ACBF’s long term External Affairs and Communication strategy aims to support ACBF’s vision, mission and values, positioning the Foundation as a trusted and knowledgeable catalyst for socioeconomic development.
Externally, the focus is on operational visibility, relationship and partnership-building, media relations and thought leadership around the Foundation’s niche in the capacity development field. In 2011, ACBF has been leveraging its 20th Anniversary to reposition and rebrand the Foundation as the premier capacity building institution in Africa, working pro-actively with stakeholders to build a constituency of support for ACBF.
Internally, the strategy continues to address the importance of communication in articulating common institutional goals, promoting coherence in the workplace and achieving better coordination within the Foundation. The overall goal is to create a culture where open information is shared readily within and across departments and where every staff member should be an ambassador for the Foundation.
Key Objectives
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To position ACBF as a well-managed, results-oriented, knowledge institution and safe place for donors to put their money, leveraging 20 years of capacity development experience to learn lessons from the past, while focusing on the challenges for the future
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To support the ACBF business in its strategic positioning externally through a measureable External Affairs and Communication programme, while tracking and reporting on reputational risks to the business, escalating and taking the appropriate action as required
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To build on existing communication channels, using employee communication to increase knowledge, learning and best-practice sharing
Going forward, the Secretariat’s External Affairs and Communication strategy will continue to focus on a) stakeholder relations, including the Boards, new and existing donors, partners, staff and media; b) communicating results across our business; and c) tracking and reporting on reputational risks to our business. EACU will continue supporting the core business of the Foundation wherever we operate, working closely with programmes and projects in telling the ACBF ‘benefit’ story and showcasing the impact of the Foundation’s interventions. ACBF’s new strategy presents an opportunity for the Foundation to redouble its communication efforts, by investing in channel development, including an improved online and new media channels, exploring value-adding CSR initiatives and strategic positioning events.