Download - Riu 3 k_mcomms
Communication & Research
in an age of Style1in an age of Style
Exploring how KM and
Communication can support your RIU
project get more interest from
donors and partners
1 hat tip to Hastings Chikoko
Don’t be such a scientist
‘Don’t be such a scientist: talking substance in an age of style’(Island Press 2009), Randy Olsen, marine biologist and film maker :
Scientists should pay more attention to how they communicate their work. They should focus not only on substance or content, but much more on the style of communication: “….communication is not just
one element in the struggle to make science relevant. It is the central element. Because if you gather scientific knowledge but are unable to element. Because if you gather scientific knowledge but are unable to
convey it to others in a correct and compelling form, you might as well not even have bothered to gather the information”
What are the triggers?
The tipping point for creating a revolution is
10%!
Scientists...
Ignorant Target groups...
...possess all expert knowledge and scientific wisdom
... will gladly change their attitudes and behaviour accordingly
Difference between conventional research
communication & Communication for R4D
Area Conventional Research Comms Communication for R4d
Objectives Contribute to bodies of
knowledge
Inform and provide information
Change perceptions and behavior, contribute
to development processes
Targets Researchers, scientists,
academics
Multiple actors (farmers, planner, policy
makers, private sector, NGOs, etc) academics makers, private sector, NGOs, etc)
Methodology One way, mechanistic
Passive
Two way, iterative process – multiple actors
involved, participatory
Strategies Publish in journals
Attend scientific meetings
Message focused
Hand over information to
media/Public Information
Facilitation, interaction and engagement
Use multiple channels, products – what works
for the audience we are trying to focus on
Focused on use rather than production
When At end of research process Continuous process where communication is
seen as a process for deriving shared meaning
Why communication is important
• Research and development institutions are being challenged to demonstrate a poverty orientation (pro-poor), show impact and ensure results are cost-effective.
• Research generation is not more important than • Research generation is not more important than research utilization: both are equally important.
• Knowledge management and communicationmake the big difference.
We are here
7Dr. Peter Ashton, CSIR
Networks & Partnerships: like a value
chain
Leverage networks and partnerships
Maximize opportunities within these networks to
establish relationships
Looks at impact pathways, who we want to
ResearchResearchNext usersNext users
End users End
users
Looks at impact pathways, who we want to
influence, what we want to change
Elements to CPWF KM
M&E
Process and Outcomes
M&E
Process and Outcomes
Information Management
Data collection
Information bits
Information Management
Data collection
Information bits
Communication
(supporting changes identified in impact
pathways)
Communication
(supporting changes identified in impact
pathways)
Approach to KM
Processes Packaging
Power: information
= power
Partnerships
What we have to offer you• Information management and knowledge sharing systems:
– Yammer & e-letter
– Youtube/slideshare/etc
– Document Repository: CG-Space linking all your documents to the CG
repository
Resources and support for
external communications• Support from the Basin
communicators
• Media/Journalist work
• Linkages to global events, i.e. COP17, WWW, WWF
I can’t reach it
still. I need
something
longer
i.e. COP17, WWW, WWF
• Visual identity guidelines
• Planning on Com dev or policy communication processes
Vehicles to publish your materials
• Working papers
• Field stories
• Briefing notes
• Blogs• Blogs
• CPWF E-letter
What we would expect from you
• Each project should try to set aside 10% of budget for communication (materials, partner workshops, etc)
• Contribute to the information management systems:
– Flickr, Youtube, slideshare, Cgspace
• Contribute to the our different communication vehicles• Contribute to the our different communication vehicles
– Contributions to e-letter
– Contribution to different CPWF series: working papers, briefing notes, outcome and field stories series
Linking communication plans to OLMs
and Milestone plans
Theories of change
Theories of change
•What we want to change
Impact pathways
Impact pathways
•How we will go about the change pathwayspathways change
Communication plans linked to
milestones
Communication plans linked to
milestones
•How to support research to achieve impact
Research strategies Research strategies
• Whatresearch we will carry out
Discussion
• What are your own communication needs?
What support would you like?
• How should RIU engage with BDCs and/or
global level – what communication linkages
should be in placeshould be in place
• How can we use communication to enhance
linkages to partners/donors to continue the
RIU work or become part of it?