Scriptoria

Scriptoria helps produce key international report for climate change commission and COP17

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:30:44 GMT

“Group of leading scientists urge investment in sustainable agriculture to solve hunger crisis and reduce global warming” - that was one of the headlines in the Guardian newspaper yesterday, when a report that Scriptoria’s publications division has helped to produce for the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change was launched.

The report sets out what policy changes and actions are needed to help the world achieve sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change. It draws on the recommendations of renowned international scientists, policy experts and economists from around the world, including the UK’s Chief Scientist, Professor John Beddington. By highlighting key issues and pulling together evidence, the report pushes for action ‘to transform the food system’.

Working to a tight deadline for delivering its findings, the Commission looked to us for expert writing and editorial skills to strengthen and tailor the report’s overall message, and a very fast turnaround from our large design team. Scriptoria’s combination of expertise and flexibility meant it could deliver a first-rate product in good time against incredibly tight deadlines.

To read the report click here

Scriptoria provides more courses for Pfizer

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:29:44 GMT

Scriptoria’s team has just completed two more training courses in scientific writing for Pfizer at its global headquarters in New York.

Pfizer – one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies – sent 40 of its top scientists to improve their science writing skills through these intensives courses. Tailored to participants’ needs, the courses resulted from the successful training that Scriptoria gave to Pfizer’s researchers in the UK last year.

“The New York courses received tremendous feedback, with the training being rated as excellent overall,” says Scriptoria co-director and trainer Dr Jim Weale.

“We could have no better endorsement of the quality of our training, which we have developed and honed over the last ten years.”

Pfizer Inc operates in 180 countries and had a 2010 turnover of almost US$70 billion. Scriptoria’s combination of writing expertise and the strong scientific backgrounds of its staff (most of its writers and editors have PhDs) means it can deliver top notch communication services that give it the edge in this field.

Major new campaign launched for the International Year of Forests

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 10:29:44 GMT

Scriptoria has launched a major campaign to raise the profile of agroforestry as part of the UN's International Year of Forests 2011.

Agroforestry is a technique that broadly involves growing more trees on farms alongside crops and livestock. It's widely recognised by agricultural scientists as being a key tool for fighting poverty and combating climate change and habitat loss.

Led by the World Agroforestry Centre, the campaign is split into two streams designed to target two very different audiences with different levels of knowledge about the issue.

“We recognised from the start that it wasn't just a matter of trying to reach the policymakers - the top-down approach if you like - but also of reaching out to the general public and the many other groups who haven't heard about the benefits of agroforestry,” says Scriptoria's co-director Jim Weale.

"For years, communications about agroforestry have focused on audiences of experts. Scriptoria's subtle, multi-layered campaign is the first time a concerted effort has been made to communicate the benefits of agroforestry to fresh audiences and to mid-level audiences who have some understanding, but want easy-to-read information."

Launch activities began with the campaign's Facebook page.

on 9 June, which has seen new fans signing up at the rate of 200 a day.

The hard launch of the campaign is at the UK's Glastonbury music festival, with the aim of targeting young professionals. As well as an exhibition of the benefits of agroforestry, the campaign's large stand features a range of activities, including talks by experts in agroforestry.

If you're going to Glastonbury this year, look out for the BusyTrees in the Green Field. To find out more about the campaign, visit www.busytrees.com.com.

or, if you want more in-depth information, go to www.treesonfarms.com.

More about the campaign

Scriptoria's co-director Jim Weale says: "For years, communications about agroforestry have focused on audiences of experts. Scriptoria's subtle, multi-layered campaign is the first time a concerted effort has been made to communicate the benefits of agroforestry to fresh audiences and to mid-level audiences who have some understanding, but want easy-to-read information."

The Trees on Farms campaign stream aims to make sure that policymakers recognise how important working trees are in combating climate change, fighting poverty and slowing forest and habitat loss. It's also designed to give well-informed journalists strong background materials on the issue.

On another level, the BusyTrees initiative. is providing a fun and easy-to-grasp first point of contact for people unfamiliar with the concept of agroforestry and the many benefits it can bring. It's very much aimed at the general public in countries around the world.

