Ethiopia IP comms

Communication Tools for innovation platforms

Design and pilot processes for enhancing communication in innovation platforms in Ethiopia

Introduction

This short text briefly put forward what types of communication tools /ways we need to use to help the innovation platforms at different levels (kebele and woreda) communicate better. At the outset communication helps bring platform members together to identify common objectives, to manage information, insure institutional memory, all members voice are heard and gives them ownership of the platform’s work (Practice Brief 7, 2013). This is an initial ideas and not a final one so it need a high input from the TG members of each innovation platforms during the training so that we tailor the communication materials to meet their demands.

Proposed communication tools

• Woreda/Kebele posters: these posters will have more pictures from the woreda and Kebele of that specific area and will have less text. Pictures to be included could be of meetings, of farm level activities, of people (language?)
• Site specific brochures in different local languages: these brochures are general ones that briefly explain about the woreda, Keble, altitude and latitude, population size. It will be text reach with few (1-2 pictures )
• Meetings: these meetings are very helpful in bringing together members of the innovation platform to share and learn. We could also organize meetings only targeting the technical committee members. We have four IP meetings for woreda and kebele IP members and for TC members we agreed that it can be as frequent as required.
• Exchange visits : we could organize exchange visit with in the woreda and across the AR site woredas to help members of the innovation platform to learn from each other and know what is being undertaken in each kebele (if need be this could also be expanded to the other non-AR woredas)-. This can be taking farmers to the research centre and expose them to the different farm
• Field days: at the end of each season before harvesting field days will bring many other farmers and woreda and Kebele IP members to see what different groups of farmers involved in development research protocols have done on their farm level. Mainly helpful to bring experts and decision makers of the woreda, zone, research centers and universities and NGOs to see what is happening with the farmers’ research groups. This is used for up-scaling best technologies through farmers to farmers approach, getting commitments of decision makers and partners in up scaling the technologies and best practices.
• Short photo-films: producing short photo films having pictures with short text could be one way to facilitate communication within and among the innovation platform members. The out puts will be produced in local languages and in English. This would help when one farmers research group from one of the site have brought innovative ideas or practices in dealing the same problem across the sites to create awareness to other farmers research groups or IP_ members. It can also be done in English for policy advocacy to regional or national key partners.
• Photo Report: we have done this with KMIS staff (Apollo) telling story of how an IPs at different level have been established and how farmers’ research groups have been selected. It can be used as one communication tool to refresh new IP members during IP meetings. We will do the same for other IP meetings so that we will communicate IP members about what has been discussed on the previous meeting. This is important to consistently build the knowledge of IP members between meetings that have a three to four month gap. It can be also used for other partners who wants to know about an IP approach we employed in AR project.
• Short video clips: preparing a short video clips with a duration of 3-5 minutes in local languages could also be as a way of communication within and among the IP members
• Cases stories : could be one possible ways to communicate
• Radio shows: to keep rural communities up-to-date on sustainable intensification practices, and engaged through Q&A, SMS services etc.
• Participatory video: Building upon short photo films, to convey community voices. Could be used strategically for very sensitive processes or very strategic conversations/work. But very time-consuming.
• Knowledge centres / learning hubs: Teaming up with LIVES to get information shared/stored in those centres and perhaps organize discussions with them on specific topics?
• Theatre: If we need to convey certain messages, we could use theatrical groups to bring the drama to life and share complex ideas/work in very simple ways without relying on written media?

