Expanding Strategic Communications Support to Somalia
For more than eight years, we’ve provided robust and unparalleled communications and outreach support to USAID’s Kenya and East Africa Mission, first through our successful work on the Kenya Support Project and now through the ongoing Kenya Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) Support Project.
In June 2020, MSI expanded our strategic communications support to include the USAID/Somalia portfolio. We are providing flexible, on-demand public outreach and communications support, including a wide range of services, such as communications strategy development, content creation, social media account management, capacity building for implementing partners, media monitoring, photography and videography and event support.
We have undertaken a robust communications strategy development process, soliciting input from key USAID stakeholders and technical offices via comprehensive surveys and a media landscape analysis. The strategy also builds on Somalia’s country strategy or CDCS to ensure alignment with U.S. Government priorities.
Our team supported the launch of USAID’s Somalia Facebook page, and continues to engage audiences via Facebook and Twitter, noting increases on both platforms. The team has also been instrumental in conceptualizing and managing USAID/Somalia’s first-ever photo contest. The contest encourages Somalis to submit photographs of culture, development, heroes, the landscape and progress, as seen through their own eyes.
We have also begun building collaborative relationships with the Mission’s implementing partners and delivered extensive support to recent virtual events.