On Thursday 10 October 2019, LIFT welcomed around 50 people from its implementing partners’ communication teams at the UNOPS office. The aim was to come together to discuss strategies and how to work together more effectively. The day included a mix of presentations and group work, as well as fun activities aimed at getting participants to interact with each other in informal ways.
LIFT’s Fund Director Katy Webley opened the day with a speech about the importance of communication and how critical it is for organisations to increasingly prioritise the sector. The LIFT Communications Team then introduced the general strategy for the 2019-2023 period to implement LIFT’s strategic shifts, before delving into communication strategies – analysing relevant target audiences, key messages, channels, visibility guidelines and content writing techniques.
The participants shared their expertise and ideas as they were split into four groups to study one of LIFT’s thematic areas: Nutrition, Financial Inclusion, Decent Work and Labour Mobility, and Agriculture, Markets and Food Systems. Depending on the focus area, groups were asked to explain what communication means to them, who they should communicate with, and which communication products, platforms and processes to use.
Finally, LIFT’s Rakhine Communications Specialist Chris Schuepp, of the Rakhine Communication Hub, led a two-hour crash course for photography enthusiasts. All participants were subsequently asked to take pictures around the UNOPS office in a spontaneous photography competition.
The workshop enabled LIFT to introduce new internal channels for its implementing partners’ communication teams aimed at sharing ideas and content more easily. This day spent together was the start of a conversation, hopefully leading to increased collaboration.
