1. Towards Effective Communications in the
Volta Basin Development Challenge (VBDC)
Mahamoudou Sawadogo
CPWF-Volta Science Workshop
Ouagadougou(BF), Joly Hôtel, 3-5 July 2012

2. Presentation Plan
Research com. Vs com. for
R4D
VBDC com. tools/channels
VBDC: a participatory
research program!
Monitoring and
evaluation of com. Activities
References
Andes • Ganges • Limpopo • Mekong • Nile • Volta

3. Research com. vs com. for R4D
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4. …So Com for R4D is a continuous process!
Efforts and interests should be sustained over time
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5. Sometimes, it is about informal
learning/exchanges…
…not just formal sharing and management
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6. VBDC communication tools/channels
Tools/channels
Function
Team collaboration site to share documents, organise meetings,
events, discuss project activities, etc.
Contact database
Internal Communication
Wiki
Keep contact details of research team members and key stakeholders
Google Docs
Share files and for collaborative document writing
Calendar of Events
Organise planning and share events with team members
Knowledge tree
Repository for sharing internal working research ouputs
Yammer
Social networking , communicate/share ideas, and promote outputs
Skype
Target audience
VBDC RESEARCHERS
Conference calls with small groups of people, share your desktop, and
instant messaging (chat).
CPWF COMMUNITY
SlideShare
External Communication
Website
Raising public awareness on the VBDC research activities; facilitating
the uptake of the VBDC research results; exploring future funding
opportunities
Newsletter
Stories on achievements; publishing research results; facilitating
the uptake of the VBDC research results; exploring future funding
opportunities
CG space
Repository for sharing final research outputs and results. It indexes
reports, articles, press releases, presentations, videos, policy briefs and
more.
Picasa photo
gallery
Organise and share photos featuring project activities on the ground
FlickR
Organise and share photos featuring project activities on the ground
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RESEARCHERS, POLICYMAKERS & WATER
MANAGERS, DONORS

7. Other com. tools/channels
Press articles/releases
Dissemination materials
Brochures
Flyers
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Videos
Posters

8. VBDC: A participatory research program!
V1- Data collection through Participatory Geographic Information System(PGIS)
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9. VBDC: A participatory research program!(2)
V2- Action research through Innovation Platforms (IP)
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10. VBDC: A participatory research program!(3)
V3- Participatory diagnosis and modeling of small reservoirs management options
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11. VBDC: A participatory research program!(4)
V4-Multi –Stakeholder Platforms (MSP) for collective decision-making over water
resources in GH and for operationalisation of CLE in BF
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12. VBDC: A participatory research program!(5)
V5-Stakeholder engagement at national & regional levels: Learning group on water
resources; VBA & GWP regional networks
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13. Monitoring and evaluation of com. Activities?
Example 1- VBDC wiki
Returning Visits - Based purely on a cookie, if this person is returning to your website for another
visit an hour or more later
First Time Visits - Based purely on a cookie, if this person has no cookie then this is considered their
first time at your website.
Unique Visitor - Based purely on a cookie, this is the total of the returning visits and first time visits –
all your visitors.
Page Load - The number of times your page has been visited.
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14. Monitoring and evaluation of com. Activities?
Example 2- VBDC website
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15. Monitoring and evaluation of com. Activities?
Example 3- VBDC research update (e-newsletter)
Send Date
Subject
E-mail
Opens
Unsubscribe
Sent in
HTML
28 May
2012
13:07
VBDC
Research
Update Issue of May
2012
34
(32.38
%)
0 (0%)
105
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16. 1.So, are we communicating adequately/effectively?
2.How can we improve the way we communicate?
3.How do you overcome com. challenges at project level?
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17. THANK YOU!
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18. References
Ewen, L. (2012), Effective communication of research for development: experiences
from NBDC and other horizons, ILRI
_(2012), Collaboration and Communications Toolkit recommended for CRP's, CGIAR
http://volta.waterandfood.org/
https://sites.google.com/site/cpwfvoltabasin/
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