Communication for Rural Development - E-learning Course

“ComDev has proven to be a key element in improving the effectiveness and sustainability of development initiatives.”

Developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), this course aims to guide users in designing and implementing communication strategies for agricultural and rural development initiatives, combining participatory methods with communication processes, media, and tools such as community media and information and communication technologies (ICTs).  The Communication for Development (ComDev) approach promoted in the course is designed to address the knowledge and information needs of rural stakeholders and to facilitate their active involvement in development initiatives.

The course offers a self-paced, practical, and interactive learning experience intended for three different user groups:

• Development planners and project coordinators
• Rural development and communication professionals
• Communication and community media practitioners, extension workers, and field agents

It contains the following units:

Unit 1: Introduction to ComDev planning for agricultural and rural development - introduces the ComDev approach and the added value that it can offer to agriculture and rural development. It analyses the different phases of such a participatory process and explains how it can be integrated into the design of a development project.

    Lesson 1.1 What is ComDev
    Lesson 1.2 Principles and applications of ComDev
    Lesson 1.3 The ComDev Process
    Lesson 1.4 Integrating ComDev in project design

Unit 2: Participatory ComDev planning - illustrates how to design a ComDev strategy that responds to stakeholders’ communication needs and priorities based on the findings of a participatory communication assessment. It describes the basic components of a ComDev plan of action, as well as a monitoring and evaluation plan.

    Lesson 2.1 The situation analysis
    Lesson 2.2 The Participatory Rural Communication Appraisal
    Lesson 2.3 Participatory communication strategy design
    Lesson 2.4 Planning and monitoring ComDev activities

Unit 3: Implementing a ComDev initiative - explains how to develop local communication plans, how to design effective messages and materials in a participatory way, and how to use ComDev media and materials in the field.

    Lesson 3.1 Implementing the ComDev plan at local level
    Lesson 3.2 Developing ComDev materials
    Lesson 3.3 Implementing ComDev activities in the field

The e-learning course is based on the Communication for Rural Development Sourcebook published in 2014 by FAO and the College of Development Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (see Related Summary below).