What makes internet communication effective in informing policy ?

1. What makes internet communication effective in informing policy? Euforic/ODI Meeting, London, 2nd June 2005

2. Content • Networking • Identifying IC strategies • Collaborative ways of sharing information • Informing within the ACP-EU context • Potential of weblogs as IC tools • CTA Brussels weblog • Conclusion

3. Networks • Networks can be effective in informing policy • Thematic and knowledge networks can be considered useful tools in development • To be effective, the network must correspond to an expressed need of network members to connect, share, discuss and learn • Networks are still demand-driven (relying on donors projects) or dependent on a very limited number of leaders within

4. Networking • Limiting factors for networking • Time: networking needs time and long term commitments • Willingness to collaborate and sharing knowledge and experience • Leadership: strength and threat • Financial capacity to absorb and spend funds • Limitations to be able to participate effectively in policy debate

5. Identifying IC strategies How can we best use information to inform and influence policy? How to use knowledge not just to exchange but to translate into practical activities? How to improve the interaction between policy-researchers and policy-makers and community-based actors? How to strengthen capacity of ACP partners to produce, manage and use information?

6. Collaboration in sharing information The European networks, platforms and organisations active in development Beneficiaries/users Strengthening existing communities Stimulating new ideas and approaches Empowering new communities (NSA, youth) Summarising and packaging information to specific users needs Identifying common targets for lobbying activities

7. Sharing information Promoting learning process and knowledge acquisition Strengthening continued dialogue and exchange of information Collaborating for knowledge sharing Coordinating/repackaging information Creating virtual platforms that people can access and join

8. Informing : ACP-EU context Informing about • Policy environment interesting and affecting ACP groups- issues related to agricultural and rural development • Main ACP-EU policy actors in the various areas • Need for feedback from ACP actors is critical, especially on the relevance of information

9. Informing : ACP-EU context Informing with/through • Limited resources • Free and open platforms • Quick delivery means of information • Informal and evolving/adaptable format • Connectivity and digital divide needs to be addressed: alternative means are used (such as fax, CD-ROMs, etc.)

10. Informing : ACP-EU context Informing • A wide variety of actors: grassroots organisations, NGOs, academic institutions, press, policy-makers, etc. • CTA colleagues in the various programmes • Partners in development

11. CTA Brussels Office ACP-EU Liaison • Monitoring developments and activities in the relevant ACP and EU fora and related bodies • Arranging periodic briefings to various audiences on CTA's activities (ambassadors, parliamentarians, farmers groups) • Securing and summarizing, where relevant, material on activities in the rural and agricultural sector of ACP states • Attending the main relevant ACP-EU events

12. What is a blog? • A weblog (usually shortened to blog, but occasionally spelled web log) is a webpage consisting of periodic posts, normally in chronological order. A widely-accepted definition of a "blog" or "weblog" is "A Web page containing brief, chronologically arranged items of information". • The challenge is to have a well-maintained, high-quality weblog that provides a valuable and new service and not just the purpose of providing the owner with an online public space.

13. Why a Weblog? Weblog - http://brussels.cta.int Objective: to share the information produced by the CTA Brussels office and other relevant information from ACP- EU and other groups with our partners in ACP countries involved in the ARD sector Content of the weblog • a daily updated “News” section • a monthly updated “Resources” section which gives information on the EU, the ACP group, joint ACP-EU bodies • A calendar on main Brussels events • Information on programmes and activities organised by the CTA Brussels office • A weekly news bulletin

15. CTA Brussels Weblog What type of information? • Over 150 news items to date. • Various CTA themes (related to agricultural and rural development and to information and communication, corresponding to the CTA mandate). Although it is difficult to clearly limit the scope of the relevant information, the main areas covered are: agriculture, IC (impact of EU decisions on ACP countries) • Over 100 calendar items (only events taking place in Brussels and related to the described areas).

16. CTA Brussels Weblog • How?Standard weblog functions; Multilingual handling (FR and EN); Email handling (character sets); Calendar function; Archiving; Search.Article "contextualize" by listing it among related articles from different sources. • Articles posted every day/two days at different times. Archive of old postings and easily retrieval through search.Core sources reviewed - EC, Newsletters, Google news, ACP sources, Press. Collaboration with Euforic, EADI, ELDIS, ECDPM, Inter-réseaux, ACP Press. • E-mailed to 1200 subscribers each weekend

17. CTA Brussels Weblog • Who?Mainly ACP nationals both in country and Brussels, emphasis on producers; other news editors (reposted in other systems); EC and Donors; NGOs and think tanks • Visitors: 500 unique visitors/month in EN and 300 FR.

18. Future options • Thematic access • RSS feed (already available through ELDIS); linkages with other sites and services • Interactive/Dialogue (now done by e-mail) • Collaboration with other ACP and EU groups • To promote its use amongst colleagues in ACP countries. • The reason for the weblog popularity is the ease of use, low cost and the opportunity to use any design. The weblog format of an online diary makes it possible for users without much experience to create, format, and post entries with ease. It is ideal for networks and the South.