NNNGO COMMUNICATION POLICY

The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that all forms of communication carried out by NNNGO meets with the demands of the communications policy. All employees have co-responsibility for communication. Managing staff members have a special responsibility to create an efficient internal and external communication and to lead with good example.

The Communications team is headed by the Executive Director of the organisation and managed by Communications officers whose content must be approved by the Executive Director before dissemination. Communications officers include social media managers, content creators, graphics designers and website developers.

The Nigeria Network of NGOs will not publish content that would constitute discrimination or harassment of any kind, defamation and threats, profanity and similarly inappropriate language, or content that violates copyright and trademark law, promotes illegal activity, or commercial sales.

As an organisation, we are guided by principles that respect the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and the Freedom of Information Act 2011. Our reverence of these principles guide the way that we operate and share information to our audiences across our various platforms keeping in mind that

1. We will lead an active dialogue – NNNGO looks to create content that encourages commitment, work satisfaction, and responsibility, passion for development and truth through a good internal and external dialogue. We want to communicate with our target audience(s) first – especially on decisions affecting them, seeking their opinions as it affects them and the sector at large. We share our knowledge and seek out knowledge contributed by others, in order to create better results.
2. We will be open and accessible – With respect to the two-way principle of effective communication, we will show willingness and ability to collaborate and communicate, provide communication resources in ways that are open and ethical – providing background, data and facts that are verifiable and accessible to all, also in situations surrounding information which may not be in our immediate favour.
3. Our message will be purposeful: We always communicate with a purpose. Communication must be incorporated early on in our work with for instance new projects, programmes, strategies, tasks, laws, bills and acts. We deliberate why, what, with whom, how, and when we communicate to ensure efficiency.
4. We will be credible – Our credibility is crucial to our audience’s trust in us and to the trust of the
   general public. This means that we rely on our ability to coherent and cohesive especially in ensuring a direct link between words and action. We communicate correctly and timely.
5. Our message will be intelligible – We communicate comprehensibly to ourselves and to others. It is our responsibility that other people understand our messages that we use clear, concise, and correct language.
6. We will be proactive and reactive – We take initiatives and actively set appropriate agenda for
   correct and adequate civil society discourse. We are alert and prevent the emergence of rumours and myths. We follow up on misunderstandings, and give true accounts of stories both around civil society issues and issues that affect citizens and the world in general.

Our communications objectives as an organisation are based on:

• Sharing Information
• Communicating Impact
• Education and Development
• Measuring and Follow-up

How will communicate

We will invite our audiences (everyone interested in our work and the influence we wield in the sector) to subscribe to receive our newsletters, emails about news of our activities.

We will communicate as widely as possible using:

• Face-to-face meetings
• Virtual meetings
• Telephone
• Our website at www.nnngo.org and social media platforms on Facebook @nnngo and Twitter @nnngo to gather feedback and to provide detailed information
• Media briefing through news releases, writing articles and OpEds in national dailies to inform the
  wider sector

As a civil society organisation that serves as an umbrella body for over 2,800 nonprofit organisations, NNNGO deals with a varied range of audiences but on issues specific to the Nigerian civil society space.
Our specific target groups, in no particular order are:

• Civil Organisations
• Donor Organisations
• Implementing Partners/Collaborators
• Regulators
• Academics
• The public
• The media

1. Internal communication: Using English Language, our internal communication will strengthen cooperation and sharing of technical know-how with a view to joint goals, among other things, in order to ensure work efficiency among our employees.
We will make information accessible, timely, clear and comprehensible such that the message is differentiated as well as adapted to our recipients.
Target: Employees
Channels: Employee official emails, Employee Closed Social Media Group, Instant Messaging Apps, Staff Meetings.
Tools: Memos, Emails, Instant Messages

2. External Communication: We will comminute in English language and when necessary translate to local languages (pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa), use illustrations (graphics, infographics) to emphasize our messages, analyze and clarify our points. We will make sure of monthly newsletters, letters, policy briefs, reports, social media posts and campaigns to disseminate information to our audience.

Target: General Civil Society Community

• NNNGO’s Member Organisations
• Collaborators/Implementing Partners
• Media Relations
• Crisis Communication.

Channels: Website, Organisation’s Official Email, Organisation’s Phone Number(s), National Dailies, Organisation’s social media accounts.

Tools: Emails, SMS, Phone Calls, Social Media Posts, Policy Briefs, Newsletters, Memos, Live Chats, Instant Messaging, Opinion Editorials, Feature Articles

• NNNGO Member Organisations

We will communicate with our members through face to face meetings / events, virtual meetings, emails, calls, instant messaging as well as text messaging. We will ensure that our messages are direct, clear and credible. Using the two-way communication model, we will set up polls and issue questionnaires/evaluation forms to get the opinions of our members. In addition, our phone lines and emails will remain open to receive calls and messages from 9am to 5pm on weekdays. We will also ensure that our members are able to get quick responses to enquiries via Instant Messaging Apps (WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Twitter).

• Media Relations

We will develop good relations with target media organisations (Television, Radio and Print) in a way that gives journalists and media organisations the best possible conditions to communicate our issues and messages to the public by being accessible, offering full cooperation and providing all relevant information
required by the media within the limit of our capacity.

• Crisis communication

In situations of crisis, we will communicate openly, promptly and credibly, internally as well as externally. The management will have a clear overview of what is reported to the media and only the
appointed spokespersons (top management) make public statements.
At times of major crises, the usual rules of communication may be suspended, and procedures for crisis communication come into force. This means that we work with the following procedures will take effect:

• Proactivity: We inform as much as possible – as soon as possible.
• Priorities: We give priority to delivering current and exact information to the public through issuing
  a statement on our organisation’s letterhead with the signature of the Executive Director on our social media handles.
• Accessibility: We make it as easy as possible for the media, relatives, and others to gain overview,
  knowledge, and information on the ongoing crisis situation by providing immediate response to direct questions.
• Employees: We give priority to information of our employees. Also in times of crisis it is essential
  that our employees know what is happening and are prepared to take co-responsibility for the problem-solving.

Consultations

NNNGO will conduct consultations in line with its consultation policy
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UxU5JVwhDwhG44-80maazicf1EOfkBEC/view?usp=sharing