbook aims to provide programme officers with guidelines and a framework to design and implement research-driven communication programmes. It offers a menu of ideas, strategies and tools (worksheets) from which programme officers can select according to their country-specific reality, in order to accelerate polio eradication.

Although the content of this Handbook emphasises polio eradication and routine EPI, the methodology it proposes can be readily utilised to guide other health communication interventions as well. To study and apply the guidelines in the Handbook, as well as strategies and ideas provided in it can help in initiating, reinforcing and institutionalising the integration of a sound and research-driven communication approach in a communication programme.