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This document outlines the process of designing and implementing an RPC (Research Partnership Communications) communications strategy among diverse partners in the UK, Africa, and Asia. It details the initial strategy development, the collaborative workshop aimed at enhancing communications capacity, and the establishment of a supportive community of practice. Key challenges encountered during implementation, valuable lessons learned, and the next steps for continuous improvement and capacity building are also discussed, emphasizing the importance of aligning communication strategies with partners' priorities.
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Designing & Implementing an RPC Communications Strategy Annabelle South 19th May 2009
Contents • Background - partners • Process of developing the strategy • The communications workshop • Supporting partners to implement the strategy • Communications community of practice • Challenges • Lessons learnt • What next?
Background • Aim to influence policy & practice • 7 partners – UK, Africa and Asia • Academic organisations, research institutes and NGOs • Varying levels of comms experience and capacity
Developing the strategy • Initial strategy developed by LSHTM & AIDS Alliance during inception phase • Comms leads appointed for each partner • Preparation by partners for workshop • Comms workshop held • Strategies finalised by partners • Overall strategy agreed
The workshop • Purpose: • Develop country-level strategies • Strengthen comms capacity • Attended by comms leads for partners • External facilitators (ODI) & internal expertise
Workshop contents • Identifying the audience • Identifying the changes • Forces for & against change • The message & the messenger • Internal communications • Knowledge & learning • Communities of practice • Writing for impact
Supporting partners to implement the strategy • Community of practice (Comms CoP) • Comms manager • Lead & facilitate comms CoP • RPC-wide activities & products • Capacity strengthening • Support partner-specific activities & products • Capacity strengthening
Comms CoP • Purpose: to improve the comms performance and capacity of partners • Regular teleconferences: update on activities, share experience & ideas • Valued by partner comms leads (& comms manager) • Formal evaluation to take place next week
Challenges • Workshop costs – travel, facilitators • Limited time & human resources for carrying out comms activities • Partner not able to attend main comms workshop less active in Comms CoP
Lessons Learnt Workshop: • Multi-partner workshop worked better in long-run than single-partner workshop • Workshop was a good way of generating buy-in & enthusiasm • Timing Strategies: • Need to fit with partner’s overall priorities
Lessons Learnt Comms CoP: • Useful support mechanism • Important to find the right way for the group to function • Best for specific, concrete plans rather than conceptual discussions
Lessons Learnt Comms leads: • Clearly identified leads facilitated process of strategy development & implementation • Dual role (research & comms) means time-pressure substantial Other: • Need to take account of time needed for internal approval (within partners)
What next? • Updating comms strategy • Evaluating comms CoP • Capacity building • Continuing implementation