Bringing global efforts together

Launched in 2023 under the End Rabies Now (ERN) campaign, GARC’s Communities Against Rabies (CAR) initiative empowers communities to eliminate dog-transmitted rabies through a structured, science-led phased approach. CAR focuses on building individual and organizational capacity, effectively using digital tools, and establishing a global network of Dog Health Champions (DHCs) and Rabies Centers of Excellence (RCEs). 

Rabies elimination for everyone: Challenges

Despite significant medical and technological advancements, dog-transmitted rabies still claims a life every nine minutes in over 150 countries. The following challenges continue to prevent rabies elimination:  

  • Insufficient trained workforce at the community level.  
  • Inconsistent reporting and surveillance.  
  • Lack of coordinated community-level collaboration.  

In response, GARC launched CAR as a grassroots program designed to empower individuals, communities, and organizations to take action against rabies through education, collaboration, and technological innovation. Aligned with the Global Strategic Plan (GSP), which tasks governments with setting and implementing rabies elimination strategies, CAR ensures these strategies translate into sustainable impact by partnering with community stakeholders and organizations.

Why do we need Communities Against Rabies?

CAR addresses systemic barriers in rabies-affected communities by building capacity at both individual and organizational levels. Through collaborative partnerships, GARC fosters a global network of stakeholders working toward a rabies-free future. The initiative delivers accessible health solutions, digital tools, and training to empower communities where government reach is limited, ensuring resources are directed to the root causes of rabies transmission. By combining science, compassion, and community-driven action, CAR drives historic progress toward elimination.

How does the Communities Against Rabies initiative work?

CAR operates through a phased approach, using GARC’s proven tools and resources to build capacity and foster collaboration. The initiative focuses on three key phases:

Building Individual Capacity 

By focusing on building the capacity of individuals, we ensure that animal health professionals and volunteers become recognized Dog Health Champions (DHCs). These DHCs have the knowledge and skills to serve their communities and contribute towards rabies elimination in a meaningful way. CAR strengthens local knowledge through the GARC Education Platform, offering free, self-paced certificate courses. As certified DHCs, individuals educate communities on dog welfare, rabies prevention, and bite prevention, fostering a global workforce of rabies advocates and animal welfare ambassadors. This approach has proven effective, with a growing global network of DHCs improving rabies prevention and animal welfare at the community level.

Building Organizational Capacity

CAR supports organizations, particularly NGOs, that fill gaps where government efforts fall short. It is not always possible for governments to reach all at-risk communities. Typically, NGOs fill these gaps in the communities by supporting activities within communities that government efforts are unable to reach. They also offer additional services like Dog Population Management, as well as supplement limited government efforts through targeted community programs.

NGOs often face the following challenges:

  • Volunteers who may not have the relevant knowledge and training.
  • Outdated paper-based forms to capture data.
  • Only using data for internal record keeping.
  • Limited educational materials, often not suited to their contextually-specific needs.
  • Limited time or capacity for engaging with donors and/or raising funds.

CAR provides the solutions: 

  • Access to GARC’s technical expertise and support. 
  • Access to GARC’s extensive database of scientifically-backed educational resources, available in multiple languages, with support for developing context-specific materials at no cost.
  • Certifying organizations as Rabies Centers of Excellence (RCEs), offering ongoing capacity strengthening, tools, and international media exposure to raise their profiles.  

Rabies Centers of Excellence: Community organizations working together

Since its rollout in late 2023, CAR has established 23 RCEs globally. CAR also connects RCEs within specific regions and this ensures standardized approaches, efficient resource use, and collaboration to tackle rabies at scale. 

Leveraging Technological Innovations

Through the GARC Data Platform, CAR integrates digital tools to improve rabies surveillance, reporting, and response. These tools enable communities to track cases, monitor progress, and allocate resources effectively, addressing gaps in inconsistent reporting. By standardizing data collection across RCEs, CAR ensures coordinated, impactful outcomes without duplicating efforts. Read more about our technical support here.

Communities Against Rabies: A Grassroots Movement for Lasting Change

By empowering individuals as DHCs and organizations as RCEs, CAR builds a network of excellence that amplifies stakeholder efforts through international recognition and standardized tools. 

 

Join our Communities Against Rabies today!