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Latest in Strategic Communication Training Workshops

International Workshop on Consultations and Strategic Communications in the
Water and Sanitation Sector

In late March and early April, seventy-nine senior officials from water and sanitation projects in East and South Asia met in Bangkok for the International Workshop on Consultations and Strategic Communications in the Water and Sanitation Sector. Moncef M. Bouhafa, director of CDC, served as lead facilitator for the workshop, which was funded by the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) with support from the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF). The workshop’s two main goals were to:

• Share the best practices in communication and consultation from around the world, and
• Provide practical skills-training in the field of communication.

The workshop received positive ratings from participants, especially in terms of recognizing the importance of strategic communication.

According to the post-workshop evaluation, 90 % of participants rated their understanding of strategic communication and its value to their program or organization as either “good” or “excellent” as a result of attending the workshop. Participants also noted the interactive nature of the sessions as a significant highlight of the workshop.

The 2008 IEMTW Series

The 2008 series of CDC’s flagship workshop, the International Executive Media and Television Workshop (IEMTW), has received positive reviews so far this year. Participants from international and UN agencies (FAO, IDRC, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNIFIL, UNOCHA, UNOPS, UNRWA, WFP), the private sector (Coca-Cola Eurasia group, Capivest), NGOs (PSI, FHI, SAIDR) and others met in Cairo (March 25-28), Geneva (May 5-8), and Bangkok (June 16-19) for IEMTW 28, 29, and 30 respectively. The workshop, an intensive hands-on learning event tailored to help spokespersons and media practitioners better engage the media to increase visibility and public support for their organization, elicited positive responses from participants:

• “For me, it was definitely a great experience. Very useful also for presenting a topic to all kinds of audiences (not just the media).”
  
• “A rather exciting opportunity to re-think my role in the organization and return with enhanced skills to better do my job.”
  
• “Extremely interesting. All advice and suggestions will guide me in my work with the media. My expectations on learning about most effective message structure and media approach were fully met.”

The final IEMTW for 2008 will take place in Bangkok from 8-11 December – please register early as seats fill up quickly.

Training for the World Bank, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Managers

In late May 2008, the CDC conducted a pilot workshop for World Bank managers in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The workshop, which was developed specifically to meet the needs of the LAC team, aimed to achieve four clear objectives:

• Understand and be able to apply a strategic approach to stakeholder communication via the media,
  
• Improve personal skills in terms of message design and delivery, focusing both on structure and content as well as process,
  
• Understand how to be an effective actor in the media environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, and
  
• Be more proactive in seeking out media contacts in the region by building bridges with the media.

The workshop was held in Washington D.C. at the World Bank headquarters.

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Senior Leadership Program

In July, CDC conducted the media training portion of the Fourth Senior Leadership Program at the IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland for the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The workshop focused on training senior managers to engage the media in CGIAR issues, as well as learn how to handle reputation and credibility concerns with the media. The team will be led by Moncef Bouhafa and includes Osei G Kofi and Juliette Meeus for the individual coaching

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.

Latest in Communication Leadership

Communication Strategy for One UN in Cape Verde

Similarly to the One United Nations project in Macedonia, CDC assisted the UN with the consolidation of its agencies in Cape Verde on the country level. This project not only aims to improve the UN’s communication effectiveness in Cape Verde, but also hopes to facilitate the nation’s imminent transition from a Least Developed Country (LDC) status to one of Middle Income Country.

CDC developed a joint communication strategy in order to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, of which the anticipated results include enhancing the UN’s visibility in Cape Verde and reaching resource mobilization targets. Stage One of the UN communication strategy for Cape Verde, a stakeholder analysis, took place in October 2007 and the strategy was presented in April 2008. The strategy is to be approached in two phases:

• Building Internal Communication Capacity (Phase One), which mainly focuses on establishing and strengthening internal communication among UN agencies
  
• Engaging Audiences on Cape Verde’s Development (Phase Two), which concentrates on engaging external audiences to address Cape Verde’s emerging development issues as it transitions out of LDC status.

The Demand For Good Governance Project, Cambodia

The Demand For Good Governance Project (DFGG), funded by the World Bank, aims to promote good governance in Cambodia by encouraging demand for better governance rather than focusing on supply-side instruments.

CDC has designed communication strategies for a set of state institutions designated “islands of good governance” (specifically, the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection (MONASRI), the Arbitration Council, Radio National of Kampuchea, and the Ministry of Interior’s One Stop Window Services) as well as a communication strategy for the DFGG project as a whole. CDC was responsible for:

• Providing technical inputs on publicity, marketing, and raising awareness for each of the state institutions
  
• Outlining a program for circulating general information concerning the concept of the DFGG Project
  
• Designing a strategy showcasing the impact of the DFGG Project

The projected outcome of this collaboration is to encourage Cambodian citizens and non-state organizations to hold their government accountable for better governance.

Currently, CDC is working with the World Bank in assisting the Task Force in MONASRI in designing an impact evaluation methodology as well as a Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) System for the Land Law and Complaints Handling activities under the proposed DFGG project.

The M & E system includes both a qualitative and quantitative phase which will provide baselines against which to measure the success of the proposed program. To help carry-out the research, CDC is working with Green Goal- a locally based Cambodian research company.

Education for All in Madagascar

In observance of the international commitment of Education for All (EFA), Madagascar seeks to provide a basic ten year education for all in the nation.

The government’s vision for improved education aims to increase access to education, improve the effective use of available resources, enhance the quality of education, ensure fair education for marginalized groups, and provide adequate funding to the school system.

CDC Director Moncef M. Bouhafa is the principal communication advisor for the project. Activities to promote the education reform revolve around the common message developed for the campaign called “New School for All for the World of Tomorrow”

Promoting Clean-up of Stockpiles of Obsolete Pesticides in Africa

CDC in collaboration with WWF completed an audience analysis 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 developed the analysis in 2 phases.

Phase 1 involved undertaking a stakeholder analysis in all seven of the target countries as well as with the ASPIC (Africa Stockpiles Program Implementation Committee). The analysis helped identify priority audiences, develop key objectives and suggest messages for the larger communication strategy.

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