The OSC Approach

Tactics Appropriate for the Local Context

Several mutually reinforcing components constitute OSC's tactics in public awareness and education campaigns:

• Involve stakeholders including government officials, NGOs, journalists, entrepreneurs and community leaders in relevant training to maximize their contribution to the effective communication of economic, social and health information. 
• Plan public events to highlight issues. 
• Demonstrate the country's progress promoted by economic reform initiatives (such as privatization, accounting reform or banking reform) and behavior change campaigns (such as health risk reduction). This approach is designed to increase the knowledge of, support for and participation in these programs. 
• Produce materials for journalists and the public in order to reinforce positive, future-oriented messages, raise levels of knowledge and motivate citizens and businesses to become involved in economic activity. 
• Develop a skilled cadre of leaders, both governmental and non-governmental, who are able to utilize economic analyses to develop policies understood by all stakeholders, thereby increasing broad participation in reform efforts. 
• Emphasize the rule of law and anti-corruption elements that are consistent throughout economic reform programs. 
• Inspire hope for a better future through the success stories of real people and businesses adapting to the new economic situation. 
• Track the impact of the campaign and make up-to-the-minute adjustments using media monitoring and focus group research. 
• Train NGOs in the use of advocacy and civic organizing in recognition of the fact that these skills are essential to the creation of an open society. 
• Build on the existing infrastructure for disseminating information and lay the groundwork for increased use of the Internet. 

Measurable Results