1 EU Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Visibility and Communication

2 EU Development Aid in the World EU is the largest development aid donor in the world  27 Member States and the EU provided EURO 53.8 billion in 2010 EU in Sri Lanka The EU continues to provide important amounts of development assistance to Sri Lanka, totalling over EUR 580 million or LKR 80 billion ( ) in grant assistance

3 Rationale EU taxpayer money Need for awareness, accountability and transparency Throughout project the EU should be properly recognised/ acknowledged The EU shares the project’s achievements and impact Connects project to overall EU policy

4 Obligations Visibility and Communication is not optional All project contracts will include a visibility clause  General Conditions, Article 6 Prepare a Communication and Visibility Plan Set down budget Supervise Local Implementing Partners (for which the Applicant is responsible) Liaise/seek approvals of EU Project Manager/ Press and Information Officer

5 DON'Ts Recent Study findings: Project visibility obligations not fulfilled Performance gap between Main Applicants and Local Implementing Partners Beneficiaries in the dark about donor funding

6 DON'Ts cont. Almost 30% of direct beneficiaries believed they had not received any assistance from the EU Over 71.8% of beneficiaries unaware regarding how much the EU had spent on delivering them benefits Over 50% of beneficiaries believe the EU is a body of the Government At the end of the project 40% beneficiaries did not receive project messages Almost 40% had not seen any communication activities Within the communication activities almost 50% of beneficiaries had not seen any EU element

7 DOs Plan ahead your intended communication and visibility activities and Integrate them into the project from onset Communicate with your daily counterparts and all stakeholders Familiarize with the EU visibility and communication tools (Manual)

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9 Minimum Standards Communication Plans follows the structure of LFs:  Overall and Specific Objectives  Specific Activities for each Result  Include Indicators Differentiate activities according to different project phases:  Inception, Implementation, Closure

10 Minimum Standards cont. Reporting:  Lack of reporting is ground for suspending payments: plan ahead (pics, Case Studies, PR etc.) and report properly Key Messages:  Communicate key messages

11 Communication Plan Template

12 Key points in planning Good timing of actions and good coordination with the EU Delegation Target audiences must be well-chosen Messages and means of delivery must be relevant to target audience (language to use+tools chosen) Activities must be appropriate in terms of cost and expected impact Measure progress: self-assess, evaluate, ADAPT

13 Tools & Activities A Communication Plan might make use of any or all of the following tools & activities:  Press releases  Press conferences  Press visits  Leaflets, brochures and newsletters  Web sites  Display panels  Commemorative plaques  Banners

14 Tools & Activities cont.  Vehicles, supplies and equipment  Promotional items  Photographs  Audio-visual productions  Public events and visits  Campaigns  Advertisements  Tenders etc The Manual provides guidance on use of these tools and, where appropriate, templates.

15 Security SAFETY FIRST: Visibility Obligation can be waived when they pose a threat Political sensitivities Location Target audience (discreet)

16 Tools Communication and Visibility Manual for EU External Action 2010: ex_en.htm For further info, EU DEL Website:

17 Thank you