Table 1: Summary of the tools

NO	Comm tools	What is it?	Its use?	Language	Output
1	Posters	Poster to be developed for each site and tells the story of IPs structures from its woreda to kebele and farmers research group level. Pictures of IP at woreda and two kebele level and pictures of the TG members of the three IPs and sample pictures of the FRGs and how communication works across all level within the woreda. Tells the story of the key actors specific to the site and issues they focus to address.	It will be used for each site during IP meetings at different level to tell the story of how each IP represented within the woreda and how it’s connected to others. The audiences are IP members, including new comers, other partners within the woreda and AR partners at Addis level.	English and local languages	4 different posters (one for each site)
2	Brochures	More brief text about the woreda, altitude, rainfall and main crops and population figure and brief text about AR and its work through IP approaches.	It will be used to introduce the Woreda, AR research project and IP approach, to other partners, IP members. New IP members and stakeholders working in the woreda but not part of the IP members will know AR and its approach.	English and local languages	4 different brochures (one for each site)
3	Meetings	IP meetings are planned to be undertaken every quarter and it is planned for both woreda and kebele IPs. The Technical Committees will meet as frequent as needed. But this need to be done better if it is well facilitated timely and documented accordingly.	This is mainly for IP members to meet and share lessons and experiences. Its regular meeting where IP members enjoy to reflect their thoughts and experiences for making decision on the prioritization of the problems and	English and local languages	Meeting reports for each site
4	Exchange visits	Exchange visits will be organized for IP members or TC members or FRG to have an exposure to new technologies in the research centre or new demonstration on farmers land. This will be organized within the woreda or to other AR sites or other woredas.	Exchange visits will be for IP members and farmers involved in AR research activities to expose them to different technologies and environments that would help them to be innovative in solving their site specific problems.	Local languages	Reports in English
5	Field days	Field days will be organized at the end of each season before harvesting for non-participated farmers and IP members to learn from practical farmers’ demonstrations. These will be organized at farmers’ research group level who performed well and successful in their farm trials with the new technologies.	These will be mainly to demonstrate what has been done for farmers and IP members at FRG level mainly for learning and scaling up. Promotion of Farmers to farmers technology transfer will be the core aim of field days.	Local languages	Every year, Report in English
6	Short photo-films	A series of photo will be taken to organize and edit it with short captions expressing the moment or an event. This is a maximum of 5 minute and will be developed to pass a brief message of a field day, an IP meeting, a farmer’s knowledge and experience on a technology or new practice.	This short photo films will be used to document the process –insights and lessons and also mainly to use it for learning and sharing on an IP meetings. It is important for farmers to show them in photo films during trainings or IP meetings. It will be documented at woreda and kebele level in local languages and the English version will be used for web.	Local languages and English	Two types of Photo-films (local languages and in English) per site
7	Photo Reports	We have documented all the IP establishment processes for each site as a slide show with captions. We will continue doing the same with KMIS staff (Apollo) and share it on web. We will use it to show back on IP meetings.	IP meetings are happening every three or four months so there is a need to refresh IP members with what was happening in the last meetings. Photo slides with caption will help us a lot in communicating shortly about the last meeting.	Local languages and English	Photo-reports per site per IP meetings.
8	Short Video-clips	A short video clips to be documented at farmers field level from the research groups to feed back to the woreda and kebele IPs on the progress of the different research protocols implementation.	IP members at Woreda level have got only once per year through field day that they will see what is going on at farm level and the video clips will help IP members to get up to date information on the key research protocol implementation at field level.	Local languages	One video per kebeles/per sites
9	Knowledge centre	One knowledge center for each kebele and woreda will be established mainly by each platform with identified champion from the members’ institutions. It will be used to document the AR research products, meeting reports, videos, photos and posters in local languages and English. The platform can network with a potential and interested NGO/University/Government to support the establishment/strengthening of the knowledge centers.	Documentation of the AR project outputs and other partners outputs for strengthening the knowledge center for experts working in the woreda. It will help IP members and others to get information about the work of AR project, IPs and other partners. Best to communicate with the outside IPs.	Local languages and English	One per woreda and kebele
10	Theatre	An interested members of IP will make a theatre group to convey some complex messages to IP members. This is ideal at kebele IP level to increase farmers understanding.	To express complex ideas within the farming system drama will be the best mechanism to entertain and also to pass key information.	Local languages	One per site