<p>Community engagement remains one of the key challenges in this Ebola response. UK Aid has supported research by Social Science in Humanitarian Action to understand community concerns and the inherently complex social and political context of the affected areas.</p><p>We are working with the key implementing partners to adapt approaches to the very varied local contexts – including working with trusted local leaders and religious groups. Experience from the devastating outbreak of 2014-2016 in West Africa shows that the response will not be able to contain the outbreak until there is sufficient community understanding, acceptance and ownership, all of which is made more difficult in eastern DRC given the active conflict.</p>