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Annual Report 2011

Communication

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Annual Report 2011 Communication
In a world where ideas are more mobile, spaces for influence are more diverse and the pressure to demonstrate the value of the international development spend is ever more unrelenting, IDS is faced with several opportunities and challenges.

The Communications Department plays a central role in responding to these challenges. We seek to provide an enabling environment for the work of IDS to engage with those who may have a part to play in creating a world without poverty and delivering on the promise of global wellbeing.

Last year we focused on improving the integration of the various dimensions of our communication work to maximise impact.

Our use of social media platforms, engagement with the media and Westminster events have all converged to allow us to more effectively convene discussions around key development issues. We have also been focusing our work on exploring the role of knowledge intermediaries and getting research into policy and practice with our Impact and Learning Team.

Highlight

Being present where it counts:

Helping to shape the debate a round the MDG review

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Summit in September 2010 provided IDS with the opportunity to execute an integrated communications strategy around three separate MDG-related research projects: Martin Greeley’s synthesis of the MDG Summit Taskforce reports, Naila Kabeer’s Social Inequality report and Andy Sumner’s After 2015 pro-poor policy research.

Our media, public affairs and online activities resulted in widespread media coverage in the UK, international and Southern media, unprecedented levels of traffic to our website and increased document downloads. Naila Kabeer was subsequently invited to  present her findings to the 2nd Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, Martin Greeley’s policy briefing was preparatory material for Andrew Mitchell, the Secretary of State for International Development, on his way to the Summit, and Andy Sumner’s research was widely cited by journalists, UK parliamentarians, DFID officials and non-governmental organisations.

Highlight

Building our institutional capacity to be fit for purpose:

Consolidating our online and new media platforms

Over the last year improvements to the IDS website, promotion of social media and blogs and a new online partnership with the Guardian, all contributed to a very significant increase in IDS’ online presence. This provided an excellent platform for IDS research and enhanced our capability and capacity to convene debates on development issues. There has been better use of multimedia content, more timely, audience-led outputs and better use of new media technologies. This enhanced approach to
e-communications has  resulted in greater media profile, increased attendance at IDS events and an increase in publications downloads.

Highlight

Building our institutional capacity to be fit for purpose:

Developing indicators around our theory of change

In a sector that is increasingly evidence-focused, it is important that IDS itself develops ways to demonstrate its effectiveness as an institution. It needs to report its own progress to its stakeholders. With the new IDS strategy, this reporting has become even more complex – new alliances creating new pathways of influence, co-construction muddying the publications waters, dynamic engagement requiring rolling, longitudinal stakeholder interviews. The Impact and Learning Team (ILT) has been working with the Directorate to put in place processes for monitoring and learning from its own performance. It has created a systematic dataset for the Institute, using manageable and proportional indicators to be regularly reported to the Board. The Team is working with research teams, teaching colleagues and our network of partners to support the innovative capture of data and analysis across the Institute.

Viewpoint

Lucy Lamble

Global Development Site Editor, the Guardian
We were delighted when IDS agreed to share their insight, time and expertise to ensure the successful launch of the Guardian’s new Global Development site. The Central Communications Team advice on content and creation of a resource area on the site was  invaluable. IDS has been quick to respond to queries and offer writers on a range of topical issues. The Team have supplied us with crucial background information and have worked closely with us to find accessible ways of publishing key development data. Their advice, energy and creativity have been fantastic.