Communication and public awareness
Around the world, public policy programmes often collapse because inadequate attention is paid to the communications support necessary to build and maintain coalitions for reform.
Reforming government and public services can affect millions of citizens, firms and investors. Critical to achieving sustainable reform is spreading an understanding and acceptance of the changes throughout the broadest possible spectrum of stakeholders. Effective communications build coalitions, making reform as politically safe and painless as possible. Good communication is also a critical success factor within government. Simple, open and efficient communication and reporting mechanisms throughout ministries, and upwards to centre of government institutions is fundamental to meeting public service delivery targets.
Governments cannot afford to neglect communications. The world’s most economically developed countries pay the most attention to communications. Fortunately governments are becoming more aware of communications, and so are their stakeholder audiences. This means that governments are more willing to communicate and more eager to learn how. There has never been a better time to start communicating honestly and effectively.
ASI is a world leader in communications and public awareness campaigns associated with public policy reform. ASI strengths include:
- Building commitment to reform across government and implementing agencies
- Establishing stakeholder and wider public understanding and support for reform
- Communicating complex policy simply and honestlyusing a range of media to get the message across and to engage multiple audiences
Development communication is the art and science of making people aware of the benefits of change and of facilitating that change through raising awareness, understanding, and dialogue among stakeholders.
Our proven approach to development communication involves three objectives, three spheres of influence and seven steps.
