Template for COMDIS Partners Communications Strategic plan

1.

Communication Objectives:

1a. What are your communications objectives? Overall COMDIS Communication Objectives: To ensure that research knowledge generated by programmes (and other relevant research knowledge related to the topic) is incorporated more effectively into programme design and implementation at national and district levels. To ensure that a local, relevant evidence base is developed that can support policy and practice change MC Uganda COMDIS communications objectives: To promote the regular and timely exchange of relevant information and data between COMDIS and NMCP including other key policy makers in the Ministry of Health To create increased awareness of the pathway from evidence to policy and evidence-based public health To facilitate the National Malaria Control Programmes policy development process To disseminate research knowledge that facilitates an evidence-based approach in NMCPs programme planning and implementation To promote dissemination of information on new research findings and tools to health workers in general and malaria scientists 1b. What are the communications outcomes you want to achieve? That NMCP (including other relevant departments of the MoH), key stakeholders and MC Uganda regularly exchange ideas, plans and research findings That NMCP is able to access and utilise relevant evidence to inform decision making in key areas of COMDIS focus That NMCP takes ownership of findings from COMDIS work That information is regularly disseminated between MC Uganda and MC UK

2.

Communication Target Groups and Individuals:

Organisation How can (s)he influence whether the communications objectives are met? Can influence the research priorities of the programme. Can choose to plan or implement without evidence. Can decide the usefulness of the evidence available or generated

Person and position (if known) NMCP programme manager

MoH

Template for COMDIS Partners Communications Strategic plan NMCP focal person for malaria research and M&E MoH Can influence the research priorities of the programme. His appreciation and interpretation of the evidence will influence achievement of the objectives Her understanding of COMDIS roles and work will influence her willingness to disseminate information. Their appreciation of the need for evidence-based public health will influence achievement of the communication objectives. Can make decisions based on political demands rather than evidence generated by COMDIS Can influence the research priorities. Can influence how findings are interpreted.

NMCP information officer

MoH

Policy markers in the MoH

MoH

Other researchers working on communicable diseases

DDHS and health workers International and bilateral agencies

Uganda Malaria Surveillance Project; Uganda Malaria Research Centre; Institute of Public Health; Infectious Diseases Institute; Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University; Department of Community Health, Mbarara University. District Health Service, MoH DFID, USAID, GFATM, Roll Back Malaria, WHO

They are the target for the trainings and translate finings into practice. Determine the availability and conditions of financial resources for implementation which influences NMCPs scope of work. They influence the need and usefulness of locally generated evidence.

Template for COMDIS Partners Communications Strategic plan Media Influence the kind of information disseminated to the public which in turn influences some perceptions of policy makers in the MoH They are key in social mobilisations especially for health campaigns

Local politicians and leaders

2a. How can these target groups and individuals be reached? Which interventions/ sources of information are currently used/trusted by the target group or individual? Which would be the most effective, feasible/ trusted to use? Target Person Existing Which By whom or sources of interventions/ what knowledge sources intervention/ available to (effective, source are them / him / feasible and they/ (s)he her trusted) ? influenced by? NMCP WHO statements WHO, Journals WHO, Donors, and guidelines, Eminent Journals, locally scientists, generated Ministers of reports, Health, Key professional NGOs opinion leaders Other researchers Academic Academic Funders, work of journals, journals other researchers conferences in the same field Policy markers in WHO statements International the MoH and guidelines agencies, donors, key NGOs DDHS and health Policy guidelines, MoH, Internet workers communications from MoH, International and Journals, WHO Donor bilateral agencies guidelines, CDC governments reports Media News papers, political debates, journals and magazines

3.

Key Dates:
Internal

External

Template for COMDIS Partners Communications Strategic plan 1st December 2006 - World AIDS Day February 2007 RDT workshop 8th April 2007 - International Health Day 25th April 2007 - World Malaria Day May 2007 ICT study results presented October 2007 National Health Assembly and Joint Review Mission Quarterly Interagency Coordinating Committee for Malaria (ICCM) meetings Quarterly ICCM technical working group meetings on malaria research and M&E. Quarterly HIPAC meetings

4.

Partners

Which organisations and individuals are potential partners for communicating this research? WHO UMSP Uganda Malaria Research Centre Institute of Public Health Faculty of Medicine, Makerere University Ministry of Health Resource centre Infectious Diseases Institute African Health Services Journal East African Medical Journal New Vision and Monitor daily newspapers

5.

Activities

For each group/individual list the intervention/source (radio, face-to-face etc.) and the related activities
Activity Materials Who will it reach When will it take place? Who will carry it Budget

Template for COMDIS Partners Communications Strategic plan (which targets)? NMCP managers and research officer Other researchers, RBM, WHO Policy makers, stakeholders out? Monthly oneone meetings; As results become available When research projects are completed As findings of each study are published COMDIS researchers None

Exchange Preliminary ideas and data from share results in studies meetings with the NMCP Disseminate findings through recognised journals Stakeholders meetings and workshops with policy makers to inform on the progress of research, and identify new research priorities Disseminate understandable information through the Media Participate in ICCM meetings and meetings with key stakeholders e.g. WHO, UNICEF, UMRC, PMI and UMSP Hospital CME meetings Research papers

Researchers

Briefs on selected topics

Facts sheets

General population

When results are available

MoH policy makers; Key scientists; Key implemenation agencies

Periodic, either quarterly or more frequently as the need arises

Summary results and implications of key findings National Health Presentations Assembly meeting

Health workers and students District health Once a year directors, MoH usually in the staff and, second quarter local political

Template for COMDIS Partners Communications Strategic plan and community leaders PMI, CDC, USAID, MUUCSF, UMSP

Networking and informal conversations at conferences DFID Annual report Articles on the findings on MC website Dissemination workshops

Initial meetings DK and all at the ASTMH COMDIS meeting with PMI/CDC/UMSP, MC-UCSF As tools are developed and results become available Annually

Short and easy to understand Presentations, outputs of work done and publications

6.

Support

What support will you require from COMDIS to carry out these activities? Information of on the priority problems identified during a stakeholder meeting at the MRC

7.

Risks

What risks are there which may have an impact on the achievement of the communications objectives? If the NMCP and the policy makers do not feel the ownership of the results, then they may not use it to change policy. Donors may push for different policies despite the research knowledge available. The economical implications of the policy change may hinder its implementations.

8.

Monitoring and Evaluation

What milestones and indicators will you use for monitoring and evaluating activities and outcomes? Process indicators (to be measured each COMDIS reporting year) Number of meetings held with NMCP to exchange ideas and share information each COMDIS reporting year (minutes of meetings will be used to measure this) Number of policy briefs or fact sheets disseminated Number of participants that attend annual dissemination meeting Number of presentations made at meetings, workshops and conferences each COMDIS reporting quarter

Template for COMDIS Partners Communications Strategic plan Number of papers published in journals Outcome indicators (to be measured mid-term and at the end of COMDIS) Proportion of MOH policies that reflect COMDIS findings in COMDIS focus areas Documentation that illustrates how evidence was translated into policy Number of MoH training materials or guidelines that contain information generated from COMDIS activities

9.

Post-Project Dissemination

Findings will be available in the resource centres of MC Uganda and the MoH. Some outputs of work carried out will be on the MC website. Training tools and guidelines will be disseminated by the MoH.