The campaign is bringing on board a range of partners from both the private and the non-profit sectors to highlight important issues related to agroforestry, such as fair trade and farm-to-fork value chains, the slowing of forest loss and the provision of habitats for wildlife.

The first partners to join are the world-famous Kew Gardens and CAB International. Kew's Millennium Seed Bank. does important work on agroforestry tree species such as coffee and CAB International. is well known for its work to combat pests and diseases in major economic species like coffee and cocoa.

New communications strategy for international commodities fund

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 10:29:44 GMT

We’re pleased to say that Scriptoria has won the contract to create an international communications strategy for the United Nations’ sponsored Common Fund for Commodities and its partners.

The Common Fund’s mission is to alleviate poverty by strengthening the earning power of commodity producers like coffee and cocoa growers. Since its foundation, it has approved around 300 projects with a total budget of almost US$600m, around half of which has been contributed by the Fund.

Dr Jim Weale, one of Scriptoria’s co-directors, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with the Fund, especially as we competed against some of Europe’s top consultancies to win the contract.”

“We went through several rounds of discussions with the Common Fund’s team, who were impressed by the depth and breadth of our expertise and the quality of our output.”

The Common Fund for Commodities is an intergovernmental financial institution founded under United Nations auspices in 1989. Based in Amsterdam, it operates under the novel approach of a commodity-based focus rather than the more traditional country-based focus.

The Fund has a membership of 105 member states and ten institutional members, including the European Union (EU), the African Union/African Economic Community (AU/AEC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and most recently, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Scriptoria’s commission follows similar work for the UK’s Department for International Development.

We're looking for interns!

Wed, 16 May 2011 10:52:44 GMT

Do you want to work for an internationally renowned communications company that specialises in sustainable development, poverty reduction, health, climate change and other environmental issues? Do you want to work with industry leaders providing quality development-related communications services and training packages for global government agencies, research centres, businesses and NGOs? Well now is your opportunity, because we’re taking on interns.

As an ethical organisation, Scriptoria does not believe in unpaid labour. So unlike other internships these positions are paid roles with the real opportunity for them to turn into full time jobs for the right candidate. You won’t be doing coffee runs or endlessly photocopying, you will be a pivotal part of the team making a serious contribution to the work we undertake.

Reporting to one of the company directors, you will have a degree in marketing or journalism or hold equivalent qualifications. Excellent English language, writing and communications skills are vital and an interest in sustainable development with the desire to create a positive change in the world is essential. You will have a passion for online marketing and creative writing as the role requires you to research and write online content for the company website and social networking pages.

You will also be working on international campaigns – researching, writing and updating online content, organising and attending events and helping to build public awareness. You will be given the opportunity to provide creative input into the design and production of these exciting campaigns. You must have excellent time management skills, the ability to work independently, be willing to go the extra mile and be ready to hit the ground running. There will be the opportunity to do some online presenting, so previous experience presenting to camera would be an advantage, but is not vital.

Applications will be in two parts: (1) you will submit a covering letter and CV; (2) shortlisted applicants will submit a short project to show their flair for the work followed by an interview.

CV and cover letter due 23 May

Shortlisted applicants will have from 27 May –6 June to complete project

Interviews will be held between 13 - 17 June Successful applicants will attend a 4 day paid induction from 28 June - 1 July Work will begin full time on 11 July

Internships are full time (five days per/week) for a three month period, with an initial 1 month trial. Each intern will be given monthly reviews to track progress.

Salary - £5.93 p/h.

Please send CV, references and a cover letter explaining why you are the ideal applicant to Ms Elise Meakin at e.meakin@scriptoria.co.uk

by 4 pm Monday 23 May.

The Gates Foundation again chooses Scriptoria to provide communications training

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:15:44 GMT

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (the world's biggest charitable foundation) has again chosen Scriptoria to help raise the profile of Africa's scientists by providing them with training to help them write grant proposals.

Scriptoria has been commissioned to run a five-day workshop in early July on writing winning proposals for research funding. We have run similar workshops for the Gates Foundation before, but what's different this time is that the 20 participants will be coming to London and Scriptoria is managing all the arrangements from the time they land to the day they leave.

