Communication Strategy for Peri Urban Project

Anjal Prakash

August 19, 2010

Kathmandu

What is Communication?

“Communication is a process whereby information is enclosed in a package and is channelled and imparted by a sender to a receiver via some medium” – Wikipedia’s definition

� Communication is a way in trying to influence and � Communication is a way in trying to influence and change social behavior

� Information VS communication - giving out vs getting through

� Communication is continuous engagement

Why do we need communication?

• Communications is increasingly regarded as a

highly valuable tool for dissemination, outreach

and advocacy

• Important tool to inform, inspire and maximize • Important tool to inform, inspire and maximize

the impact of development research

• Not communicating effectively is a missed

opportunity

Barriers of effective communication in projects

� Its-not-my-job syndrome

� We are researchers – communication is not our job!

� I am not equipped to handle communication

� Communication is distraction� Communication is distraction

� I don’t have time and resources to do this

“communications is too often just an afterthought or put on the back burner rather than being a vital part of the planning process”

Strategic Communication

• Communication is not simply dissemination. It’s about

engagement as well – suiting to the need of different

target group

• Strategic communication thinks through the purpose of

communications to tries to build understanding about the

research as well as engaged the stakeholders. research as well as engaged the stakeholders.

• Communication for development and transfer or

demystifying knowledge

• Strategic communication is aimed at giving stakeholders

a voice and creating spaces for debate

When do we start Communicating?

• Communication thinking needs to be built-in at the start of the research planning process, not tacked on at the end

• Communication, therefore is integral part of the research and action process

• Ideally, each research project must define a minimal communications strategy drawing on the ideas, networks, and skills communications strategy drawing on the ideas, networks, and skills of all the partners. It must also outline a means to implement that strategy with the end in mind!

• Strategic communications focuses on the big picture that we want to accomplish. It is looking at the various channels of communication as widely as possible to try to find the right way to inform and influence policy and practices.

Who are our target group for

communication

• Affected Community

• Policy makers (politician and bureaucrats)

• Academicians

• Activists and advocacy groups

• Students and researchers

• NGOs working around the issue

• Media

• Donor agencies

Tools for communication

• Community

– Leaflet, posters, wall writing in local language

• Internet communication – dedicated website, project

newsletter, blog, facebook, flicker and slideshare

• Attending Meeting and talking about an issue• Attending Meeting and talking about an issue

• Press release, TV/radio interview

• Leaflets, Posters, Brochures

• Research paper, issue papers, working papers, policy

briefs

• Conferences

Suggestions for effective communication of the peri urban project

• Document each and every event through pictures, notes and back to office report (keep a diary of event in your notebook)

• Share this with SaciWATERs communication team once in a month (responsibility of research coordinators)

– Your field work reports with pictures

– Workshops\seminars you attended on the subject – short description with PPTs– Workshops\seminars you attended on the subject – short description with PPTs

– Research reflections, any issue that you feel strongly about

– Etc..

• Have a project web page in your website (nec, IWFM) –SaciWATERs will support – this is used for documentation of your work and update

• SaciWATERs will work on the website of the project, blog, slide share and facebook acount and link all the project partners

• Working paper series