This 11-page practice note is designed to provide tools for developing a communication plan for research projects that will help ensure that the resulting knowledge reaches those whom it is intended to influence.

From the introduction: "The practices outlined here are based on the concept of International Institute for Sustainable Development IISD’s “ Influencing Strategy,” but focus more specifically on the issue of tactics - how to move your knowledge into the hands of the people you seek to influence. These planning guidelines are followed by a brief inventory of communications approaches and tools." According to the document, communication plans are categorised as internal or external depending on their intended audience and should adhere to the principles of focusing on the audiences, integrating media (moving beyond posting a PDF format version on the web to developing a range of products) and channels of dissemination, and evaluation of the communication plan's reach for its desired outcomes.


The ten questions cover topics (and strategies) such as:

1. Planning a range of mid- to long-term project outcomes - What do you want to change?
2. Whom do you want to reach? "Make an effort to name 10–20 key individuals whom you most want to use the findings of your research."
3. Consider including those you most want to change/engage/influence in consultations, on advisory panels, and through other means of partnering.
4. What collaborative model(s) will be most useful?

• a formal strategic alliance or knowledge network;
• an informal working group;
• a series of face-to-face workshops;
• staff exchanges; and
• placing an intern or graduate student with the partner to facilitate interaction.

5. What internal communications support tools are needed to include partners - hardware, software, a computer placed in the partner organisation or community, a closed e-mail list, an online workspace with tools such as document repositories and shared calendars?
6. What communication products and services can be delivered throughout the project - not just at the end? Possibilities include a draft working paper, a webpage and listserv or blog, workshops, an electronic conference, a commentary/opinion paper, an interactive database of best practices/information sources/data,  and the end-of-project products: a final report, consulting report, policy briefs, articles for journals, a press release, a media launch, and/or a website.
7. Understanding the information-seeking patterns of your audience will help channel key findings - possibilities include conferences, forums, reviews, email lists, news media, broadcast interviews (television and radio), and webcasts.
8. State key messages simply and directly.
9. Consider means of dissemination of final deliverables to the chosen audience.
10. Consider dissemination to broader audiences.

The document concludes with a chart of "many-to-many" and "one-to-one" communication tools.