Strategy
RIU's communications strategy distinguishes between two key aspects of communication within the programme:

• Communication as a tool
  It is essential that the RIU virtual team, which is dispersed around the world, can communicate effectively with each other and our partners, and that we can share our plans, ideas, experiences, lessons and outputs with, and facilitate feedback from, a broad global audience.
  
• Communication as an RIU research area
  Communication is explored as a cross-cutting theme in the research. Each research project has a web area highlighting the communication approaches and experiments they are exploring. The innovative areas of communication include RIUtv and ShujaazFM the comic-led youth communications programme. There is also an innovative citizen journalist approach being piloted where the RIU African Country Programmes are making short films of their work.

RIU communication tools provide access to good quality research outputs via the online RNRRS database, supporting partnership working and advocacy. Other communications tools in use across RIU and within local teams:

• this website
• RIUtv
• updates
• newsletters
• media coverage of RIU activities
• advocacy logs