Managing External Relations - Disaster Management Center ...

6
Chapter
Summary
Components of a strategy may include goals and objectives, review of
key players, policies and procedures, activities required to achieve goals,
identification of staff resources and needs, and time lines or plans of
action. Tools useful to illustrate the strategy are gap identification matrices,
flow charts, time lines and Gantt charts.
External relations should incorporate UNHCR’s overall external relations goals
as well as strategies for removing barriers to co-operation, co-ordination and
collaboration. Names and capacities of key persons and agencies must be
identified. Procedures should aim to enhance communications particularly
for areas requiring joint planning and co-ordination.
Positive relations with the media depend not only on improving media skills but
also on developing a pro-active approach to diversifying media contacts.
Priorities should be established to promote media contacts that contribute to
major goals. Upholding both UNHCR and media ground rules and policies and
procedures should be part of the strategy.
The strategy for funding and donor relations must establish methods for
communication with donors and FDRS as well as actions to promote funding
for approved budgets. Needs should be identified for relationship building
with relevant staff in UNHCR and with donor representatives. Promotional
techniques may include meetings, distribution of publication, field visits and
media coverage. The strategy must incorporate established FDRS procedures.
Relevant UNHCR publications and others, such as those produced by UNDP,
are important references for building and implementing the strategies. Staff
training needs can be identified through surveys and group feedback.
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