Paolo Mefalopulos: Concepts and Practices of Development Communication – a World Bank perspective

Guest lecture by Paolo Mefalopulos, Senior Communication Officer, World Bank Development Communication Division. Tuesday November 4th, 2008, at 13.30-16 hrs, Roskilde University, Dept of Communication, Business and Information Technologies, Room: 43.3.29

What is the World Bank perspective on the strategic use of communication in enhancing development processes? How does the World Bank work in this field, and what are the development challenges, and related benefits, in which ‘comdev’ is applied?

The field of development communication is in a process of growth and change, both as an academic field of research as well as the field of practice. This became apparent at the 1st World Congress of Communication for Development, organised by World Bank, FAO and the Communication Initiative in Rome in October 2006. This event gathered almost one thousand policy-makers, academics and practitioners of the field.

This afternoon session, presented by Dr. Mefalopulos, will be divided in two parts. The first will provide an introduction to the Development Communication Division of the World Bank, illustrating how it conceives the field as well as briefly introducing the basic functions, services and methodology applied when supporting operations in client countries. The second part will be a more interactive and hands-on session, which through a case study will engage all present to participate in the strategy design and implementation of a communication program.

About Paolo Mefalopulos

Paolo Mefalopulos holds a doctorate degree in communication from the University of Texas at Austin. With a background in a national tv network and in a training institution of a major private corporation, both in Italy, he moved into development cooperation in the late 1990ies. He has worked with international agencies such as UNESCO, FAO and the European Union. At FAO, Mefalopulos was part of a team that developed an innovative methodology known as PRCA – Participatory Rural Communication Appraisal, adopted by many projects around the world. Currently he is a senior communication officer in the Development Communication Division of the World Bank. He has published a number of articles and books on communication for development. His most recent work is titled Development Communication Sourcebook: broadening the boundaries of communication (2008). His main expertise is in participatory communication research and planning of development projects and programs.

For further information, contact Thomas Tufte, ttufte@ruc.dk