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OGC and Communication for Development

OGC also addresses the issues of inclusion and participation through its focus on Communication for Development (C4D). C4D in very simple terms is two-way communication system that enables people, particularly the most disadvantaged in society, to participate in shaping decisions that affect their lives. It is boarder than traditional ‘communication’ associated with public relations and UNDP’s approach to Communication for Development is embedded in its poverty reduction mandate which centres on the achievement of MDGs and the broader development, governance and human rights objectives.

UNDP, led by OGC, has been a key proponent of the C4D principles and approaches in the international development arena. UNDP has actively participated in all the bi-annual UN Inter-agency Roundtables on C4D. The Roundtables which began in 1988 provides an opportunity for UN agencies to exchange ideas and experiences to advance their thinking on C4D issues and promote cooperation among UN agencies to develop common strategies to harness C4D approaches in support of the achievement of MDGs.

In March 2009, OGC co-hosted with the World Bank the XIth UN Inter-agency Roundtable on Communication for Development entitled, ‘Moving C4D up the International Agenda: Demonstrating impact and positioning institutionally’, in Washington DC. The Roundtable brought together 15 UN agencies and key non-UN partners to discuss how to move the C4D agenda and practice in the UN system forward under two main themes: Assessing and Demonstrating the Impact of Communication for Development and Institutionalizing C4D in Development Agencies and Organizations. OGC took the lead on the first theme (assessing and demonstrating the impact) and together with UNICEF commissioned the Discussion Paper on the Monitoring and Evaluation of UN-assisted Communication for Development Programmes.

The proceedings report, full versions of the background papers and other materials from the XIth Roundtable are available on the UNDOCO website. For hard copies contact Paavani Reddy, Programme Associate, paavani.reddy@undp.org

Further resources on Communication for Development:

Communication for Development: A Glimpse at UNDP’s Practice (2009) The booklet illustrates how C4D concepts are operationalised across UNDP practice areas at the programme and project level through 13 brief case studies from UNDP country offices.
Overview of UN Inter-Agency Round Tables on Communication for Development (2009) The paper provides an overview of the discussions and recommendations from all the ten UN Inter-agency Roundtables held since 1988. It divides the Roundtables into three broad phases and places them within the wider changes in the UN organizational and policy context as well as within the global trends in information and communication.
Discussion Paper on the Monitoring and Evaluation of UN-assisted Communication for Development Programmes: Recommendations for Best Practice Methodologies and Indicators (2009) This background discussion paper produced for the XIth UN Inter-agency Roundtable explores the key issues surrounding Communication for Development. It provides case studies, best practice methodology and proposes a set of draft indicators to aid the Round table participants to identify and discuss key questions and issues on monitoring and evaluation of C4D
Integrating Communication for Development [C4D] into the Common Country Assessment [CCA] and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework [UNDAF] (2007) This background discussion paper was produced for the Addis Ababa Round Table follow-up meeting at UNESCO, Paris. The paper demonstrates that integrating C4D processes into the CCA and UNDAF strengthens UN Country Team (UNCT) analysis and adds value to its collective programme response to identified national priorities. It also notes the close alignment between aspects of the existing CCA/UNDAF guidelines and principles of C4D, and identifies possible C4D ‘entry points’, which should be discussed with UNDG as part of a process to ensure explicit incorporation of C4D into subsequent revisions of the guidelines.