Joint communication describes UN agencies’ efforts to coordinate and share some of their communication resources at the country level in order to improve UN support for national and international development objectives, particularly the Millennium Development Goals. The overall objectives are to position the UN development system as an effective, impartial and reliable partner; enhance the reputation and influence of all UN agencies; deepen engagement with stakeholders; and provide comprehensive and timely information about programmes and results. Joint communication seeks to amplify the voices of all UN agencies and preserve their distinct identities while presenting the UN country team as a coherent family that delivers consistent and persuasive messages. At a more advanced level, joint communication supports more intensive advocacy on common causes and crosscutting issues with the aim of promoting behaviour and policies that reduce poverty and promote development. Background and Context The foundation for joint communication at the country level is the UN Communications Group (UNCG), which follows a Basic Operating Model agreed by the global UNCG in 2006. Based on the experiences of the Delivering as One pilots in 2007 and 2008, the UN Development Group decided to make joint communication one of the seven work streams that countries can pursue on a voluntary basis as part of enhancing the coherence, effectiveness and relevance of UN development operations. Responding to requests from field staff, in 2008 the global UNCG created a Working Group on Communications at the Country Level to focus more attention on the needs of the Delivering as One pilots and other country offices seeking to communicate together more effectively. At its annual meeting in June 2009, the global UNCG welcomed progress in joint strategic communication for development at the country level, endorsed the work plan of the UNCG Working Group on Communications at the Country Level and encouraged country teams to continue strengthening their UN Communications Groups and seeking ways to communicate together strategically. The group also expressed its willingness to grant the Delivering as One pilots license to innovate and experiment with new approaches to communicating, but with the understanding that new initiatives may require approval at the global level. |
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UN Communications Group 8th Annual Meeting Report by: UNCG
August 2009
The eighth annual meeting of the UN Communications Group at the level of principals was held on 25 and 26 June 2009 in Bangkok at the headquarters of ESCAP. At the meeting the UNCG welcomed progress in joint strategic communication for development at the country level, endorsed the work plan of the UNCG Working Group on Communications at the Country Level and encouraged country teams to continue strengthening their UN Communications Groups and seeking ways to communicate together strategically. UNCG members also agreed to support and encourage strategic communication training for resident coordinators, heads of agencies, representatives and other senior managers at the country level.
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Joint Communication in 2008
July 2009
Trends, good practices and lessons learned in joint communication from RC Annual Reports, the Delivering as One pilots stocktaking reports and further research.
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Communicating Together in Times of Crisis: Standard Operating Procedures for the UN system by: UN Communications Group
10 February 2009
The UN Communications Group agreed standard guidelines and organizational structure for operating in times of crisis.
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UN Communications Group 7th Annual Meeting Report by: UNCG
July 2008
The seventh annual meeting of the UN Communications Group at the level of principals was held on 16 and 17 June 2008 in Paris at the headquarters of UNESCO. At the meeting, UN agencies agreed to inform UNCTs through the UN Development Operations Coordination Office (UNDOCO) of a Standard Operating Procedure for communicating together in times of crisis, and to set up a working group on communications aspects of Delivering as One UN pilots, to be facilitated by UN Development Operations Coordination Office (UNDOCO), to explore means for increasing internal and inter-agency communications to support Delivering as One UN pilots, as well as strengthening UNCGs at the country level.
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Communicating as One: Lessons Learned from Delivering as One in 2007 by: UN DOCO/Michael Kovrig
August 2008
This report summarizes and analyzes the efforts of the eight Delivering as One pilots to communicate strategically as coherent UN country teams in 2007 and early 2008.
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Communications Responsibilities for Resident Coordinators by: UN DPI
June 2006
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UN Communications Group at the country level: Basic Operating Model by: UNCG
June 2006
Formally adopted by the UN Communications Group principals.
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Flying the UN Flag - Guidance from UNDG Principals by: UNDG
4 October 2004
UNDG letter requesting that Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams agree not to fly flags on their vehicles except in special circumstances. When a flag is used, it should be the shared United Nations flag.
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