"Previously, the courses took place in Africa and Scriptoria supplied the training expertise but none of the logistics," says Scriptoria director Dr Jim Weale. "It says a lot for the quality of our work that this time the Gates Foundation has asked us to manage the whole project in the UK as well as give the course."

Scriptoria's trainers will help the participants improve research funding proposals they have already written, as well as those they will write in the future. At the end of the course, the participants will fan out to meet their partners at UK universities.

"The Gates Foundation's endorsement seals Scriptoria's reputation as the leading provider of these courses for scientists," says Dr Weale. "We've been running them for pharmaceutical companies and research institutions worldwide for the last 10 years."

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has an endowment of almost $37bn. It tackles extreme poverty and poor health in developing countries and seeks to improve America's education system.

Scriptoria the choice for annual reports

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:00:44 GMT

Scriptoria has again won the contract to research and write the annual report of the prestigious Global Donor Platform for Rural Development.

The Global Donor Platform is a grouping of 34 of the world’s largest international donors, who distribute tens of billions of dollars annually to reduce poverty, promote economic growth in rural areas and tackle issues such as boosting agriculture and coping with climate change.

It’s the second year in succession that Scriptoria has won the contract, and it comes hot on the heels of a commission from the Global Water Partnership early in 2011 to produce its annual report – again, for the second time round.

Both reports will reflect the Scriptoria approach – giving people a good read.

"Both clients came back to us for their 2010 reports because we cut through the bureaucratic language to produce publications that are crisp and stimulating," says Scriptoria’s chief executive, Dr Sandy Williams.

"Annual reports are a great opportunity to win friends and influence people, but too often they are heavy and dull and suffer from information overload."

AstraZeneca signs up for Scriptoria’s training

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:55:44 GMT

Scriptoria has again won the contract to research and write the annual report of the prestigious Global Donor Platform for Rural Development.

Both reports will reflect the Scriptoria approach – giving people a good read.

"Annual reports are a great opportunity to win friends and influence people, but too often they are heavy and dull and suffer from information overload."

Annual report production kicks off in 2011

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:42:44 GMT

Here at Scriptoria Towers we’re all delighted that the much-respected Global Water Partnership has chosen us to write and produce its annual report for the second year in a row.

What’s the Global Water Partnership? It’s a multi-million dollar international network founded in 1996 by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Its mission is to support the sustainable development and management of water resources worldwide.

Of course Scriptoria produces annual reports focused on sustainable development for many organisations around the world every year. Already this year, ICARDA (a $35 million a year agricultural research centre) has confirmed that it would like Scriptoria to write its annual report for the ninth year running. ICARDA strives to improve food security for poor people in dry areas, who are often those hardest hit by climate change.

The annual reports that we produce highlight our clients’ achievements, the new directions they’re taking, and the thinking behind their decisions to take a particular approach. For a good annual report, all of this needs to be wrapped up in an easy-to-read writing style that ensures that the reader trusts what you say.

While we do produce annual reports throughout the year, now is the time when they start coming in thick and fast. So, if you are looking for someone with an international reputation for excellence to write and produce your annual report or CSR report, contact us now to book your place.

Training the BMA writers - healthier communications for the UK’s doctors

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 01:42:44 GMT

The British Medical Association (the highly prestigious body that speaks for the UK’s doctors) called in Scriptoria’s trainers last month to help take its experienced team of writers and editors to a new level.

The range of subjects covered by the BMA’s writers is huge and includes all issues of public health and policy. And, the range of publications and documents they produce is equally diverse, from heavyweight reports to policy briefs and all manner of advice for the UK’s doctors. This means that the BMA writing team have a tough job, and before finding Scriptoria they’d struggled to find a writing course that provided the level of expertise that met their needs.

To provide something that really tackled the difficulties they face, we first met with the writing team’s senior managers in order to get to their point of view. We then reviewed samples of each person’s writing in order to identify individual strengths and weaknesses. After this, we provided a one-day group training session to all writers, followed by a series of half-day sessions for individuals. The topics covered included writing style, the organisation of publications, and how to improve structure and logical flow.

