Free books! Competition!
By TEAM WMS
Well, we made it to February! And if the last year has taught us anything, it is that we must all play our part. The covid-19 response is all about our own personal contributions to the bigger system, our responsibility each to act for the good of others. We must work together to thrive and if we all do our part, things will get better!
That applies to individual people wearing masks to protect their fellows and it applies to governments supporting Covax to protect their fellows.
Somewhere between washing our hands, physical distancing and wearing masks, we were hit by an insight! The exact same thing applies to the climate crisis. Only thirty years late…
As the US once more accepts its climate crisis responsibilities, so must we.
Read more 
Campaign strategists should value storytellers for they know our target audiences well
/in Uncategorised/by EditorBy Mumbi Kanyogo, Strategic Communications Advisor, Well Made Strategy
This blog post was originally written for the Dignified Storytelling Blog hosted by Dubai Cares. You can access the original blog post here
Persuasion is our trade.
When working on campaigns our aim is to design narratives that persuade swayable audiences to support our partners’ objectives. We do this by making sure that our audiences interact with our carefully selected and engineered narratives and by messaging as many times as possible.
It is easy to get it wrong.
Read moreChildren’s Voices Must be Heard when Building Programmes and Policies about Them: the Dignified Way
/in Uncategorised/by EditorBy Njuhi Chege
This blog post was originally written for the Dignified Storytelling Blog hosted by Dubai Cares. You can access the original blog post here
Magic happens when educators put children at the centre of what they do. I remember a session organized by RELI Kenya in July 2022 when children were invited to speak with educators, policy makers, parents, and school administrators.
A full range of education practitioners and policy makers presented their most recent projects and educational innovations. They provided insights into the development and advancement of education policy, but it wasn’t until the children told us how they would be affected that real progress was made.
Read moreWhat is happiness? And What’s So Great About Happiness Anyways?
/in Education/by EditorBy Nabila Alibhai
A professor of mine balked at the audacity of the American Declaration of Independence listing “the pursuit of happiness” with the other “unalienable rights” of “life” and “liberty.” Clinically depressed, this professor made us question the pragmatism and equal opportunity (or lack thereof) we have to be happy. She directed us instead to books like Reflections on the Way to the Gallows and autobiographies of Japanese courtesans in the business of delivering happiness.
Read moreUNEA 5, Climate Action for People and Nature
/in Climate/by EditorPhoto: Kenyan Minister for Environment and Forestry Keriako tobiko joined Inger Andersen, Executive Director UNEP and Espen Barth Eide, President of UNEA 5 during UNEA 5 deliberations. Source UNEP
By Fiona Imbali
Approximately 42 per cent of Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product comes from natural resource-related sectors such as agriculture, forestry, tourism, fishing and mining. These sectors are highly exposed to climate change. So our economy is a highly vulnerable economy.
Kenya has put in place several strategic actions against climate change over the years. But a lot more effort is needed to make a difference. As the world meets this week at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), for the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2), and subsequently UNEPs 50th anniversary celebrations, Kenya – as the host country – has a chance to push for far reaching resolutions on climate action.
Read moreHow to Plan a Workshop: Learning about inaccessibility from disability activists
/in Kenya, Strategic Communications/by EditorThe original version of this blogpost had ableist language, as pointed out by the activists of the Kenya Network for Women with Disabilities. We extend an apology to persons with disabilities and the women of KNWWD. We also wish to thank KNWWD for so generously correcting us and offering to educate us on ableist language and where we failed. Below is a list of the changes we made in the latest version of this blogpost.
In late January, we hosted a meeting to support the Kenya Network for Women with Disabilities which left us with some lessons that will remain with us in all our work going forward. The meeting was focused on developing a communications strategy to achieve the important and overdue objective of having fully accessible hospitals in six counties around Kenya. Their contributions to the workshop were undergirded by a conviction that their experiences of exclusion, discrimination and harm, as well as their work as community trainers, politicians and activists were critical sources of knowledge and expertise that could inform policy.
Read moreBeyond $100 billion for Developing Nations, Africa’s Climate Finance Agenda at COP 26
/in Climate/by EditorBy Fiona Imbali
Well Made Strategy’s newest team member, Fiona Imbali, previously worked on climate change issues at the African Centre for Technology Studies. While there, she moderated a high panel discussion of African Union in Nigeria on the Green Climate Fund. She holds an MSc in Development Management from The London School of Economics and Political Science. She brings her considerable knowledge to bear on the issues facing heads of state as they gather today in Glasgow to course the future of our planet.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report 2020 shows that Africa is determined to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C. The continent only contributes four per cent of global total Greenhouse gas (GHG) the lowest of any region, yet its socio-economic development is especially affected by the climate crisis.
The Africa Development Bank reports that seven out of ten climate vulnerable countries globally are in Africa. Kenya is one of the most vulnerable countries in Africa and continues to experience vast and widely documented impacts from climate change. It has low but growing levels of GHGs.
Read moreThe covid-19 special sauce
/in Uncategorised/by EditorBy Miles Bredin
If covid has taught us one thing it’s the need to stay connected while isolated. It sounds like an oxymoron and it’s not very original but staying in touch with people is as important with your work, your donors and your partners as it is with your friends and relations. Read more
New job, new culture, new world: making the home office work
/in Innovation, Kenya, News & Events/by EditorBy Fiona Imbali
The last time I held a full-time office job the world was a very different place. The covid-19 pandemic had not struck; working from home was unthinkable; and work-life balance was a far-away aspiration. A month after I left that job to take on flexible consulting assignments, the pandemic struck and everything changed.
For a year, I slogged away in my home office, doing online meetings, talking to demanding clients, and playing with my little daughter. It had become monotonous, and I felt a little rusty. I missed the workplace. I put in a few job applications, and thankfully, on my birthday month in May, I got a job as an Associate at Well Made Strategy. It was a great birthday present.
Read moreStrategic Communications for Social Change handbook, THE REMIX.
/in Strategic Communications/by Editor“How hard can it be?” we thought when we first discussed our Communications for Social Change handbook.
Oh, the hubris!
Multiple versions, three design houses and three years later, we present to you: Strategic Communications for Social Change, the remix.
Read moreTaking Action on the Climate Crisis: How WMS plans to work on the Climate Crisis
/in Education, Governance, Innovation, Kenya, News & Events, Strategic Communications/by Njuhi ChegeFree books! Competition!
By TEAM WMS
Well, we made it to February! And if the last year has taught us anything, it is that we must all play our part. The covid-19 response is all about our own personal contributions to the bigger system, our responsibility each to act for the good of others. We must work together to thrive and if we all do our part, things will get better!
That applies to individual people wearing masks to protect their fellows and it applies to governments supporting Covax to protect their fellows.
Somewhere between washing our hands, physical distancing and wearing masks, we were hit by an insight! The exact same thing applies to the climate crisis. Only thirty years late…
As the US once more accepts its climate crisis responsibilities, so must we.
Read more