TOP Courses and conferences

There are many communication for development courses offered by universities from all over the world. A good place to start is the Communication Initiative's listing of university and other academic institutions that offer programmes related to communication, change and development. Most are master programmes.

The author of this TOP can recommend one short course.

Integrated Marketing Communication for International Health and Development

New York University (NYU), New York, USA.
http://www.nyu.edu/education/summer/imc

In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Communicable Diseases/Control-Prevention-Eradication Department, Social Mobilisation and Training Unit NYU provides this short course (3,5 weeks) every year in July. Participants learn to apply the techniques of Integrated Marketing Communication in the strategic planning of development communication programmes. A major feature of this programme is a facilitated workshop in which participants complete an integrated marketing communication plan for a specific behaviour change programme in health or any other development sector.

The cost of the programme, excluding transportation, housing, meals and incidentals is 2,500.00 US$.

The author of this TOP followed this excellent course in the summer of 2001 and after two weeks of lectures and field visits in New York produced together with a group of high level health professionals from Bhutan a draft communication plan on handwashing for the country.

Events

International days on water and toilets provide good opportunities for advocacy and media attention on WASH topics.

- World Water Day every year on 22 March is the major international event organized by the UN for planning advocacy on key topics. Visit the WWD web site http://www.worldwaterday.org maintained by IRC to find information and add your event.

- World Toilet Day, on 19 November each year, started by the World Toilet Organisation from Singapore is increasingly being celebrated, especially in Asian countries, see http://www.worldtoilet.org/.

Conferences

IRC's information specialist Cor Dietvorst keeps a general events and conferences list up to date that is relevant for everyone interested in water and environmental sanitation. A selection of this is also published in the Source Weekly newsletter.

Do regular Google search on "Communication for Development conferences".