This type of structure is important when training an advanced group like this says Dr Sandy Williams (one of our senior trainers) because “Coaching on a one-to-one basis allows for more in-depth feedback per writer in a ‘safe space’ in which they can raise issues without concerns about being judged by colleagues.”

“An external consultant can also provide an objective view, which can reinforce messages that internal managers have put across previously.”

The course received excellent feedback, with comments like “can you come back again next year?” and “the course notes were really, really good – I now have them on my desk all the time”.

Helping Nigeria up its game for UN submissions

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 01:30:44 GMT

With just five years left until the 2015 deadline, the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit in September 2010 was a crucial milestone for countries working to achieve the MDGs. Nations gathered in New York on 20–22 September to report on progress and discuss how to redouble efforts to meet the goals.

As the Summit loomed, it was all hands on deck for the Scriptoria team. That’s because we were enlisted to help the Nigerian government and a group of major donors and partners (including the UK Department for International Development's Nigeria office, SPARC and UNDP) improve how Nigeria communicated its progress towards meeting the MDGs. The key aim was to make clear just how much has been achieved with around US$10 billion spent to date by the office.

So, with only a few weeks left until the conference, Scriptoria sent an expert team of senior consultants to Nigeria to advise on, rewrite, clarify and shorten the two major reports developed for the Summit. This was not a simple editing job, as our team had to check the accuracy of the data with the Nigerian experts as well as improve the way that data was presented. Because of the complexity of this work, the two senior consultants sent had PhDs in relevant fields.

The job was fast and furious, and our team worked at the highest level – meeting and liaising directly with the Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Millennium Development Goals and her team to improve the quality of reports that they aimed to submit.

Here at Scriptoria, we have extensive experience of producing high-level reports for international development conventions, like the UN Summit on the MDGs, the World Water Forum and Business Call to Action, as well as the UN climate change conferences. We’ve also spent a lot of time in Nigeria and other developing countries working on development issues – making us an obvious choice for this work.

The main focus of the work for the Summit was Nigeria’s Millennium Development Goals 2010 Report and the Countdown Strategy – Nigeria’s roadmap for achieving the goals by 2015. But, we also helped the MDG Office to produce a series of flyers and briefs communicating key success stories. In addition, our team also led strategy and marketing sessions to help them identify the key messages they wanted to push at the Summit.

We have been very impressed with the Nigerian MDG Office. Writing reports is just a small part of the workload for a team under huge pressure to provide technical output and disburse US$1 billion a year in debt relief funds. Despite this, the MDG staff are dynamic and enthusiastic about improving the professional communication of Nigeria’s achievements for the international arena, and are an inspiration for other developing countries.

Blue Harvest: Major UNEP and WorldFish Center publication

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:42:44 GMT

Scriptoria played a part in the successful conclusion of the Nagoya Biodiversity Summit, which ended on 29 October 2010.

The Scriptoria-designed briefing Blue Harvest: Inland Fisheries as an Ecosystem Service was launched at the summit by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WorldFish, an international organisation that researches and promotes the conservation of fish stocks.

The glossy, 68-page publication focuses on the contribution inland fisheries make to food production and livelihoods in many parts of the world, and how to manage them sustainably. The 193 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity ended the Nagoya summit by agreeing on a package of measures that will ensure that the world’s ecosystems will continue to sustain human well-being into the future.

Our combination of writing expertise and strong scientific grounding (most of our writers and editors have PhDs) means that Scriptoria can deliver top notch communication services and gives us the edge in this field.

To read and download Blue Harvest, click here.

Pfizer picks Scriptoria

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:46:44 GMT

Pfizer, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, has chosen Scriptoria to provide training on scientific writing for 20 of its brightest young researchers. The one-day course will take place at the Pfizer UK headquarters in Sandwich, Kent – one of four Pfizer research and development sites worldwide.

Pfizer Inc operates in 180 countries and had a 2009 turnover of more than US$50 billion. The company has spent a long time looking for a training provider, so was very pleased to discover the high quality services and professional experience that Scriptoria has to offer.

