Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

Pathfinder International has supported the Kano State-Led Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM), in collaboration in developing a communications strategy for the SLAM.

KANO FOCUS reports that the communication strategy was developed during a five-day intensive training which resulted in developing a robust communications strategy for the SLAM.

The training, held from July 29th to August 2nd, 2024, in Kaduna, also focused on enhancing the organization’s capacity to effectively advocate for improvements in the health and education sectors in Kano State.

A communications strategy is crucial for an organization as it provides a structured approach to effectively convey its messages, goals, and values to target audiences. It helps align all communication efforts with the organization’s objectives, ensuring consistency and clarity in messaging across various platforms.

Pharm. Maimuna Yakubu, the Co-chair of KanSLAM, expressed her enthusiasm for the new communications strategy, emphasizing its potential to significantly impact the SLAM’s efforts in health and education advocacy.

“This strategy will enhance the work and outcomes of KanSLAM, particularly in our key focus areas of health and education. To ensure that our advocacy efforts in these sectors are successful, we need compelling and dynamic ways to share our evidence and push policymakers to act on them. This training has equipped us to achieve that,” Pharm Yakubu stated.

She further urged KanSLAM members to actively apply their newly acquired communication skills to improve the SLAM’s overall communication efforts.

Dr. Sakina Bello, Senior Technical Adviser at Pathfinder International, highlighted the importance of effective communication for KanSLAM, a coalition focused on accountability and advocacy.

“We identified some communication gaps within KanSLAM, and this training was designed to bridge those gaps. During the course of the training, the SLAM has been able to identify some of its communication challenges and opportunities for progress,” Dr. Sakina noted.

She hopes that KanSLAM would not only internalize the new communications strategy but also incorporate it into their daily activities beyond the health and education sectors. “I am happy that they will now use the communication strategy to directly advocate in areas where they desire change, and I hope that change will be seen,” she added.

Bayo Ewuola, Senior Media and Communications Officer for Pathfinder International, elaborated on the significance of the training for KanSLAM.

“Communication, evidence generation, and documentation are crucial for KanSLAM. As a CSO-led organization, there should be systems and structures in place to guide their communication operations. This training seeks to build their capacity so they can increase their visibility as a SLAM,” Ewuola explained.

He emphasized the importance of KanSLAM’s media representatives in packaging their advocacy efforts effectively to ensure they are compelling when presented for action.

“We have developed a robust communication strategy for the SLAM, along with a content calendar, content strategy, and advocacy checklist. All of this will enhance KanSLAM’s visibility in the near future,” he concluded.

Mukhtar Suleiman, a communications expert who facilitated the training, praised KanSLAM’s progress in developing a functional communications strategy.

“The SLAM now has a functional communications strategy that all members of the team collectively pitched and adopted, which is a significant win for the SLAM,” Suleiman said.

He encouraged consistency in working with the strategy for effectiveness and urged the SLAM to continue finding new ways to improve on the outcomes generated during the training.

“I am pleased that some of the challenges identified during the SWOT analysis have already been addressed, and I am happy with the SLAM for doing that. This training will benefit KanSLAM in reporting on findings in health and education, and I believe they will achieve better outcomes in documenting their successes and communicating effectively,” Suleiman added.

The Chairperson of the Knowledge Management Committee (KMC) in KanSLAM Nafisa Murtala, expressed her satisfaction with the training and appealed to committee members to apply the newly developed communications strategy in discharging their duties.

“This training has been invaluable, and I am confident that KanSLAM’s visibility will improve in the coming weeks,” Murtala stated, reflecting the optimism shared by all participants regarding the future of KanSLAM’s advocacy efforts.