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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
In this section:
Overseas Communications Officers Trained to Tell
Agency Story
Overseas Communications Officers Trained to Tell Agency
Story
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Samia Khalil (left), from the U.S. Embassy in Egypt,
and Shaif Al-Hamdany, USAID/Yemen, were two of the participants
at the January 2005 conference in Cairo for development
outreach and communications officers.
Ellen M. Yount, USAID |
Wende Duflon of USAID/Guatemala is one of more than 80 development
and outreach communications officers (DOCs) and program officers
learning how to tell the public about USAID’s efforts
to help poor countries develop.
“This conference helped me realize I am not alone in
terms of outreach efforts,” Duflon said at a recent training
program.
“It put me in direct contact with colleagues in the
USAID professional network around the world who are in tune
with local audiences and work with our staffs to make outreach
an everyday part of our development work.”
Improving the Agency’s ability to tell how U.S. foreign
aid helps millions live better, healthier lives around the
world is one of six major initiatives of Administrator Andrew
S. Natsios.
In July 2004, the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs
(LPA) began an intensive program to provide communications
training and support to overseas staff and USAID offices.
Currently, 44 full-time DOCs and program officers handle
communications tasks, such as pitching stories to local media;
writing speeches and talking points for high-profile public
events; and helping translate development work into common,
easily understood language.
Since the program’s launch, five regional conferences
have been held, bringing together Washington and overseas
staff to develop communications strategies, effective local
messages, and public affairs budgets.
A sixth conference is scheduled for Bangkok in May. In addition,
in June LPA will host a one-day conference in Washington for
all D.C.-based communications staff.
“I had not realized until the training how important
this is, or how high up in the leadership of the Agency management
this initiative is coming from,” one participant said
after the March 2005 conference in Senegal.
One aspect of the training is to help educate all USAID
employees about where public outreach and communications with
host country audiences fit into USAID’s—and the
wider U.S. government’s—priorities.
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 requires USAID to inform
host countries of assistance provided by the American people.
Since September 11, 2001, there has been growing awareness
at all levels of government that these efforts should be increased
and better coordinated.
The joint State/USAID Strategic Plan released in 2002, in
particular, places a heavy emphasis on communication, especially
to young audiences.
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