Development Communications Workshop

INTRODUCTION

Effective communication is a cornerstone of successful development initiatives. The Development Communications Workshop is designed to equip participants with practical skills and knowledge essential for leveraging communication tools and techniques to facilitate development. Through a combination of workshops and lectures, this course provides a hands-on approach to mastering the art of development communication, ensuring participants can apply these skills in real-world scenarios. The course focuses on the vital role of communication in driving development efforts, emphasizing the application of communication theories and strategies to address developmental challenges. Participants will explore various communication types and their roles in fostering development, gaining a comprehensive understanding of how to craft effective communication strategies. From report writing to podcast creation, the skills developed in this workshop will be directly applicable to solving complex developmental problems.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be well-versed in the principles and practices of development communication, equipped to design and implement strategies that promote social change, improve health outcomes, and support sustainability initiatives. Whether you are working internally within an organization or externally in a consulting capacity, this course will enhance your ability to communicate effectively in a development context, ensuring your messages resonate and drive impactful change.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the developmental role of communications.
• Grasp key aspects of development communication theory.
• Differentiate types of communication and their roles in development.
• Develop practical skills for designing communication strategies to tackle developmental issues, including report writing and podcast creation.

Duration

5 Days

Who Should Attend

This course is beneficial for all professionals working in the communications field, whether as internal or external staff.

Course Outline

Introduction to Development Communications

• Definition and History of Development Communication
• Approaches and Theories of Development Communication
• Strategies and Models of Development Communication
• Types of Communication and Their Roles
• Communication Strategies

Behavior and Social Change Theories in Development Communication.

• Behavior and Social Change Theory in Development Communication.
• Interpersonal-Level Change Theories
• Community-Level Change Theories.
• Theory-Led Development Communication Research and Planning.

Development Communication Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation.

• Research, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Participatory Research.
• The Development Communication Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

Role of Development in Communication: Applied/Practical Components

• Development Communication in Health and Gender
• Development Communication in Activism, Humanitarianism, and Social Change
• Development Communication in ICT and Open Development
• Development Communication in Environment and Sustainability
• Development Communication in Inequality, Global Poverty, and Hunger

Development of a communication strategy for development

• Contextual analysis.
• Goals
• The causal analysis.
• Targets (direct-indirect).
• Communication activities.
• The messages.
• Canals
• Typologies of the supports for the implementation of a development communication.
• The calendar.
• Human and financial resources.

Challenges of Development Communication

• Identifying Challenges in Development Communication
• Strategies for Combating Challenges in Development Communication

General Notes

• This course is delivered by seasoned trainers with extensive experience in their respective fields, combining practical activities, theoretical instruction, group work, and case studies.
• Participants will receive comprehensive training manuals and additional reference materials.
• Upon successful completion, participants will be awarded a certificate.
• We offer tailor-made courses to meet specific organizational needs. For more information, contact us at training@skillsforafrica.org.
• The training will be conducted at the Skills for Africa Training Institute in Nairobi, Kenya.
• The training fee includes tuition, training materials, lunch, and the training venue. Accommodation and airport transfers can be arranged upon request.
• Payment should be made to our bank account before the start of the training. Please send proof of payment to training@skillsforafrica.org.