Organizational Context On 31 December 2019, the Government of China reported a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A novel coronavirus was identified and has been named COVID-19. On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. On 11 March 2020, WHO declared the COVID19 outbreak a pandemic. Most countries and territories around the world have now reported thousands of even millions of cases of COVID-19, and the risk of continued spread between and within countries is very high, despite the development of several vaccines. In the Americas, IFRC is coordinating with all Red Cross National Societies to support with monitoring, issuing advisories, requesting all offices to pre- position personal protective equipment (PPE) for high-risk activities, scenario planning and analyzing risk, and taking other initial actions. IFRC is also providing technical guidance and support to National Societies engaged in quarantine, screening as well as pre-hospital, home-based and hospital care. IFRC’s Emergency Appeal was revised, presented and relaunched in a coordination with ICRC. Together, both organizations are appealing for a total of CHF 2.7 billion to support the world’s most vulnerable populations who are at high-risk in under- resourced health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic and the response to it have been accompanied by an over-abundance of information - much of which is inaccurate – that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it. As a trusted partner and voice in this pandemic, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has an important role in dispelling rumors and misinformation as well as preventing stigma. To learn more about the operation, including the IFRC Emergency Appeal and Operations Updates, please visit IFRC GO page. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. The Communications Department, which is based in the GRHDD, is headed by a Director, who has direct line management responsibilities over the managers of the following units: (i) Media and Advocacy; (ii) X-Media; (iii) Strategy and Global Network; and (iv) Community Engagement and Accountability. The Director also had technical management responsibilities over the Communication Managers in each of the five regions.