Communication: Background

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Who We Are

Gender Issues

Information, Communications, Networking, Learning

OBJECTIVES

1. Awareness raising

Raise awareness and understanding of gender issues at all levels of the organization to achieve gender equality.
Facilitate ongoing organization-wide learning around gender.
Promote ICDDR,B’s commitment to gender issues

2. Organizational commitment

Ensure organizational commitment and the allocation of resources so that the Gender Policy will be mainstreamed within the organization.
To document the application of gender mainstreaming concepts, methodologies, tools and institutional practices.
To demonstrate enhanced staff development outcomes of policy’s application.

3. Conducive environment

Visibly integrating gender equity goals and objectives into all research, interventions, service and training activities organizationally so that they become internally and institutionally accepted.
Create and maintain a conducive environment so that women’s and men’s needs can be openly and freely articulated and addressed.
To establish communications and learning networks between Gender Focal Points and staff.

AUDIENCES

Staff (levels, sites, languages)
Partners, donors, stakeholders
Professional networks
Community (/media)

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

The communication program has 2 broad components:

Use information communications technologies to further ICDDR,B’s gender programme goals, policy and activities.
Develop and disseminate specific information products/services about ICDDR,B research, programmes, activities, resources and innovation in gender and equity in research issues.

A. USING INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES

Systems for information, communications and learning around Gender Policy programs and activities, utilising email, internet and intranet communications technologies.

Email alerts

Internal & external. Periodic e-mail bulletin to provide regular updates about ICDDR,B gender news,people, events, and resources

Websites

Information about Gender Policy, mainstreaming programs, resources, and people to be available and updated regularly through central ICDDR,B website, and intranet.

Noticeboards

Promote and identify Gender Focal Points. Highlight key messages, progress. Posters.

E-mail discussion lists.

Forums for linking gender focal points and gender specialists across all sites. Participate in the (development of?) external professional discussion groups (local & regional).

Information management systems.

Develop systems to organize and monitor gender/equity in research information, using intranet technologies/database initiatives

Resource centre

B. INFORMATION PRODUCTS/SERVICES

A portfolio of specific gender products and services to provide information about gender issues and activities within ICDDR,B and our partnerships.

Gender @ ICDDR,B Information Kit

Provides an overview about ICDDR,B’s Gender Policy, programs and resources, including brochure, fact sheets, newsletter, media releases, case studies.

Resources To Develop Capacity For Good Practice in Equity in Research.

A collection of tools, methodologies and background resources on gender issues for researchers. Case studies about innovative, effective ways of mainstreaming gender and maintaining equity in research practice.

Research Series: Women's Health

Key ICDDR,B research addressing women’s health and development in Bangladesh.

Network Activities

Activities organised in collaboration with partners/stakeholders to promote gender issues and ICDDR,B’s commitment. Observation of International Women's Day and other relevant advocacy days. Electronic forums and newsletters.

PROGRAM TIMELINE

Year 1

Set up basic information infrastructure: gender mainstreaming briefing kits, websites and electronic networks. Message development.

Years 2 & 3

Program expanded to develop information products and services systematically, and coordinating with parallel efforts in other agencies.

KEY MESSAGES