{UAH} Fwd: Lessons from humanitarian storytellers in an era of protracted crises

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Devex Doing Good <info@devex.com>
Date: 4 September 2018 22:43:48 BST
To: georgeokello_8@hotmail.com
Subject: Lessons from humanitarian storytellers in an era of protracted crises
Reply-To: <info@devex.com>

Careers, industry buzz, and lifestyle tips for development professionals.

To view this email as a web page, click here

To ensure delivery to your inbox, please add info@devex.com to your address book. Sept. 4, 2018 WHAT TO KNOW NOW 5 lessons from leaders in humanitarian communications By Carine Umuhumuza @CarineUmu In this era of protracted crises, the growing need for humanitarian assistance and issues of fragility have created a humanitarian system that is experiencing unprecedented pressure and demand. For humanitarian communicators, it can be daunting to help their audiences understand the current landscape in ways that are tangible and showcase the impact of their work. Devex spoke to communicators at Save the Children, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Rescue Committee, and World Vision International to learn about challenges and opportunities for communicators in the humanitarian space. Here are five key lessons. 1. Return to the basics: Humanitarian work is challenging, complicated, and complex — and capturing those complexities for an external audience is a challenge in itself. More and more organizations are pivoting to a focus on individual stories, relatable entry points and, in some cases, more unfiltered and raw content from the frontlines. 2. Acknowledge the frustrations of your audience: Experts noted the "insatiable appetite" in the media for "killer quotes and killer facts" when talking about humanitarian issues. Teams have to react quickly to breaking news with powerful images and commentary in order to push complex emergencies into headlines. But for some of the worst emergencies, such as the crisis in Yemen, sustained traction can be hard. 3. Lean into the complexity of, and hope behind, humanitarian issues: Organizations should focus on equipping their audience with facts, inspiring stories, and a historical perspective. Analytics show that people respond to hope, and the concept of compassion fatigue — when the number of simultaneous crises leaves an audience feeling hopeless — presents an opportunity to reframe the way humanitarians talk about crises. 4. Keep human dignity central and give those affected by crises the microphone: First-person stories from children displaced by war or an aid worker on the frontlines provide an avenue to connect to audiences in ways canned messaging or even catchy slogans might not be able to. These types of stories reinforce that humans are at the center of the work. 5. Protect your teams: In humanitarian emergencies, there's pressure to show impact to donors, diversify action in the crowded humanitarian space, and attract media attention. But in communications, quick reactions done wrong serve a cautionary tale. Humanitarian communicators have to resist the urge to be everything and say everything to everyone. Instead, they should rationalize where to put their weight and bear influence. + Read more QUOTABLE "There's a sense that people are becoming cynical to highly polished and produced pieces of content. There's a real interest in authentic, 'rougher' content [of] what's actually happening." — Matthew Cochrane, media and advocacy manager and spokesperson at the IFRC   @WORK What is an 'integrator' role?   By Emma Smith @emmasmith_bcn       via YouTube "Integrators" — those who understand multiple specialties, how they impact each other, and who can foster collaboration — are predicted to be the most in-demand professional in global development in the future. But, what does an integrator role look like and how can you find these jobs? Devex spoke to Alexis Bonnell from USAID's U.S. Global Development Lab to find out which roles are best suited to integrator profiles and how to talk about your soft skills to land these positions. + Read more SPOTLIGHT ON Nonprofits take on Nigeria's struggles with mental health   By Linus Unah @devex       Photo by: Linus Unah While precise statistics are hard to come by, more than 7 million Nigerians suffer from depression, according to World Health Organization 2015 estimates. The same report estimates the West African nation has some 4.8 million people with anxiety disorders, the most of any country in Africa. Most get no professional treatment, and a culture of stigma and discrimination fueled by poor awareness has allowed misconceptions about mental illness to flourish. Without a national coordinating body or agency to oversee mental health care, or run anti-stigma and psychoeducation initiatives, more nonprofits are springing up to close the gap. + Read more SPONSORED ANNOUNCEMENT Future-proof your organization with our new online course How can we prepare for the future, with all the challenges and opportunities it will bring? Join thousands of other humanitarians in this free massive open online course on Humanitarian Futures & Foresight, starting Oct. 8. Developed by the Humanitarian Leadership Academy and the Institute For The Future, this one-week course is a great opportunity for humanitarian leaders to future-proof their organizations and get them ready for new events or crises. It will help you understand key trends and patterns to stay relevant and find strategies to deal with long-term humanitarian challenges such as natural hazards, food insecurity, and protracted crises. Sign up for free today FEATURED ORGANIZATION Resolve offers unique "In-a-Box" solutions for the rapid and cost-effective deployment of modular infrastructure in Africa, in both urban and rural settings. Our range includes prefabricated health posts, warehouses, dispensaries, laboratories, storage units, and mortuary solutions, with all the componentry required to deliver a pharmaceutical compliant, validated, total solution, packed and ready to deliver in 40 feet containers. Units can operate off-grid — solar power and water harvesting solutions available. Links: - Health care infrastructure solutions - "In-a-Box" solutions - About the prefabricated health posts - Learn more about the storage units THE WEEK AHEAD Events preview: This week in development cooperation   By Devex Editor   This week's highlights include the 10th anniversary Global Disaster Relief & Development Summit in Washington, D.C., and the African Green Revolution Forum 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda. Check out our preview for more events in the coming days.     Photo by: atulinda images   Below are some of the most noteworthy events for the week starting Sept. 4: + Webinar Series: Disability-Inclusive Education in Africa Sept. 4 - Oct. 2. Online + Global Health Happy Hour Sept. 5. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States + 10th AIDF Global Summit Sept. 5-6. Washington, D.C., United States + African Green Revolution Forum 2018 Sept. 5-8. Kigali, Rwanda + Advance your funding strategy with Devex Business Intelligence Sept. 6. Online + International Literacy Day Sept. 8 Know of an upcoming event that might be of interest to the international development community? Email us at news@devex.com. Important: This email contains links that automatically log you into your Devex account. Copyright 2018 Unauthorized commercial reapplication, reproduction or retransmission, in whole or in part, is prohibited. Doing Good - Development community buzz, innovation & lifestyle. Manage your newsletter subscriptions |  Read the latest Devex News |  RSS Feed Not interested? Unsubscribe from Devex email notifications here. Connect with us Devex is the media platform for the global development community. Corporate Headquarters: 1341 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 USA Main +1.202.249.9222  |  Fax +1.202.318.2456   www.devex.com