What do we mean when we say participatory communication? What are the practical implications of working with participatory communication strategies in development and social change processes? What experiences exists in practice that documents that participatory communication adds value to a development project or programme? The aim of this user guide on participatory communication is to provide answers to some of these questions. Many communication practitioners and development workers face obstacles and challenges in their practical work. A participatory communication strategy offers a very specific perspective on how to articulate social processes, decision-making processes and any change process for that matter. Participatory approaches are nothing new. However, what is new is the proliferation of institutions, especially governmental but also non-governmental, that seek participatory approaches in their development initiative. This guide seeks to provide perspectives, tools and experiences regarding how to go about it with participatory communication strategies. It is conceived as a guide that hopefully can be of relevance and utility for development workers in the field. It is targeted at both at government and their officials, World Bank staff and at civil society.

This handbook has been prepared as a training and field guide for designing, implementing and managing effective communication strategies for field projects in a participatory manner, building on the results of the Participatory Rural Communication Appraisal (ISBN 9251052514). Issues dealt with include the principles and processes of communication planning, message development, multimedia material production and the implementation of communication activities in the field. This strategy design process has been tested in training workshops and applied to various development projects including those dealing with agriculture, health and education, water and sanitation.

Provides advice to researchers, community members, and development practitioners on how to improve their ability to effectively reach policy makers and promote change. Covers their roles as a communication actors, how to plan a participatory development communication strategy, and the use of communication tools.

There has been a recent shift in the nature of public engagement from a culture of paternalism and control towards a public-centred approach involving collaboration and co-creation. This book draws on public relations and development communication insights to build a new community engagement model for public sector organisations who wish to engage with rural communities in developing countries. This theoretical model also offers a practical framework for Government in particular to engage with and empower rural communities as they adopt and exploit infrastructure developments. The outcome is mutual benefit. By examining in detail how Government communicates with rural communities on renewable energy infrastructure projects in Indonesia, and underpinned by empirical research with those communities, this new participatory framework has been developed. It envisages progressive empowerment of rural communities as Government encourages active engagement on the installation and exploitation of renewable energy. This entails encouraging communities to determine for themselves their uses of sustainable energy sources and to take ownership of a co-determined future. In so doing, the Government itself is more likely to achieve its own renewable energy commitments. Research-based and combining theory with practice, this thought-provoking book will be welcomed by strategic communication and public relations scholars and practitioners alike.

Participatory Development Communication: A West African agenda

The 'Development Communication Sourcebook' highlights how the scope and application of communication in the development context are broadening to include a more dialogic approach. This approach facilitates assessment of risks and opportunities, prevents problems and conflicts, and enhances the results and sustainability of projects when implemented at the very beginning of an initiative. The book presents basic concepts and explains key challenges faced in daily practice. Each of the four modules is self-contained, with examples, toolboxes, and more.

This handbook provides a single reference resource for communication for development and social change. Increasingly, one considers communication to be crucial to effectively tackle the major problems of today. Hence, the question being addressed in this handbook is, is there a right communication strategy? Perspectives on sustainability, participation, and culture in communication have changed over time in line with the evolution of development approaches and trends, and in response to the need for effective applications of communication methods and tools to new issues and priorities. Divided into prominent themes comprising relevant chapters written by experts in the field and reviewed by renowned editors, the book addresses topics where communication and social change converge in both theory and praxis. Specific concerns and issues include food security, climate change, poverty reduction, health, equity and gender, sustainable development goals, and information and communication technologies (ICTs). The book shows how communication is essential at all levels of society. It helps readers understand the processes that underlie attitude change and decision-making and the work uses powerful models and methods to explain the processes that lead to sustainable development and social change. This is essential reading for academics and practitioners, students and policy makers alike.