Message Development Workshop under CRPARP
BCCP conducted a 3-day ‘Message Development Workshop’ for the officials of Bangladesh Forest Department and its Climate Resilient Afforestation and Reforestation Project (CRPARP) and their partner organizations. A total of 21 participants attended the workshop held from June 22 to 24, 2015 in the Multipurpose Hall of BCCP office in Mirpur. The participating partner organizations were Arannyak Foundation and YPSA.
The purpose of the workshop was to develop concepts for message and materials to be used in CRPARP; and also to strengthen the capacity of the relevant officials on the systematic process of message and material development. The workshop was a part of CRPARP’s Strategic Communication Program (SCP) that has been awarded to BCCP to design and implement activities under this.
The Chief Conservator of Forest Mr. Md. Yunus Ali, while inaugurating the workshop, thanked BCCP for organizing this workshop. He also urged the participants to do something different and unique so that it attracts the attention of the intended audience. Mr. Uttam Kumar Saha, Project Director of CRPARP, also emphasized on developing attractive messages and materials to achieve CRPARP objectives. Mr. Md. Shahjahan, Director and CEO of BCCP, welcoming the participants put emphasis on practicing a process-oriented approach to make communication effective. Mr. Farid Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director, Arannyak Foundation mentioned that communication messages should be less wordy but attractive. Ms Khadija Bilkis, Senior Deputy Director of BCCP and Team Leader, SCP facilitated the opening ceremony.
To make the workshop participatory, interactive and result-oriented, a combination of methods and a good blend of theory and hands-on group exercises were used. The participants, divided into four groups, were introduced to analyzing the situation and audiences, designing the strategy to overcome the barriers and challenges and were helped with drafting a message and material concept for CRPARP from each of the four groups.
At the end of the workshop, each group presented their draft concepts. BCCP’s creative team will work to fine tune and pretest these concepts before going for final production. The workshop ended with the award of certificates to the participants by Mr. Uttam Kumar Saha and Mr Farid Uddin Ahmed.