Advice
Our team has extensive experience in doing research, developing and sharing knowledge and advising organizations on humanitarian communication. Apart from sharing knowlegde on our website and other platforms, we provide tailor-made advice on ethical, inclusive and equitable communication to organizations in the development cooperation sector and beyond. We offer four levels of tailor-made advice:
1. Introductory advice in the form of a digital cup of coffee. This online introduction meeting is free of charge and lasts about half an hour to an hour.
2. Select advice in the form of a mini consult addressing a specific question, issue or communication. This type of advice can be done in written or spoken form, i.e. through emailing or (digitally) meeting each other.
3. Comprehensive advice in the form of an extensive communication advice report. In this report we will analyse 5-10 communications of your organization in detail and provide in-depth advice on the way your organization could communicate better. The report, which will be composed by at least five of our experts, also includes an introductory meeting and final presentation of the findings.
4. A workshop or workshop series in which we share our expertise on humanitarian communication and discuss the way your organization communicates with your team. This type of advice is tailored to your needs and that of your staff. During the workshop(s), your team can share specific questions questions, issues or communications for us to prepare and discuss. A workshop series is our most requested offering, often featuring multiple half-day sessions over the course of several weeks.
What does our communication advice look like?
Our communication advice usually consists of an in-depth analysis of a variety of communications of an INGO based on our Communication Guide (2023). The findings of our analysis are presented in a workshop series or advice report that includes do’s and don’ts and a list of recommendations.
The most important findings are always presented in one or more live sessions and discussed with the organization in an open dialogue. Here the exchange of knowledge is paramount: it is our aim to enter into a discussion about (the importance of) communication and to offer practical tools to communicate better.
Download our Guiding Principles here in Dutch and here in English. And download our Incusive Language Glossary here in Dutch and here in English.
Read here the Future Briefs on the history, representation and production of humanitarian communication written by our Managing Directors, Wouter Oomen and Emiel Martens, in collaboratoin with Partos’ Community of Practice on Inclusive Communication.
Finally, listen here to the Disrupt Development podcasts on humanitarian communication we made in 2020-2022 (as well as the other great podcasts Disrupt Development has produced in that period).
Why?
What kind of campaigns do development cooperation and humanitarian aid organizations use? Which selection of text and images do we see on their website and social media? And who will act as ambassador on their behalf and how does this person act? The choices that INGOs make in their communications are crucial for the discourse and practice of international development. That is why the Expertise Centre Humanitarian Communication offers these organizations critical advice and practical tools to create ethical, inclusive and equitable communication on development cooperation.
Impact Statements
War Child NL
“At War Child NL we pay a lot of attention to how and what we communicate about our work with children who grow up with the consequences of war and conflict. The Expertise Center Humanitarian Communication has assisted us enormously by thinking along with us, leading constructive discussions, and asking critical questions. Through a series of workshops they held a mirror up to us. At times it was difficult to look in that mirror but, exactly for that reason, it was very valuable. The workshop series served as an important inspiration to engage more deeply with humanitarian communication.”
Liliane Fonds
“The report of the Expertise Center Humanitarian Communication was thorough and constructive, and the presentation inspiring. With critical notes, definitely, but with useful suggestions that the Liliane Foundation will certainly use. A communication advice report by the Expertise Centre Humanitarian Communication is highly recommended for every INGO.”
Artsen zonder Grenzen (Doctors Without Borders NL)
“In many ways the Expertise Center Humanitarian Communication is a valuable partner for Doctors Without Borders NL. The workshops they gave to our Communication and Fundraising Department were inspiring, instructive and offering concrete tools. The critical yet constructive feedback helped raise awareness and understand sensitivities, and the discussions in the department continue until this very day. In addition, we continue to involve HuCom as sounding board and sparring partner when developing new campaigns.”
Edukans
“HuCom’s communication advice report analysed various Edukans campaigns and resulted in much-need eye-openers and valuable tips that we could work with immediately. Thanks to their thorough analysis, we now see that there are still steps to be taken in the way we communicate about development cooperation.”
Interested?
Is your organization interested in advice from the Expertise Centre Humanitarian Communication? Then contact us at [email protected] as we will get back to you as soon as possible!
