1. Communication Strategy in Action Research on Water Security in Four South Asian Peri-urban Locations M. Shah Alam Khan Professor IWFM, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology June 19, 2013 CCW Asia Regional Partners Meeting, June 19-20, 2013; Kathmandu, Nepal

2. Research Locations in South Asia Partners: SaciWATERs, India BUET, Bangladesh NEC, Nepal MDI, India Represent diversity in physiographic and climatic patterns as well as similarities in peri- urban issues and processes across South Asia.

3. Our Audience Affected Community Policy makers (politicians and bureaucrats) Fellow researchers and academicians Activists and advocacy groups NGOs working around the issue Media Donor agencies

4. Strategies and Tools Involvement of communities and policy makers in the research process Exposure of service providers to the ground realities Dialogue and multi-stakeholder platforms Campaign: -‘Save the Mayur’ (Khulna) -‘Save Our Urban Lakes’ (Hyderabad) -‘Water Source Conservation’ (Kathmandu) Contribution of research outcome to Urban Policy and Programs: -Draft Urban Area Strategy (Bangladesh) -12th Plan document (India) Sensitizing media

5. Community: leaflet, posters, wall writing in local language Internet communication: dedicated website, project newsletter, blog, facebook, flicker, twitter and slideshare http://www.saciwaters.org/periurban/ Discissions on relevant topics in Meetings Press release, TV/radio interview Leaflets, Posters, Brochures: Research papers, Discussion papers, Working papers, Policy briefs Conferences/Presentations Documentary Strategies and Tools

6. Research communication through media - less space for publishing research outcomes - media more interested in political and market based ‘news’ Selective target (people) who we think matter the most given the limited budget and time Communication as a process of sustained engagement rather than just a link for dissemination It takes both time and commitment, and good social and interpersonal skills to build a good rapport with communities and government agencies Communication and research are not parallel activities, communication needs to be grounded in research Communication and research provide an interactive loop - one feeds into the other Should researchers work on communications or should communicators do more research? Challenges/Obstacles/Learning

7. Thanks!