Comms 13may2013

From ilri-comms ilriwikis

ILRI comms meeting

Addis Ababa

13 May 2013


Participants

Shirley Tarawali Susan Macmillan Peter Ballantyne Sisay Webshet Apollo Habtamu Muthoni Nijuri Abenet yabowork Simret Yesabu Ewen Leborgne Mekonnen Feyisa Jane Gitau Evelyn Katingi Paul karaimu Meron Mulatu Albert Mwangi Fanos mekonnen Tsehay Gashaw Daniel Hailemichael Tezira Lore Abeba Desta Tesfaye Jemaneh Emaelaf kebede

more ..



Resources

Report from the comms staff survey

File:comms_staff_survey_results.docx

Report from the comms 'demand' survey

File:comms_progstaff_survey_results.docx

Agenda

1330 Welcome and objectives (Shirley)

Our comms expertise areas and focus of effort: Review of the survey feedback from comms staff

Demand for comms expertise Review of the survey feedback from scientific staff

1700 Close

Full discussion notes

Feedback from groups on comms survey: Group 1:

  • The survey didn’t portray what we are doing (a lot of stuff that’s not presented here)
  • The survey didn’t capture each and every output
  • Much time is also spent for non-KMIS tasks that are not reflected in the survey
  • The survey should have been simplified
  • There are lots of work going on / staff are not aware of all of this – ILRI Comms got talent
  • What we do most is reactive and not proactive
  • Good if we specialize on specific primary tasks

Group 2:

  • Have more coverage in the regions through having dedicated staff
  • The question ‘we’re good at’ is not well captured in the survey
  • We need more content creators in the pipeline
  • We need to raise awareness on accountability viz. CRPs
  • We need to re-organise communication for more coherent comms approach
  • Focus on the demand side in a more coordinated way
  • We need to understand how our activities meet our overall comms objectives

Group 3:

  • Little time for innovating
  • Little time to focus – too many things to do
  • Closing the gaps to communicate (how to make sure we get the right stories to the right channels etc.)

Get assistants (each of us) Raise salary Expectations from researchers that “comms people do that” Too many technologies

Group feedback about researchers' survey:

  • Some questions are not focused enough
  • They may not know what they don't know and formulate needs which may be felt but not be actual


What we need to think about: - A theory of change on comms would help. - A better understanding on personal/ team productivity/ efficiency/ effectiveness - Work on programs, regions, CRPs etc. ==> what could be 1-2 concrete activities that ILRI could take.

Group work on what we need to think about next

Group 1: Addressing gaps in programs, regions, CRPs

  • Who maps the gaps (what do you need in the regions etc.)?
  • Identify the focal points (different programs might have different interests and needs)?
  • Educate people about comms stuff: What we do; Be strategic (not use all the tools for anything)
  • Assess the gaps  shape the KK to help programs feel their comms needs
  • Assess comms plans of regions and CRPs
  • Develop a comms plan for ourselves

Group 2: theory of change (ToC)

  • We need to collect feedback from our staff about what the comms team is doing as well as feedback (positive and negative) and interest from target audiences
  • We can develop and collect individual theories of change which can feed into a collective ToC
  • Identify what we are good at and where we fall short
  • We need indicators and collect data about important areas of change
  • After all that we can fulfill the goals on our communication plan and we can inform the overall ILRI ToC

Group 3: Personal / team effectiveness

  • Develop work plans (based on KRA indicators)
  • Discuss with team members and have monthly goals to get advice from your supervisor to identify what you’ll be working on
  • Researchers need to be told that yes we do want to help but we need a plan so we can ensure full support is given (time, equipment, logistics)
  • Create a menu of actual’s impact