Indicators for Communication for Development
01:42, 20 March 2007
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Guiding Note on Indicators for Communication for Development is a 32-page paper from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, published in August 2006, and designed to give concrete guidance on the process of identifying relevant communication for development indicators to those involved in the preparation, implementation, and monitoring of bilateral development assistance. It is offered in the context of an effort by Danish International Development Assistance (Danida) to align its project and sector programme support to priorities articulated in the Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) process and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Note explores indicators for a strategic communication process that promotes social changes through dialogue, knowledge sharing, and the active participation of key actors both at the vertical level (between participants at national, regional, and community levels) and at the horizontal level (between peers, e.g., community members, civil society organisations, authorities, decision-makers). The bulk of the document focuses on providing general guidelines for monitoring and indicators on communication for development, with a focus on guidance for monitoring of short-term communication objectives and related activities. Danida does not attempt here to generate a generic list of indicators, because indicators depend on the actual goals of communication interventions determined by the diagnosis of the problem, the type of strategy, and approach selected. Danida does analyse the process of identifying indicators in programmes (1) where communication in itself is a vehicle for social change (media development), and (2) where communication is an integral part of a sector/development programme (development communication). Examples are provided to illustrate how to identify and use indicators, such as a case history of the Philippine-based Tambuli Community Media Project that highlights the objectives of a typical media development programme, offers sample monitoring questions, indicators, and means of verification. Other evaluation processes explored here include Zambia's Parliament and Public Information System; Support to Independent Media (part of the Human Rights and Good Governance Programme in Nepal); Honduras's Bay Island Environment Management; and Kenya's Use of Local Radio in Agricultural Extension. Download the document here (it's in MS word). It's worth it, I promise.
