Development of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Biosafety South Africa's Communication Project
Abstract
Biosafety SA has previously led an initiative to develop a biosafety communication strategy. In principle the strategy revolves around the establishment of a sustainable, active communication network, capacitated with the skills, relevant priority messages and resources to encourage clear, concise and consistent messaging and establishing Biosafety SA as the primary, trusted source of biosafety information in South Africa.
This strategy now has to be implemented through concrete activities aimed at attaining the goals set out in the strategy and allowing further tactical development based on early experiences. A 20 month implementation plan, focusing on four strategic objectives, was therefore developed.
The first strategic objective is to establish, develop and maintain an active and sustainable biosafety communication network. Buy-in, representation and co-ownership of the strategy will be critically important to ensure its longevity and impact - we will therefore invest heavily in developing this important resource. The second strategic objective of the implementation plan, capacitating the communication network, complements the first and focuses on supporting the individuals in the network through the development of their communication skills and supplying them with relevant resources. The third strategic objective revolves around Biosafety SA???s leadership role in concretising the strategy and establishing it as the preferred sources for biosafety information in the country. All communication activities and initiatives for which Biosafety SA will take direct responsibility will fall under this umbrella. Finally, the fourth objective focuses on the development of the necessary tools to monitor/measure the effectiveness and influence of all the biosafety communication efforts. These tools will be developed in collaboration with experts in the field during the first year of the project and then tested towards the end of the project and in subsequent years. The proposed development of a monitoring and evaluation framework (MEF) for Biosafety SA responds to this strategic imperative.
