"The International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) was approached by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in December 2010 to provide research communication support to seven of the IDRC ACACIA programme’s research partners (PANAF, UHIN, GRACE, RIA, P
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ICTURE, OASIS and eARN). This review aims to assess to what extent the activities INASP planned and implemented have contributed to building the communication capacity of the partners. We assess INASP’s approach by reviewing how the project was designed and implemented and identify a number of lessons that could be been learned from the process. Finally we make recommendations for future initiatives on capacity building for better communication. In short, we consider that the initiative has contributed to increasing the awareness of the importance of communications, as well as a strategic understanding by the partners of how to inform policy through the communication of research. INASP’s approach has also provided the partners with some practical tools to improve their communication (such as press releases, communication strategy etc.). However, the level of interest from the partners and the unique challenge of how to build the capacity of networks were not sufficiently well understood and as a consequence not all of the partners engaged with the process to get the most out of the project. In this document we analyse the different phases of the project, what challenges were met and why, and suggest how a deeper learning and more transformative effects could have been achieved." (Summary)
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"This report investigates the impact media and ICTs can have on the lives of the poor, based on the experiences of nine donors and NGOs forming part of the "Building Communication Opportunities (BCO)" alliance. It suggests that radio will have the most influence on social and political change where
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it is widely accessible, trusted by listeners, and open to inclusive participation. ICTs can help make markets work for the poor, but the surrounding circumstances are highly influential in determining in how far they make a difference. Communication networks appear to be particularly effective in building communities of activists where they enable the pooling of resources and expertise and leverage wider influence on decision-makers. However, the report concludes that evidence of the impact of ICTs is still weak. More debate is needed about how ICTs are best deployed. This requires learning how people really use the tools, as well as a more effective assessment of past and current experiences." (CAMECO Update 1-2009)
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