EAPN’s General Assembly 2010
Building an EAPN
Communication Strategy
Workshop on communication:
Objectives
Objectives:
Give an update on EAPN’s communication
work
Get together to talk and exchange about
the topic of communication = communicate
on how we communicate and get to know
each other!
Discuss on how to build a communication
strategy for EAPN, as stated in the strategic
plan (2007-2011)
Workshop on communication:
Steps
1) Presentation part (15-20mn)
2) Exchange session (40 mn)
3) Discuss practical steps in EAPN’s
communication work ... towards a
communication strategy (15-20 mn)
Workshop on communication:
Steps
1) Presentation part
 State of Play on EAPN’s communication
work
-
Building a communication strategy for
EAPN: why and how?
- Present EAPN’s current
communication
• tools and practices,
• at internal and external levels
Workshop on communication
1st in a long time workshop on
communication
Opportunity to get together,
get to know each other and
exchange
practical steps for the building
of a communication strategy
State of Play on EAPN’s Communication Work
- What is EAPN?
EAPN was established in 1990 as an independent coalition
of NGOs involved in the fight against poverty and social
exclusion in the EU.
EAPN’s membership is built on National Anti-Poverty
Networks and European Organisations concerned with
the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
At present: members are 27 National Networks and 23
European Organisations who are members of EAPN.
Variety of activities aimed at combating poverty and social
exclusion including, education and training activities,
service provision and activities aimed at the participation
and empowerment of people experiencing poverty and
social exclusion.
State of Play on EAPN’s Communication Work
- build on the Strategic Plan
The strategic plan aims at giving a
coherent common identity and
purpose for EAPN in order to
reinforce the effectiveness of the
work of EAPN.
The communication strategy of EAPN
needs to be in line with the strategic
plan
State of Play on EAPN’s Communication Work
- build on the Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan 2008-2011
Next Strategic Plan 2012-2015
Process of Evaluation (2009-2011)
feeds into next strategic plan
State of Play on EAPN’s Communication Work
- build on the Strategic Plan
Process of Evaluation (2009-2011) feeds into
next strategic plan
– In 2009, evaluation process focused on:
• Participation / ownership of EAPN’s
networks
• Engaging EAPN’s networks in policy
meetings
– In 2010, evaluation process focuses on:
• Effective lobbying
• How well EAPN is communicating,
internally and externally
State of Play on EAPN’s Communication Work
- build on the Strategic Plan
In Strategic Plan (2008-2011) EAPN
has formally decided to improve its
communication work
– in strategic planning
– In evaluation process
 => build a Communication strategy
State of Play on EAPN’s Communication Work
- Building a Communication strategy
What is a communication strategy?
It is a set of common tools and practices
that:
– articulates, explains and promotes a
vision and a set of well-defined goals.
– creates a consistent, unified “voice” that
links diverse activities and goals in a way
that appeals to your partners or
stakeholders.
State of Play on EAPN’s Communication Work
- Building a Communication strategy
Strategic Communication
–
–
–
–
–
Who am I speaking to ?
For what reason?
what is the take away message ?
delivered through which channels?
measure effect?
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
New EAPN’s Website
! Please check your page regularly
Copy/paste the page on a word document
and send update to [email protected]
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
EAPN’s FLASH newsletter (every 2
weeks)
! Please send relevant information at
any time
3 rules:
– 5-7 lines in English or French
– Add a link to a website
– Add a picture if you have any
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
EAPN’s MAGAZINE (every 4 months)
– Old version: Networks’ News (every
3months)
– New version: EAPNAnti-PovertyMAG
(every 4 months) and new layout
since 2009
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
New WORD template for National Members to
adapt the Anti-Poverty MAG
– 1) Texts sent in EN (or FR if you prefer)
– 2) once English version of the MAG is ready, you will be sent
the template with frontpage and backcover prepared with text
boxes for titles - background pictures will be inserted by EAPN
– 3) Just send back the WORD document without pictures (too
heavy) – they will be inserted by EAPN
Fully-functional PDF (= active weblinks) will be made by
EAPN and put on line
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
EAPN’s books
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
EAPN’s policy papers and reports
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
New templates for policy
papers/reports
–
–
–
–
Policy briefs
Briefing notes
Reports
Policy papers
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
Press work
– Better database: updated + better focused
thanks to national networks. Please continue!
– Media guide (2005, updated end of 2009 for EY
2010)
= tips to work with the media
– Visibility on the website:
Press Room divided into EAPN’s press releases and
EAPN in the Press
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
Social Media
– Facebook pages
– Picasa photo album
• To view: http://picasaweb.google.com/EAPNpictures
• To post: Ask for login and password
– MySpace + DailyMotion + Youtube - to share
videos
State of Play –
EAPN’s current tools and practices
– Facebook page of EAPN
(‘’EAPN – European Anti Poverty Network’’)
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/EAPN-European-AntiPoverty-Network/51278044814
– Facebook page of the 2010 Coalition of social
NGOs (‘’ 2010 Coalition of social NGOs’’)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/2010-Coalition-ofSocial-NGOs/339138806094
– Facebook page of the Minimum Income Campaign
(‘’Minimum Income Campaign’’)
Workshop on communication:
Steps
2) Exchange session
Are we effectively communicating
internally?
– What is working well?
– What needs to evolve?
Are we effectively communicating
externally?
– What is working well?
– What needs to evolve?
Workshop on communication:
Steps
3) Discussion on practical steps to
improve EAPN’s communication work and
towards a communication strategy
 Presentation of proposal and timeline
 Discussion
Workshop on communication:
Steps towards communication
strategy
June 2010 EAPN’s GA: presentation of state of
play and discussion
What next?
IN GENERAL: Find a way to communicate better as we can’t meet
– Mailing list?
– Members’ room space?
– Newpractices/habits?
Drafting EAPN’s communication
strategy
– Previous evaluation: QUESTIONNAIRE
•
•
•
•
Draft: July-August
Launch: 15 Sept
Reception of answers: 15 Oct
Analysis: 15 Dec => feed EAPN’s meeting
on strategic plan early 2011