Communication for Development
Online
Communication for Development
COACHING ON STRATEGY, TOOLS AND LATEST TRENDS
26 September–18 November 2022
The course is available in English
Introduction to the course
This course takes a practical approach to communication for development that effects real change. It brings together professionals, academics and creatives and gives them a collaborative space in which to leverage their collective intelligence. The participants will learn for one another, as well as from their instructors. Are you ready to collaborate with bright communication professionals?
Who attends this course?
The course is intended for development professionals, policymakers, academics and creative professionals.
Who attends this course?
This course is designed to serve multiple audiences. Whether you are a senior communication officer or just started your first communication assignment, this is the course for you. You will get inspired by new ideas, and then focus on your specific project with dedicated coaching.
- Communication leaders who want to drive change
- Communication beginners who want to upgrade their skills
- Communication enthusiasts who want to get inspired and learn from the experts
- Small communication teams that need to develop a communication project and don’t want to make the usual mistakes ☺
Methodology
This online course takes the form of a design lab in which participants are guided through the whole process of communication for impact. Along the way, participants will develop skills to influence change and create inspiring and actionable projects.
Content is unlocked on a weekly basis and packaged through design thinking activities. Participants will learn the concepts, methods and tools they need to approach their own communication challenges.
In addition to the interactive modular course activities, participants will collaborate with peers in designing their communication project idea and benefit from individualized coaching to tackle their most pressing issues.
Structure
The course is designed as follows:
Weeks 1-4: Knowledge and inspiration
Participants explore the latest communication tools and trends: storytelling techniques, creative writing and multimedia production, social media and public speaking tips and tricks.
Weeks 5-7: Coaching and pitching phase
Participants produce their communication project idea and improve it with the help of peers and with the support of a professional communication coach. (No project? No problem. We’ll assign a realistic assignment to participants without one.) Then, participants will script their presentations and pitch their ideas to the group.
Week 8: Wrap-up
Participants reflect on what they have learned throughout the course and design captivating projects that motivate others, inspire action, and enable buy-in.
The course is offered fully online through an asynchronous modality (70%) in which participants can plan their own learning at their own pace. The course offers options for synchronous debate (30%) through webinars that provide an opportunity for engaging with peers and experts, as well as online networking.
Phase 1: Knowledge and inspiration
Week 1: Explore strategic communication: From planning to storytelling
Dates: 27 September to 1 October
Workload: 4-6 hours
- Define your goal, empathize with your audiences, identify channels and tools
- Use storytelling to create engaging, human-centred experiences
- Explain communication trends in your own context
Week 2: Design meaningful communication journeys: From stories to social media
Dates: 4 to 8 October
Workload: 4-6 hours
- Learn how to maximize your project's impact through social media
- Define which human stories are connected to your project
- Choose your media, tell your story, and share it!
Week 3: The tools jungle: From design thinking to content production
Dates: 11 to 15 October
Workload: 4-6 hours
- Learn about user experience and human-centred design
- Identify the best tools to develop your project
- Discuss content production strategies
Week 4: Public speaking: From presentation to pitching
Dates: 18 to 22 October
Workload: 4-6 hours
- Learn the golden rules of presentation design
- Identify vertebrate points to pitch your project
- Connect with learners and discuss your main challenges
Download the syllabus with detailed information about the course.
Phase 2: Coaching and pitching phase
Week 5: Your project idea: Test it with your peers
Dates: 25 to 29 October
Workload: 4-6 hours
- Outline your communication project
- Get inspired by other project ideas
- Go back to the drawing board
Week 6: Improve your project idea with your coach
Dates: 1 to 5 November
Workload: 4-6 hours
- Finalize your communication project plan
- Meet your coach
- Build your presentation
Week 7: Present, iterate, present!
Dates: 8 to 12 November
Workload: 4-6 hours
- Build your elevator pitch
- Pitch it to your peers
- Record a video
Download the syllabus with detailed information about the course.
Phase 3: Wrap-up
Week 8: Reflect on what you have learned for your own context
Dates: 15 to 19 November
Workload: 4-6 hours
- Consider your engagement throughout the course
- Summarize the lessons learned
- Revise your knowledge of communication for development
- Deliver your final products: communication plan, presentation, video pitch
Download the syllabus with detailed information about the course.
Team
The course is provided by the Learning Innovation Programme of the ITCILO. Tom Wambeke, Massimiliano Leone, Alessia Messuti, and Momo Bertrand will be your facilitators and coaches. They will be joined by a team of international communication experts who will inspire you with amazing stories, emotional talks, funny videos, interactive quizzes, and out-of-the box ideas.
Estimated workload
The course starts on September 27 and will run until November 22, for a total of 8 weeks of online learning.
The minimum weekly workload is about 4 hours. We will provide additional content to dive deeper into certain topics and tailor the course for participants' needs.
Webinars
Most of the course will be delivered in an asynchronous modality, which allows participants to combine the learning experience with their working schedules and personal plans.
However, there will be several live webinars so that participants can discuss key concepts with experts and their peers.
- Welcome conversation: 27 September, 14:00 - 15:15 CET
- 10 tips to rock social media: 6 October, 14:00 - 15:15 CET
- Design thinking makes communication effective: 13 October, 14:00 - 15:15 CET
- Pitching your project in front of an audience: 20 October, 14:00 - 15:15 CET
- Collective evaluation of the course: 27 October, 14:00 - 15:15 CET
During the webinars, participants can deepen the knowledge about specific issues, share their experiences and concerns, and get feedback from peers and experts.
Assessment
The course has a modular structure, which includes a series of action-oriented activities and assessments to help participants achieve the learning objectives. Successful completion of required activities lead to a Certificate of Achievement at the end of the course.
These assessments will include activities like taking quizzes, listening to a podcast series developed specifically for this course, and completing practical exercises that will bring you closer to your final project presentation.
Certificate
Participants that complete a course that lasts between 60 and 300 learning hours, including a final assessment, will receive a Certificate of Achievement. This course qualifies!
You can add your badge and certificate to your email signature, LinkedIn profile, and personal website. Learn more about our certificates and diplomas.
Newsletter
Get recommendations and inspiring ideas to prepare for our Communication for Development course – and beyond! From 2 to 26 September, you’ll receive one short email per day.
Sign up to receive 25 Days of Communication Tips.
Tailor-made course
Need something different? The Learning Innovation team works with local, national, and international stakeholders to create customized design thinking and communication workshops. These experiences are available upon request.
Contact us to learn more.
Loved by learners across the globe
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply?
Click apply at the top of this webpage and complete the form before 23 September 2021.
All the Centre's regular courses are open to candidates through grants or individual sources of funding. These candidates should send their applications directly to the ITCILO.
Click here for more information about applications.
What are the criteria and qualifications required for admission?
The application procedure allows the Centre to match participants' needs to training activities. In general, it is important to specify language skills, job experience, and academic background.
What do the prices cover?
Tuition prices cover course preparation, implementation and evaluation, training materials and books, and the use of facilities and support services.
Click here for more information about prices and payments.
What if I need to cancel?
Cancellation of participation in standard courses will result in the following penalties:
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14 days or more prior to the start date of the course: No penalty, 100% refund of amount paid less applicable bank charges
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8 to 13 days prior to the start date of the course: Penalty of 50% of course price, refund of residual amount paid (if any) less applicable bank charges
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7 days or less prior to the start date of the course: Penalty of 100% of course price
Click here for more information about the Centre's cancellation policy and refunds.
How many participants are admitted?
Most courses accept between 20 and 30 participants.
What can I do to prepare?
Certain courses include a preliminary online learning phase. Participants should complete all online learning modules.