What+is+changing+in+our+work

=Partnership and Communication annual meeting 2012 =

On 24-26 January, ILRI's P&C department held a meeting in Addis Ababa to review the highlights of 2011 and align plans and ideas around strategic priorities for 2012 and beyond. (go back to ParCom12 home page)

//**Highlights from the ILRI Comms review**// //Doing well:// Branding, writing, medial relations, multimedia productions, photo exhibits, stills and films, use of social media, knowledge conferencing, use of new information workflows etc.

__//Findings/conclusions//__ Move towards more purposeful and strategic communications around more selective issues and with ore targeted audiences. Need for clear articulation of the main purpose of ILRI communications, clear definition of target audiences and clear uptake pathways we use Align communication to ILRI's overall mission Requires greater ownership of ILRI's communication work

Other: Staff capacities, lack of staff time, skewed staff incentives, geographic focus, CG-wide uncertainties, managerial issues, lack of true engagement via social media, under-resourced editorial services.

__//Recommendations//__ To be more explicit about comm systems and processes Professionalize and enlarge the cadre of comm staf Help staff to communicate the organization Help media to report on ILRI's work Monitor effectiveness of communications Be more visible in topical debates

__//How do we become more policy-influential?//__ Tap into external narratives Target communication Engage in conversation of others (not just about ILRI)- some successes here eg in COP20, though mostly through CCAFS, opportunities to engage in initiatives such as RIO +20 Engage the media more Balance 'research-influential and 'practical-influential.

__//Major focus in 2011 management retreat://__
 * New strategic process: The link between ILRI and the CRP and the changes that are taking place in CG and how these affect budgets etc, and how New structure: How does ILRI support the CRPs that we lead and engage in.
 * New funding strategy: Resource mobilization and tranformative issues moving forward: 10 were agreed on, that funding will be sought for, most in CRPs but some outside.
 * Concept notes needed for each of the issues that DG and management can use to get resources (over US10m).

Comments/Feedback
 * Output from the comms review useful during ILRI strategy planning (communication and overall).

Discussion session:

How to write well (interestingly, capture attention)? How do we target our audiences better? How do we write for outsiders?
 * How do we develop good content?**

How do we persuade others to communicate and share like us in CRP 3.7? How do we communicate across themes (existing) internally and with partners like CIAT, WORLDFISH, ICARDA? How should communication in projects like EADD, NBDC etc meet their own needs and those of ILRI, CRPs and partners?
 * Knowledge sharing in a new environment**

What do we mean by it?- Moving research/findings (products) to partners, others and making sure that ILRI contributes to the global development agenda, e.g. in making sure value of livestock is understood. (A known area of weakness in the CG centres). In CRP's aim to help CG centres do outreach better...
 * Outreach**

How does/should communication support outreach?