JOICFP’s ICT Advocacy Training for Movah! in Cambodia (JOICFP eNEWS August, 2006 ) Approduction is JOICFP’s needs-oriented training and consultancy program to build the capacity of BCC/advocacy managers and technical personnel responsible for health-related activities. From 3rd to 5th July, JOICFP delivered Approduction training for Cambodian counterparts in the Movah! project, under the UNFPA-supported Regional Project “Strengthening Advocacy for ASRH Programs through Youth Initiative.” >>More

Background & Issues In developmental projects, especially health related projects, BCC/advocacy activities are inseparable. Consequently, BCC/advocacy activities and educational materials or tools are indispensable. However, developmental project managers are often unsatisfied with the materials and tools that are produced for them. They may not appropriately reflect the needs of the project, or they may not be sensitive to the situation, interests or needs of the target audience or beneficiaries. One cause for this lies in the personnel responsible for the planning and production. In the field of BCC/advocacy, particular information technology and contemporary skills are required for effective planning. However, only a few managers are trained in this area. This is particularly so for producing media contents. Another cause for this lies in the technical people engaged in production. Though they may have high-level skills for production, oftentimes they have not had a chance to obtain skills that are specifically required to address a particular developmental subject. JOICFP Strategy & Goal Approduction is JOICFP’s needs-oriented training and consultancy program to build the capacity of BCC/advocacy managers and technical personnel responsible for health-related activities, through an originally developed, target specific curricula. Basic technical skills are provided to managers, while specific skills for a particular developmental topic is transferred to technical personnel. Technical assistance provided through Approduction focuses on developing “high quality” materials with available resources, utilizing “appropriate skills” fit for the situation. “High quality” in Approduction is not measured by the amount of budget spent on its production. Rather, it is measured by the appropriateness to which it responds to the needs of the community in a timely manner. Approduction emphasizes the participation of target users at all stages of tool development and the creation of materials that produce an emotional response and spark behavior change.