Welcome to the Communications Programme

IQsensato’s purpose is to inform development policy-making by undertaking research, communicating results and stimulating debate. It aims to do this by providing access to the work and perspectives of developing country researchers and experts.

The IQsensato Communications programme stimulates well informed policy debate on IQsensato’s core issues by providing accessible, accurate, timely and relevant information and analysis based on research results to three primary audiences:

1. Decision and policy makers
2. Researchers
3. Media - particularly in developing countries.

First, this means communicating information in a number of formats appropriate to each audience, as well as distributing information to those who need it and those who might need it, while at the same time creating spaces and sources that allow people to debate in a well informed and safe environment. To do this, IQsensato believes that the following factors are particularly important:

• Use of plain English that is understood by people who are using it as their second or third language.
• Understand the nuances of meaning and myth common to specific audiences.
• Maximize the benefits of electronic communication methods.

Second, this means supporting researchers in their capacities to communicate their results in an accessible, accurate, timely and relevant way. This work is mainly carried out through IQsensato’s Leadership in Research programme, where support is made available for researchers to develop their communication skills.

Third, the IQsensato Communications programme maintains a number of existing channels through which accessible, accurate, timely and relevant information can be passed to existing and expectant audiences, from the website and information portal services, to publications such as In Focus, working papers and New Voices in Research.