9 pages, Poverty is an important issue for third world Sub-Saharan African countries such as Ethiopia. To assist with poverty alleviation, a great number of nongovernmental organizations have moved resources into the region, but the problem has not significantly improved. This paper studies the Jerusalem Children and Community Development Organization (JeCCDO), an NGO that has engaged in poverty alleviation programs in Ethiopia for more than 35 years. The study examines communication practices used by JeCCDO as part of its poverty alleviation programs in Negede Woito community (Bahir Dar, Ethiopia). We use a qualitative research methodology to assess the organization’s communication practices, as well as the challenges it and the Negede Woito community face. Poverty is perceived as lack of resources by JeCCDO, but the community also prioritizes other forms of poverty such as psychological and cultural. Our findings reveal that JeCCDO is renowned for using a social enterprise development model and a participatory communication approach. However, in practice we find these are not used. In the models, endogenous knowledge and grassroots communication were vital to community development, but JeCCDO did not implement them during planning, implementing, and evaluating community-based programs. Community workers who coordinated the organization and the community were Negede Woito community members. Besides grassroots communication, knowing the context and living situation of the community is mandatory for development agents. JeCCDO did not contextualize development efforts, such as sheep fattening and poultry for people who did not have shelter. In conclusion, we propose that nongovernmental organizations and development workers should reconsider their communication contexts and practices while launching new poverty alleviation programs.
11 pages, Many academics ask ‘How can I use my research to influence policy?’. In this paper, we draw on our first-hand experience as social researchers for the British Government to advise how academics can create and communicate research with policymakers. Specifically, we describe methods of communicating research to policymakers in relation to research we undertook to listen to farmers about their priorities for a new agricultural policy for England following the exit of the UK from the European Union. The main purpose of this research was to ensure farmers’ voices were included in policy development and therefore communication of the research to policymakers was key. We reflect on the effectiveness of the communication methods we employed and summarise our learnings into four practical recommendations: (1) make research relevant to policymakers; (2) invest time to develop and maintain relationships with policymakers; (3) utilise ‘windows of opportunity’; and (4) adapt presentation and communication styles to the audience. We consider that employing these recommendations will help to improve how evidence is communicated between academia and government and therefore the influence of evidence in decision-making processes.
19 pages, Climate change threatens human health, the environment, and the global economy. Extreme temperatures, intensifying droughts, and changes in rainfall patterns and growing seasons are all results of a changing climate. Adaptations to climate change will need to be implemented in the agricultural sector to ensure the longevity and sustainability of the global supply of food. Community gardens are one part of the agricultural sector that provide access to fresh and affordable foods. The purpose of this study was to determine U.S. adults’ motivations for engagement and level of importance associated with climate-smart adaptations in community gardens. The study found respondents engaged in community gardens primarily for health and social reasons, and respondents assigned some level of importance to climate-smart adaptations in their community gardens. Environmental communicators should develop messaging that encourages adaptation in community gardens by emphasizing the risk of losing health or social-based benefits the gardens provide. The findings can inform effective communication strategies which encourage community gardens to prepare for climate change to ensure a sustainable supply of and access to fresh foods. Future research should explore the impact of rurality, food accessibility, and socioeconomic status on reasons for engaging in a community garden and associated level of importance related to climate-smart adaptations.
"When researchers played recordings of dog 'laughter' (a breathy exhalation made by pooches), barking and pacing canines at an animal shelter calmed down instantly. 'The dogs seemed to be happy, not stressed,' says animal behaviorist Patricia Simonet. To hear the sound, go to www.laughing-dog.org."
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C25585
Notes:
Pages 114-132 in Andrew A. Moemeka (ed.), Development communication in action: building understanding and creating participation. University Press of America, Inc., Lanham, Maryland. 325 pages.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C25604
Notes:
Retrieved March 10, 2007, at http://agnews.tamu.edu/saas/saasproceedings.html, Papers presented to the Agricultural Communications Section, Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists Annual Meeting, Mobile, Alabama, February 3-6, 2007. 148 pages.
Nigeria: Heinemann Educational Books, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C25670
Notes:
322 pages., A selection of papers from the National Conference on Integrated Rural Development and Women in Development organized by the Centre for Social, Cultural and Environmental Research and held at the University of Benin, September 22-26, 1980.
Wing, Steven (author) and Center for Science in the Public Interest
Format:
Abstract
Publication Date:
2003-07-11
Published:
USA
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C25843
Notes:
Posted at http://www.cspinet.org/integrity/2003/cs_conference_abstract.pdf, Pages 38-39 in "Conflicted science: corporate influence on scientific research and science-based policy," a conference on July 11, 2003.
