Lessons Learned from developing the newsletter for the Solomon Islands NCC

Note: In February 2011, the Solomon Islands NCC launched a newsletter as a medium for keeping the NCC members informed on, and engaged in, developments in the CTI. Spearheading the effort are:  Ms. Delvene Boso, Ms. Lysa Wini, and Ms. Agnetha Vave-Karamui of the Ministry of Environment, Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDM). In this Q&A, Ms. Boso discusses their experience in coming up with the newsletter.

How did you come up with the idea of producing your own newsletter?

Initially, Agnetha had this idea to develop the newsletter as a way to keep NCC members informed but could not do so due to work commitments. This was then discussed by Agnetha, Lysa, and myself at the beginning of 2011, when I decided to take it on board. I felt that since this was a request by Agnetha, the CTI Focal Person, I could use a couple of days within my KI role to do so.

My main motivation was keeping the NCC members informed and to encourage members to share learning. Because NCC members are spread between a number of government ministries and NGO partners, we felt that some members were often kept out of the loop. It was decided to keep the format of the newsletter informal with the main purpose of sharing information among members.

What steps did you take to produce the newsletter?

Initially, the CTI Focal Person, myself, and the CTSP Liaison Officer discussed the idea and we developed a newsletter template.

I worked on the first issue (February) with known news articles as a trial version for submission to the NCC monthly meeting.

A team of two editors, the CTI Focal Person (Agnetha) and CTSP Liaison Officer (Lysa), were selected to review the material. When it was finalized, we brought it to the NCC during our March meeting for their feedback. Because of the positive response, the newsletter was approved and endorsed as a monthly publication.

We adapted the KM 4 CTI newsletter reporting template and sent out reminders for CTI newsworthy related articles during each NCC meeting (first week of the month). The template provided guides their writing. At the middle of the month, more reminders are then given to members via email to submit  news items. If known events occur, then I e-mail the person directly. Towards the end of the month, I edit filled templates into paragraphs and put it into the template.

Once this is done, I send it to the editors for a final look before I send to all NCC members. We initially aimed to give it out at the last week of each month, but for the two issues, this has been delayed for the first week of the new month. NCC members then distribute to their own network

What challenges did you encounter and how did you solve them?

The challenge was how to get articles from busy NCC members. Thus, reminders are given, at the beginning and middle of the month, with the provision of a template to guide writing.

What are some of the lessons you learned and recommendations to other KIs or NCCs who may want to do something similar?

There is more interest in reading colorful newsletters with summarized stories rather than large event reports. However, newsletters need commitment for the submission of articles and this is a persistent challenge. I recommend talking with your fellow NCC members as the newsletter will most likely need NCC approval and commitment.

While this has proven useful for the NCC, there has also been some public interest. Although the newsletter maintains its informal ‘feel,’ articles will now have a more formal reading to it to cater to external reviewers.

The newsletter may be a venue for reporting and sharing of stories and can be used to encourage learning within the NCC, especially with sharing lessons learned and recommendations for future improvements.