Strengthening communication in
N/S research partnerships for development

21 researchers came together in March 2011 to develop communications strategies for three projects with participants from the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the University of Dar es Salaam, Mzumbe University, the Institute of Rural Development Planning, and the Department of Geography and Geology at the University of Copenhagen.

Over three days, they covered the definition of stakeholders, the aims of working with them, the types of messages they would need, and the channels they would use to communicate. The training workshop introduced approaches to producing Press Releases and Policy Briefs as well as ways of using the internet to improve communication. Resources, including a reader and selected publications, were made available to illustrate how to evaluate and support ongoing communications in research projects, and provided links to additional sources of information. Valuable contributions were also provided by communications and library staff from SUA.

Very inspiring talks came from those research projects which had followed the same workshop in 2009. These projects had established a relationship with a columnist in a national daily paper, had worked with a radio broadcast on live coverage of their regional workshop on fruit drying, and  were planning to move more of their communication online. The variety of approaches used by the projects was encouraging to other participants, and many of the ideas such as posters and networks found their way into the plans of the new projects.

Perhaps a true sign of the fact that the workshop was worthwhile was the development of three communications plans, a structure and invite for a kickoff workshop, and a clearer formulation of activities to feed into the research program. New approaches to working with stakeholders were demonstrated by the participants through a role play at the end of the workshop representing examples of stakeholder workshops and townhall meetings.

Participants left the workshop with stronger links within and across research projects, as well as to resource persons within and outside SUA. This group will hopefully support each other in the future work with finalising and implementing the plans -  a task that we are already moving ahead with.

Concept note and programme
All presentations (below)
Take home messages - Video interviews (below)

Presentations:
Introductory remarks, by Dr. Evelyne Lazaro, SUA, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness
Introduction to DDRN and workshop programme, by Marianne Forti, DDRN

Brief presentations of research projects, round 2 and 3:
• Urban-Rural Complementaritities for Poverty Reduction: Identifying the Contribution of Savings and Credit Facilities, by Dr. Evelyne Lazaro, SUA, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness
• Productivity, Market Assess and Incomes for Small farming businesses through Contracts, by Prof. Joseph Kuzilwa, Mzumbe University
• Land Management System, Urban Governance and Leadership: The Future of Urban Tanzania, by Dr. Juma Kiduaga, Institute of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam

Brief presentations of progress of 1st reound pilot projects:
• Opportunities and challenges in peri-urban livestock farming in Tanzania, by Prof. Mkumbukwa M.A.Mtambo, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, SUA
• Development of Enterprise in Solar Drying of Fruits and Vegetables for Employment Creation, by Dr. Anna Temu, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, SUA

Communication training:

Day 1: Effective communication - Overview and exercise, by Chris Addison, IFPRI
Day 2: Messages and media, by Chris Addison, IFPRI
Day 2: Policy briefs, by Chris Addison, IFPRI
Day 3: Introduction to Web 2.0, by Chris Addison, Euforic

Take home messages:

See video interviews with three participants:
Colman Msoka, Associate Director, Institute of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam (1:07 min)
Elizabeth Frederik Mshote, PhD. Student, Sokoine University of Agriculture (1:03 min)
B.D. Sebyiga, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Rural Development Planning (IRDP) (4:26 min)