Communication and Dissemination of Communication and Dissemination of

MICS3 findings in MENAROMICS3 findings in MENARO

©UNICEF HQ98-0980 Giacomo Pirozzi

Are MICS national reports worth such human and financial investment?

if the reports will just be nice colourful knick-knack

if they will be:

increase public expenditures for children

strengthen national policies for childreninstrumental in

putting children high in the national development agenda

NO

YES

MICS results must be fully used for evidence-based social mobilization and

advocacy purpose by:

OK, but how to make it happen?

EffectivelycommunicatingMICS findings

Developingadditionalanalysis to inform key NationalPriorities

Stimulating strategicstakeholders touse MICS findings

Effectively communicating MICS findings

DESIREDDESIREDOUTCOMEOUTCOME

AUDIENCEAUDIENCE Who do you need to reach?Who do you need to reach?

MESSAGE, MESSAGE, PURPOSEPURPOSE

For each audience, what do For each audience, what do they need to know? Simplify!they need to know? Simplify!

MEDIUM/ MEDIUM/ FORMATFORMAT

For each group/message, what For each group/message, what medium fits best?medium fits best?

• Choice of dissemination toolChoice of dissemination tool• Style and format Style and format

Focus on Focus on action! action!

What do you want to happen?What do you want to happen?

Effectively communicating MICS findings (continued)

TIMINGTIMING When should the results be When should the results be disseminated?disseminated?

RESOURCESRESOURCES What resources are What resources are available/required to available/required to

disseminate MICS results?disseminate MICS results?

CAUTION! CAUTION! What are the possible What are the possible dangers or negative dangers or negative

effects of dissemination?effects of dissemination?

Expanding communication and

dissemination of MICS results

maximise investments in surveys, help countries meet their strategic objectives,

increase data utilization and local ownership

Monitoring progress toward achieving goals (nat’l or global)

Evaluating extent of services

Examining regional disparities

Assessing trends

Projecting costs for implementing iodization programs (target areas, level of needs, etc.)

Planning for IEC activities

Disseminating MICS Data Helps with:

Data providers and decision-makers*

Data providers tend to offer:

Decision-makers want:

Complex, inaccessible data

Uninterpreted, raw data

Information overload

Simple, easily

grasped informationDecision-ready

analysisSpecific applicability

* Adapted from Larry Hartke, US Bureau of Census, 1996: “Information Challenges for the 1990’s: Harnessing Information for Development”

Data providers and decision-makers*

Data providers tend to offer:

Decision-makers want:

Complex, inaccessible data

Uninterpreted, raw data

Information overload

Simple, easily

grasped informationDecision-ready

analysisSpecific applicability

* Adapted from Larry Hartke, US Bureau of Census, 1996: “Information Challenges for the 1990’s: Harnessing Information for Development”

Data providers and decision-makers*

Data providers tend to offer:

Decision-makers want:

Complex, inaccessible data

Uninterpreted, raw data

Information overload

Simple, easily

grasped informationDecision-ready

analysisSpecific applicability

* Adapted from Larry Hartke, US Bureau of Census, 1996: “Information Challenges for the 1990’s: Harnessing Information for Development”

Strategic dissemination plans can Strategic dissemination plans can help bridge the understanding gap help bridge the understanding gap

between the 2between the 2

Involves making choices regarding WHATWHAT to

communicate and HOWHOW to communicate to

selected audiences

Effective Dissemination Strategy

• Depends on:

country’s policy and programmatic needs

who the audience is

MICS findings (surprising results, strong declines, improvement areas, etc.)

• Ultimate goal: ensure findings are used in decision-making process, resulting in improved policies and programs for children and mothers

On the “WHAT”

On the “HOW”:to communicate MICS findings …

Using the report at all major national events

Staging national launch for strategic partners

Providing related human interest stories/photos for general purpose use

Making a range of audio-visual and print materials broadly available, including on web

Involving young people/youth media at various stages

Engaging Goodwill and National Ambassadors to magnify message

National MICS Tour, presenting findings at subnational level

• Disparity trend analysis

• HIV/AIDS

• Support to early learning

• Child protection

• Etc.

Develop additional analysis to monitor and evaluate key National Priorities

• Encourage use of MICS3 findings into reports for MDGs, PRSPs and others

• Universities and Research centers – results and datasets accessible through CD/web

– stimulate them to use MICS data (Competition/ award on best proposal for additional analysis)

• Journalists

• Members of Parliament, religious and/or traditional leaders, goodwill ambassadors, artists, business people, sports stars, etc.

Stimulate strategic stakeholders to use MICS findings

• Plan ahead

• Determine who should receive documents

• Plan on how materials will reach key audiences

• Estimate costs for distribution

• Identify “point people” within organizations

• Take advantage of conferences and workshops for distribution

• Include cover letter or label for contact for survey-related inquiries

• Keep records on how and to whom reports were sent, including individual requests

Effective distribution strategy

• Shifts in resource allocations

• Reordering of program priorities

• Identification of new problem areas

• Revision of program components

• Projection of new program targets

• Discussion in the media

• Statements by officials

• Pressure by advocacy/lobbying groups

How will you know if your work and investments have paid off?

• Electronic feedback

• Written questionnaires accompanying materials (with pre-addressed envelope)

• Group feedback after presentations

How to evaluate your dissemination work (usefulness of content, clarity, readability, use of data, best

format/channel, suggestions for improvement)?

*Call to set up meeting time. Offer to fax/email questions in advance. Call and confirm just prior to interview. Take samples along. Leave goodies behind!

• Face-to-face individual or small groups interviews*

• Brief telephone interviews*