National Coordinator as a communicator


The NC-group is the overall coordination body for the development, implementation and policy monitoring of the EUSBSR. The NC-group shall support a coherent implementation of the EUSBSR in the region, in cooperation with and supporting Policy Area Coordinators and Horizontal Action Coordinators in their tasks to implement their part of the EUSBSR. 

Rules of Procedure of the NC group

 

 

NCs - the centerpiece of EUSBSR communications

 

The National Coordinators indeed coordinate the implementation, development and monitoring of the whole EUSBSR framework – and what else is coordination but effective communications: to know who is doing what, when and where requires effective communication, be it via e-mail, phone or face-to-face. In order to coordinate, one needs to communicate.

The NCs’ role as the “centerpiece” of the EUSBSR communication flows should thus not be undervalued: coordinating the whole framework is demanding communication as such.

To communicate the necessity and benefits of EUSBSR to audiences in NC’s home country, or even a larger marcro-regional or European audience, is another important task – but it is a whole lot easier when the internal communication works.

 

Role of the NCs – in the very center of communication flows

NCs’ role is essential both in securing and boosting internal communication flows between EUSBSR various stakeholders and in promoting the EUSBSR to external audiences. It is thus important to understand the substantial role of efficient internal communications in contributing to solid external communications.

The NCs and the NC-group are in the very center of the internal communication flows between different EUSBSR stakeholders. They get inputs from and have good contacts to policy level (e.g. European Commission), coordination level (PACs, HACs and Focal Points), operational level (Flagships) as well as to the level of the Member State they are representing.

In a way the NCs are gatekeepers between the Member State and the other levels of the EUSBSR governance (see the picture of the governance system of the EUSBSR). For this reason their role is ever more important.

EUSBSR governance2015Picture of the EUSBSR governance system illustrating the central position of the NCs in the center of the communication flows of the Strategy framework.

 

Moreover, in their central position, the NCs and the NC-group can set an example of transparent and active communications within the EUSBSR framework. Their communication actions can motivate and support the other actors to communicate.

 

Communications to whom, how and why?

National Coordinator’s role and responsibilities as communicators have been defined in the EUSBSR Action Plan and the EUSBSR Communication Strategy.

The NC responsibilities can be divided into actions requiring internal and external communication.

Furthermore, from the list of the roles and responsibilities, several different target groups for NC communications can be defined, as well as the aims in reaching each target group.

Also some communication means can be listed.

 

 

Communications means

For internal communications

Regular contacts

  • E-mails
  • Phone/Skype calls

Face-to-face/bilateral contacts

  • Meetings
  • Events

Digital platforms

  • Newsletters (internal EUSBSR newsletter at your disposal, always!)
  • Websites
  • Intranets

For external communications

Digital platforms

  • Social media
  • Website

Mass media

  • Articles, interviews, blog posts
  • Press releases & EUSBSR updates
  • TV/Radio programmes

Face-to-face

  • Events

Audiovisual material

  • Videos, photos

 

NOTE! Make sure that the internal and external communications are consistent!