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CDC Signs MoU with the United Nations Systems Staff College (UNSSC)

In early January of 2007, both the directors of the UNSSC (Stefan de Mistura) and CDC (Moncef M Bouahfa) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing to build on their existing relationship. CDC has been working with the UNSSC since 1997 to provide specific skills training expertise as well as a working knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in development communication.

The goals of the relationship are to work together in identifying activities that will:

• Enhance the ability of key UN staff to communicate with the media more effectively;
• Complement existing UN institutional capacity building efforts related to media skills;
• Engage and influence key inter-agency entry points for building media capacity and developing learning opportunities; and
• Present and position the collaboration as strategic and long-term in nature

For 2007, five regional workshops titled “Empowering Media Skills for UN Managers” will be taking place in Bangkok , Dakar, Nairobi, Panama and Turin.

CDC is Awarded a Long Term Agreement (LTA) with UNDP

CDC signed a long term agreement with UNDP (for three years) during which time we will provide training of UNDP staff in strategic communications techniques and media skills. These will range from developing a communication action plan to pitching stories to the media, handling crisis situations and interacting with UN agencies and external partners. The UNDP staff for training will range from UNDP Resident Representatives to Managers in Country Offices & HQ Units to Communication Officers and other participants as determined by the UNDP office or unit.

The learning outcomes of the training are:

1. Draft a communications strategy for country office or news event
2. Prepare and articulate key messages on specific UNDP programme areas
3. Increase opportunities for external attention to UNDP’s focus areas
4. Be proactive in dealing effectively before, during and after crisis and emergency situations
5. Network and interact with other UN agencies, donors, civil society and the media

These trainings can range from a one-half day session to a 2-5 day intensive workshops, depending on the needs identified by the respective UNDP office.

CDC’s Continues with Flagship Workshop

In addition to providing training services for UN agencies and governments we will also continue with our own flagship media courses. These are designed to supplement the limited in-house trainings which some agencies provide for their staff. For 2007, we have scheduled six regional editions of the International Executive Media and Television Workshop (IEMTW). They will take place in Accra, Bangkok, Cairo and Delhi respectively. The workshop schedule lists specific dates.

Latest in Communication Leadership

Promoting Clean-up of Stockpiles of Obsolete Pesticides in Africa

Several communication research projects are underway including collaboration with WWF on developing a communication strategy for the Africa Stockpiles Programme , which aims to clean-up stockpiles of obsolete pesticides, prevent their future accumulations and build capacity at the country level on important chemical related issues. CDC will develop the strategy in 2 phases. Phase 1 will involve undertaking a stakeholder analysis in all seven of the target countries. The analysis will help identify priority audiences, key objectives and messages for the larger communication strategy.

The results from the audience analysis will then serve as background material for strategy development workshops in which the stakeholders will participate. The objective of the workshops will be to expand and complete the strategic framework on specific communication activities dealing with awareness and action on obsolete pesticides.

Communication Strategy for UN Macedonia

CDC Director, Moncef Bouhafa was invited by the United Nations System in Macedonia, to assist with the development of a communication strategy for the UN as a whole. This comes at a time of repositioning the UN system in Macedonia in view of the country being granted candidate status with the EU and in line with the new UN reform agenda which brings together agencies much more than in the past. Mr. Bouhafa conducted a stakeholder analysis meeting with UN officials, as well as with partners from the Government and Civil Society (including major NGOs and representatives from both the electronic and print media). A draft framework will be reviewed in Skopje in February with members of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) as well as with members of the UN Communication Group (UNCG).

CDC will continue its partnership with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage in helping promote and communicate the culture and heritage of Abu Dhabi.

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