Scriptoria gives Gates Foundation Advocacy training to help boost African nutrition 10 August 2010

Thurs, 12 Aug 2010 16:48:44 GMT

The Scriptoria team was thrilled to be asked once again to work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Following the success of our previous training course, BMGF commissioned Scriptoria to provide a week-long training course on advocacy of new varieties of the orange-fleshed sweet potato – a really important new product for sub-Saharan Africa.

These new varieties of orange sweet potato are the result of many years of research by the International Potato Center (CIP) and local breeders across Africa. What’s so good about them is their high levels of beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body. This is important for combating blindness, especially in children. It also helps children resist the common illnesses that kill so many in Africa by making their immune systems stronger.

The training course, which was held in Tanzania from 26th to 30th July, took an in-depth look at how to communicate the benefits of the new varieties. We helped the 28 participants learn how to identify key messages, target key audiences, develop an advocacy strategy, and track the progress of their campaign.

Participants in the training course came from all over sub-Saharan Africa and included nutritionists, sweet potato breeders, agricultural extensionists and post harvest experts. Scriptoria’s training will help these practitioners realise their common goal: to let farmers, government policy makers, the private sector and the media all know that the new varieties of orange sweet potato spell good news for Africa.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the sweet potato is already a common crop and foodstuff. African farmers and villagers who have helped test the new crop varieties have confirmed that they taste good and cook well. So, the potential health benefits are huge – if the new varieties are promoted effectively. And through the BMGF training course, we at Scriptoria have helped set advocates on track to do just that.

New annual report for the multi-million euro Global Water Partnership

Fri, 19 Jul 2010 15:11:44 GMT

We’ve just completed the 2009 Annual Report for the Global Water Partnership (GWP) - a major player in sustainable development and coping with climate change. Obviously we're very pleased with the really great feedback we've been receiving, especially since this is the first time that GWP has entrusted any company with the job of both writing, and designing their annual report. Why have responses been so good? Probably because the report’s clear and logical structure clearly links GWP’s mission and values to their progress during the year. Plus, the tone and visual appeal reflect GWP’s commitment to influencing the water agenda. Take a look at the PDF of the report by clicking HERE

As is the case with so many of our global clients, producing this annual report required Scriptoria’s experts to sift through masses of information to produce a concise, interesting document. And of course that’s the key! For organisations to retain and build their credibility, they have to bear in mind the importance of producing easy-to-read yet accurate annual reports with real substance that skilfully meet the information needs of various readers, from donors and investors to interested members of the public.

Wow - a good-looking low-bandwidth website produced for a major development project in Africa 13 May 2010

Fri, 28 May 2010 15:11:44 GMT

Having written, designed and built the original Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) website, we’ve been busy making it even better by creating a French version and a fast downloading 'text-only' version. And here at Scriptoria we have to say that we're very proud of the final product for an organisation that is mobilising hundreds of millions of dollars to help fight poverty in Africa.

The new text-only version of the CAADP website is great for use in remote areas where internet speeds are slow. This means that CAADP can communicate with policy makers and farmer and development organisations right across Africa. But, what we like most is the fact that we were able to do this without compromising on the great-looking design and user-friendly aspects of the site. To see what we mean, go to www.nepad-caadp.net and click on the 'text-only' link at the top right-hand corner of the home page: you'll find a simplified version that still looks good. The graphics aren’t there, but the integrity of the design remains. This is in stark contrast with many other text-only sites which can be boring to look at and difficult to use. And if you’re a French speaker, don’t forget to take a quick peek at the French language version. The CAADP website is an important part of a communications package, developed by Scriptoria, that is helping to spread the programme’s vision for boosting agricultural productivity in Africa. Hopefully, this latest addition to the website will help CAADP hold fast to its reputation for 'flagship' communications among Africa's rural development sector.

Communication strategies for DFID's Policy and Research Directorate

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 16:15:44 GMT

Scriptoria is working with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) to produce communication strategies for all the major groups within its Policy and Research Directorate (PRD). This highly prestigious work has involved brainstorming with senior staff in each Group.

