Outreach Strategies
Capacity building: ECABIC provides training on biotechnology to various stakeholders, key among them: journalists, academe, farmers, researchers, policy makers, regulators and extension workers. Trainings are conducted through workshops, seminars, public lectures, face-to-face meetings and exhibitions.
Mass media: ECABIC trains and works closely with an extensive global network of journalists who publish accurate, balanced, timely and credible stories to help create an enabling environment for biotechnology acceptance, adoption and utilization in Africa. The journalists are also encouraged and facilitated to form peer support networks through which they share ideas and critical information on biotechnology.
IEC materials: We publish substantial information, education and communication materials to support our outreach activities. These include brochures, biotech educational calendars, pamphlets, posters, booklets, newsletters, reports, fliers and research papers. The materials are also translated into various languages, such as Kiswahili, Amharic, Arabic, Portuguese and French for a wider reach in Africa.
Documentation: ECABIC maintains a rich biotechnology resource centre, with a collection of technical papers and reports, journals, books, newsletters, brochures, pamphlets, CD-ROMs, and videos. Study tours: This is one of the most effective means of getting people to understand, appreciate and accept biotechnology products. ECABIC therefore regularly organizes such tours for key stakeholders, such as farmers, parliamentarians, policy makers, journalists, researchers, extension workers and regulators, to visit biotechnology labs, trial sites and transgenic crop farms in Africa and other parts of the world.
Exhibitions: We regularly participate in major agricultural and scientific exhibitions in Africa, to inform and educate the public on issues pertaining to biotechnology research and development, adoption, benefits and concerns.
Opinion surveys: This is an important tool that ECABIC uses frequently to determine information and knowledge gaps in order to design and implement appropriate responses. For us, every exhibition is an opportunity to get feedback from the public. This also helps us to review our communication strategies to address realities on the ground.
Mailing list: ISAAA has one of the most comprehensive profi led mailing lists currently available. This is because we believe that our strength lies in the large number of people that we regularly share biotechnology information with worldwide. Thus, we continuously seek new subscribers, profi le and add them to the mailing list, which is consolidated at the KC.
The internet: Millions of people visit ISAAA website: www.isaaa.org/kc monthly to access cutting-edge information on agricultural biotechnology. The Crop Biotech Updates, a weekly newsletter published on the site, is one of the most read online biotech newsletters worldwide. ECABIC regularly contributes news stories on Africa to the newsletter.
Strategic partnerships: ECABIC works in partnership with various stakeholder institutions, both local and international, to help in realizing its objectives.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Our notable achievements include: facilitating drafting of the Kenya’s National Biotechnology Policy and Draft Biosafety Bill; enhancing parliamentarians’ understanding of biotech issues, hands-on training of several journalists; identifi cation of information gaps and education needs thus guiding implementation of need-based and targeted outreach activities; demystifying biotechnology through practical scientifi c live shows and exhibitions; building strong network of partners on biotechnology for deeper impact and facilitating experience-sharing through travelling workshops.
An important lesson learnt is that a well managed and coordinated, science-based information network can accelerate partnership building, activate informed debate and enhance leaders’ confi dence in the role of science and technology in development.
