TERMS OF REFERENCE : NATIONAL COMMUNICATORS FORUM 29 MARCH 2017 www.salga.org.za
OUR MANDATE www.salga.org.za
BACKGROUND FOR ESTABLISHING NATIONAL COMMUNICATORS FORUM § The recent SALGA National Conference adopted a new strategy which serves as the blueprint for the local government sector for the next five years § The adoption of the strategy provides an opportunity for SALGA to effectively deliver on one of its mandate to strategically profile local government locally and abroad § The need to improve communication on local government matters to the public at large has been identified as an essential element in service delivery § A need for Heads of Communication to collectively reflect and influence a proactive communication agenda for local government exists § A reflection on the opportunities for effective communication by local government can serve as useful contributions that will inform local government communication and profiling programmes www.salga.org.za
BACKGROUND FOR ESTABLISHING NATIONAL COMMUNICATORS FORUM § Can benefit from sharing experiences with the aim of improving the communication function within municipalities § Communicators can benefit from sharing experiences with the aim of improving the communication function within municipalities § The input emanating from the National Communicators Forum should be processed through SALGA into a vision on communication for the sector § The National Communicators Forum will reflect the format of the provincial communicators forums in provinces which are functioning § Other stakeholders that are important for an effective structure include GCIS and COGTA § While this is an inaugural meeting it should also be viewed as the beginning of a structure that will guide and inform the communication agenda for local government www.salga.org.za
www.salga.org.za
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The main aim of the National Communication Forum is to collectively craft a communication agenda for local government focusing on: § Proactively profiling the local government sector § Improving the negative narrative around local government § Educating the public on the role and responsibilities of municipalities § Reflecting and considering communication innovations and technologies § Promoting the communication function as a strategic element within municipalities § Sharing ideas on implementing joint communication programmes profiling the sector § Facilitating knowledge sharing and learning www.salga.org.za
www.salga.org.za
PARTICIPATION AND COORDINATION OF THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATORS FORUM § Participation in the National Communicators Forum is extended to all Heads of Communication from all 257 municipalities § GCIS and COGTA representatives (both provincially and nationally) § Other stakeholders from government and private sector by invitation § SALGA will provide the secretariat function for the National Communicators Forum § The programme of action will be informed by municipalities § SALGA will provide the function to ensure smooth administrative running of the forum www.salga.org.za
RESOURCING OF THE NATIONAL COMMUNICATORS FORUM § The activities of the Communicators forum will naturally attract costs § It is proposed that municipalities host the forum on a rotational basis § Municipalities can volunteer to host the meetings and it is recommended that they are held on municipal premises § SALGA will fund the secretariat costs § Sponsorships to be explored to fund some of the costs of hosting a meeting § Participants from municipalities required to fund their own travel and accommodation § National Communicators Forum to establish a vehicle to collate best practices to be § Partnerships for training and development to be explored with relevant partners www.salga.org.za
PROGRAMME APPROACH § The programme approach for the National Communicators Forum is to be discussed at length at provincial meetings § The National Communicators Forum shall meet bi-annually § The provincial meetings will take place quarterly in between the bi-annual meetings www.salga.org.za
BENEFITS www.salga.org.za
BENEFITS § Creation of a platform to learn best practices § Platform to share ideas § Networking opportunity with the media, local government and fraternal partners § Encouraging innovation and creativity § Fostering individual and organisational growth and learning § Effective use of resources to maximise the impact of our activities based on our limited resources § Enabling municipal communicators to get assistance on work-related problems from experts in specific subjects § Creation of structured capacity building programmes for Communicators www.salga.org.za
PROJECTED OUTCOMES § Informed municipal communicators who are equipped with cutting edge skills § Empowered communicators who can build broad support and legitimacy for municipal programmes § Communication programmes that are responsive to the needs of communities § Communication plans that inform and engage citizens § Engage in interactive communication with the public § Structured Capacity Development Programmes www.salga.org.za
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