IFAD’s regional communication strategy for Western and Central Africa.

IFAD’s regional communication strategy for Western and Central Africa

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Developing the strategy

• Needs assessment and definition of objectives

Sources: Western and Central Africa regional strategy, interviews with staff of WCA and Communication Divisions

• Development of draft one of strategy

• Presentation to key stakeholders in the region

• Review process based on the inputs received

• Development of a revised draft strategy

• Clearance process and approval

• Implementation

- Preparation of medium-term communication plans

- Integration into annual work programme and budget

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Goal

Enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the region’s poverty eradication programmes and projects through communication

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Objectives

1. Strengthen the capacity of rural poor people to communicate

2. Ensure advocacy and policy dialogue

3. Build and strengthen through learning and sharing a community of practice among local, national, regional partners and IFAD

4. Ensure through enhanced internal communication that IFAD staff members, project management units and partners have the information they need to work effectively

5. Build strong partnerships with local and regional media and increase their understanding of rural poverty issues

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Objective 1: Communication for development

Output:

Communication activities undertaken within all projects and programmes and tools produced

Possible activities:

• Integrate communication for development objectives and activities into new programmes and projects

• Pilot new approaches to communication for development that improve impact, ownership and sustainability

Strengthen the capacity of rural poor people to communicate

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Objective 2: Advocacy and policy dialogue

Ensure advocacy and policy dialogue

Output:Advocacy materials (policy briefs and studies) prepared and circulated

Possible activities:• Generate policy communication vehicles and circulate

global communication products• Initiate and participate in special events for advocacy

and policy dialogue

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Objective 3: Knowledge management

Output:

Knowledge activities and tools developed

Possible activities: Integrate knowledge management and learning

objectives and activities into all programmes and projects and liaise with FIDAfrique

Identify innovative projects early and implement plans to capture evidence of lessons (stories, photos, video) over time to enable effective communication in support of replication and scaling up

Build and strengthen through learning and sharing a community of practice among local, national, regional partners and IFAD

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Objective 4: Internal communication

Output:

Internal communication activities and tools developed

Possible activities:

• Feed internal communication vehicles

• Organize learning routes (field trips) for Executive Board directors, senior management and other IFAD staff

Ensure through enhanced internal communication that IFAD staff members, project management units and partners have the information they need to work effectively

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Objective 5: Profile and awareness

Output:

Media partnerships established

Possible activities:

• Conduct research and preparatory work to lay foundations for media relations (developing media databases, networks, contacts and proposed partnerships)

• Develop media partnerships that focus media coverage on rural poverty issues and solutions

Build strong partnerships with local and regional media and increase their understanding of rural poverty issues

Farmers’ organizations, policies and markets

Workshop participant inputs

• What are your communication needs and priorities?

• What are concrete ways to link the communication strategy with FIDAfrique?