Clear and efficient communication is essential to the success of projects carried out in emergency settings. NGO employees have to communicate effectively with each other, and often have to deal with media enquiries and inter-agency cooperation.

Communication during emergencies confronts several, important challenges. Humanitarian workers need to, often simultaneously, build positive relations with journalists, raise awareness and funds and lobby their cause.   

It is therefore important for humanitarian professionals to understand the different stages and strategies, which play out during emergency communication.  These range from the production and reception of information, to the use of old and new media and communication tools and to the formulation of effective press releases. Such practical expertise and competence needs to be complemented by critical understanding of media ethics and the wider media image of humanitarian action. This course delivers on both aspects.

What you can expect from this course

If you are a humanitarian professional or work in an international organisation, this course will enable you to extend your communications and/or advocacy skills.

If you are working in communications, information and/or advocacy outside of the humanitarian sector, the course will enable you to familiarise yourself with the specificities of communications and advocacy in the humanitarian field in preparation for a possible career change. 

Course contents

During the six weeks of the course, the following themes will be addressed:

• Communication between and by humanitarian actors

• The stakes in the relationship between humanitarian actors and the media

• The specificities of "humanitarian" journalism

• Advocacy in humanitarian action

• New technologies, social networks and organisational communication

• Ethical rules applying to communication practitioners and the ethics of portrayals of people

The detailed programme will be available in July 2012.