1. Communication Strategy for
Peri Urban Project
Anjal Prakash
August 19, 2010
Kathmandu

2. 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
change social behavior
Information VS communication - giving out vs getting
through
Communication is continuous engagement

3. 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
the impact of development research
• Not communicating effectively is a missed
opportunity

4. 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
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”

5. 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.
• Communication for development and transfer or
demystifying knowledge
• Strategic communication is aimed at giving stakeholders
a voice and creating spaces for debate

6. 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
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.

7. 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

8. 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
• Press release, TV/radio interview
• Leaflets, Posters, Brochures
• Research paper, issue papers, working papers, policy
briefs
• Conferences

9. 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
– Workshopsseminars 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