It has been another busy and productive DevCom year! Here are some of our highlights of 2023, and a glimpse of what’s in store for ‘24.
OUR TOP 5 of 2023
- PARTNERING IN (IN)TENSE TIMES. Kindly hosted by the Spanish Co-operation Agency in Madrid, the 2023 DevCom Annual Meeting was the first outside Paris since 2012. The discussion revealed that many of our members are in “crisis mode”, dealing with geo-politics, news-fatigue and mis- and disinformation. But participants had great ideas to share – check out the key takeaways (pdf). We are already looking forward to the 2024 Annual Meeting in the Netherlands.
- COMMUNICATORS GOING GLOBAL. Our survey on how and why DevCom members communicate in their partner countries is a must-read for communicators who need to build trust among more diverse audiences and coordinate global networks. DevCom’s work on “going global” also showed how communicators can help promote investment in Africa and build media partnerships in the Pacific.
- WORDS MATTER. We took up Dr. Moses Isooba’s challenge to make development language more inclusive and participatory. Our new resource guide includes language toolkits and messaging guidance. In our joint event with Brazil’s Foreign Ministry, we agreed that communicators have much to learn from the principles of South-South cooperation.
- MANAGING MEDIA TRENDS. Our “learning together” events explored trends in public attitudes, communications practice and media behaviours. Check out our blog on 5 key ways to help journalists help us. For more advice, read our interviews with OECD media experts and with the Development Engagement Lab on how to communicate about feminist development policy.
- CAMPAIGNING TOGETHER. In 2023, we launched the DevCom Trello Board, allowing members to share content and connect with global campaigns. These included International Women’s Day, the launch of 2022 ODA data, World Environment Day, the SDG Summit and COP-28. Please contact us to get involved in 2024.
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR ‘24
2024 promises to be another fast-moving year for DevCom.
- Our next in-person event will explore how to communicate for development finance. Finance has become central to the global agenda, with financial institutions taking on a more prominent role. We will be hosted by the OPEC Fund for International Development in Vienna in March.
- Our virtual dialogue series on “going global” in mid-2024 will help members understand different regions. In a bumper year for democracy, we will discuss disinformation and democracy. We’ll also collate data on how people around the world view development cooperation.
- Our two “peer learning” series will explore trends affecting the communications industry, including generative AI, latest media behaviours, and public attitudes to development.
- We’ll continue campaigning together via the DevCom Trello Board, our newsletters and our briefing meetings ahead of key moments, including the UN Summit of the Future in September.
None of this would be possible without support from our DevCom members. We would like to thank all of you, and also to warmly welcome our two newest members: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
We also count on all of you to help shape the DevCom agenda! Do you have a great idea for a guest post? Do you want to collaborate on an event? We want to know, so be sure to get in touch.
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