The communication function of the government of Mozambique

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The communication function of the government of
Mozambique

• A review of challenges and opportunities
• Elena Serrano, November 2008

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Background

• This presentation is a summary of the report The
  Communication Function of the Government of
  Mozambique a Review of Challenges and
  Opportunities by Elena Serrano, completed on
  behalf of the Development Communications Division
  of the World Bank in April, 2008.

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Contents of the report

• The Vision
• Institutions and Mandate
• The Practice
• GABINFO
• ICS
• Press Officers in Ministries
• Public sector media
• The Challenges
• The Opportunities
• Suggested interventions to improve communications

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Definition and Principles

• Communications is the process through which
  human beings create messages, exchange
  information and establish dialogue, thus enabling
  social order
• Pluralism, freedom of the press, citizens right
  to freedom of expression, right to information,
  absence of censorship, investigative
  responsibility of journalists, diversity as a
  national value, national coverage of media
• Resolution 3/97 Boletim da Republica de
  Mozambique, February 25, 1997

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Objectives of government communications

• Consolidate national unity
• Promote cultural values
• Foster development
• Defend democracy
• Contribute to the increase of trust in government
• Contribute to the participation of citizens in
  democratic institutions
• Resolution 3/97 Boletim da Republica de
  Mozambique, February 25, 1997

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Areas for strategic action

• Public sector consolidation
• Institutional strengthening
• Judicial legal framework
• Dissemination of government activities
• Support to private media development
• Regional and international cooperation
• Resolution 3/97 Boletim da Republica de
  Mozambique, February 25, 1997

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Institutions and Mandate

• Porta voz du Goberno
• On behalf of the PM and the Council of Ministers
• GABINFO
• Estatuto Organico Decree 2/2005, Boletim da
  Republica de Mozambique August 29, 2005
• Instituto de Comunicaçao Social
• Estatuto Organico Decree 1/89. Reformed Estatuto,
  Boletim da Republica de Mozambique, December 8,
  2004
• Adidos de Imprensa
• Tutelas RM, TVM, AIM
• Public sector media whose independence is
  guaranteed by the State, under the tutela of
  GABINFO for administrative purposes

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Challenges

• The perceived quality of government
  communications
• The evaluation of the institutions and of the
  practices of state information and communication
• The culture of secrecy
• The questionable openness of the government
• The perceived capture of the state
• The lack of listening mechanisms
• The lack of professional capacity, infrastructure
  and technology
• The aftermath of February 5, 2008

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Opportunities

• The constitutional and legal framework
• The vision and the mandate of the communication
  function
• The development of private media
• The increasing demand from civil society
• Radio Mozambique
• Community radios
• The lessons of February 5, 2008

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Suggested interventions

• The communication function of the Government of
  Mozambique should pursue four main objectives
  which feed into each other in a virtuous circle
• Demonstrate openness
• Build trust
• Foster responsiveness
• Allocate resources
• The interventions suggested are conducive to
  promote dialogue between authorities and
  citizens, thus enhancing the public sphere
  through transparency and good governance

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Demonstrate openness

• Freedom of Information Act
• Budget design and consultation
• Design, production and updating of government
  internet portals
• Availability of officials to the media
• President of the Republic and Prime Minister
• Network of press officers in Ministries
• Presence in districts and community radios
• Actas parlamentarias

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Build trust

• Distinction between information and communication
• Setting of communication standards
• Critical public debate
• Improvement in transparency

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Foster responsiveness

• Survey on problems and expectations
• Scan of community radios
• Analysis of RM call in programs
• Media monitoring and content analysis
• Web metrics

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Allocate resources

• Capacity building in stakeholder consultation,
  strategic communication, public relations and
  outreach, partnerships, standards and behaviors
• Technology for communications
• Research instruments
• Community radios
• Parliament

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Toward cultural change

• The suggested interventions, if taken together
  in a systemic way, can bring about the desired
  cultural change that will strengthen the
  communication function of the Government of
  Mozambique
• The process leading to openness and trust between
  citizens and authorities can be a painful and
  uncertain road to travel, but pays off in the
  long term
• The people and the government of Mozambique
  deserve nothing less