Getting Smart: Strategic Communications for Gender Activists

This manual aims to build the strategic communications capacity of gender activists in the Southern African region. It provides a resource which can be used as part of a training course that enables participants to develop an actual communications strategy.

The manual includes three different kinds of resources:

• Exercises: Each module provides a number of exercises for soliciting participants' contributions and participation.
• Background relevant material: As handouts for participants and/or as preparation for the facilitation.
• Facilitator(s) experiences and the experiences of participants in the training are, according to the authors, an invaluable resource. The publication encourages the facilitator to make notes of stories or experiences participants can use to help illustrate different points issues in the training.
• Additional examples: The examples given are designed to spark the imagination of the trainer. Where appropriate, the trainer can substitute the examples in the kit with more relevant and recent examples.

The manual also aims to assist gender activists in Southern Africa to communicate their message more effectively. It also contains resources for any activist group that seeks to sharpen its communications skills and strategies, and can be adapted for use in other regional contexts.

Chapters include:

• How to use this manual
• What is communications?
• Getting started on your communications strategy
• Messages and materials
• Personal and traditional media
• Mainstream media
• Community media