Communicating Effectively to Get Your Message Across
Facilitator: Jessica Hartl, Information Officer, Food for Peace, USAID
Content: USAID partners working on food assistance programs have great stories to tell—but often forget to do so. For those focused on the day-to-day implementation of food assistance programs in particular, sharing their stories with others (external communication) may not be a high priority. Yet a key part of demonstrating impact is the messaging and effective communication of the results.
Discussion: This session explored ways to communicate effectively and consistently about food assistance programs, including messaging, telling our story more effectively, and project marking and branding policies and practices. .
The Way Forward: Participants identified five recommendations for this topic:
Processes
- Identify the appropriate communication tools for different audiences / communication purposes
- Establish relevant mechanisms / networks for responding to disasters
- Identify how FFP programs and projects can report on how their activities contribute to the country’s CAADP
Training
- Training on how to get message out in a political sensitive environment
- Promoting capacity building workshops for communications staff, including media training for COPs