The aim is to provide focused communications strategies that will ensure efficient and well-planned communications on complicated issues ranging from climate change to health, education and social protection. This will ensure that messages are conveyed in the best way possible and that no resources are wasted - an important strategy for an organisation like DFID, which has committed itself to spending around £7.8 billion on development in 2010-11. DFID contracted Scriptoria as part of a comprehensive drive to improve communications within the Directorate. And, as part of this, we also recently ran a training course for 16 PRD staff in London on 27th November. This workshop, which focused on strategic development communications, was extremely well received.

Spreading the word

Wed, 15 Apr 2010 10:26:44 GMT

Shorter, sharper and more focused communication lies at the heart of our philosophy, so here at Scriptoria we’re delighted that co-director Dr Jim Weale has been invited to speak on just this subject at a prestigious international conference on Sustainable Livelihoods and Rural Development in Delhi from 21-23 April 2010.

The conference, called Two Decades of Impact and Learning, will review the huge investments made in rural India by the central government, state governments and donors since 1990. Its objective is to share knowledge and experience and make proposals that will influence policy and action by governments and donors. Other speakers at the conference include representatives of UNESCO, DFID, and the World Bank, as well as Dr M S Swaminathan, the eminent agriculturist whose work on high-yield wheat varieties is credited with founding the green revolution in India. April 2010

Tweet tweet, it's Scriptoria

Wed, 15 Apr 2010 10:26:44 GMT

Here at Scriptoria, we've just launched our new and improved YouTube channel and Twitter page. So now it’s easier than ever to keep up to date with the work we’re doing in development, climate change and poverty reduction.

Plus, both these new sites link seamlessly with our Facebook page and our website to give you easy access to useful information and updates on our work. Our new YouTube channel hosts a range of videos dealing with all aspects of development, from climate change to poverty reduction. Over the next few months, we'll also be uploading Scriptoria information and training videos covering all aspects of communication in the world of development. "We've been so busy creating social media strategies and sites for our clients that it's only now we’ve found the time to stop beta testing and launch our own," said co-director Dr Jim Weale. "It's important to remember that our key interest here isn't to sell the company, but to help provide our clients with useful information to encourage better communications in development."

Making annual reports a good read

Wed, 15 Apr 2010 10:26:44 GMT

We're currently writing annual reports for six multi-million dollar development organisations, tackling issues that range from climate change and agriculture to donor relations and interactions. True to the Scriptoria way of thinking, it means making sure that these key documents concentrate on the needs of the stakeholders at whom they’re targeted.

Traditionally, annual reports were regarded as something of a chore by most organisations, and every scrap of information about the organisation and its work was packed into them, including the kitchen sink. But as we keep saying, the busy readers being targeted just don’t have time for that kind of detail. So remember, more detail does not mean better quality. They don’t have time to read it and in most cases, they don’t want to read it.. "We're one of the very few communications firms that work regularly with donors, which means we’re well placed to identify their needs and pass on their views to our other clients," said Scriptoria’s co-director Dr Sandy Williams. "We’ve asked them what they want, and time and again they’ve said short summaries of ongoing work and achievements, backed up by clear financial information and with a clear indication of where more information can be accessed if necessary." Shorter, sharper and more readable annual reports don’t mean that the scientific meat that reinforces an organisation’s credibility has to be omitted. Again, that's something we place a lot of emphasis on here at Scriptoria. In fact, most of our writers have PhDs which, coupled with long years of experience, means we can translate scientific and technical jargon for donors, while ensuring that the science remains accurate. The organisations for which we are currently writing reports are the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development, the Global Water Partnership (GWP), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Coalitions for Change (C4C) and the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR). This is only the first batch of annual reports in the pipeline for this year. In 2009, Scriptoria produced or helped produce reports for nine international organisations, and we expect to exceed that number in 2010.

Training course for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 16:15:44 GMT

Scriptoria was recently commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (the largest private foundation in the world) to provide communications training for 20 top African research and development specialists. Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA), which works in close partnership with the Foundation, convened the training session from 15th to 20th November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

More than 700 research specialists applied to attend the training session, the first of its kind to be provided by the Foundation. The course was a runaway success, providing intensive training in writing skills and prompting very positive feedback from the high-level participants. Scriptoria regularly provides specialist training around the world in writing, presentation skills and other communication techniques. On this occasion we were delighted to work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which, through its Global Development Program, focuses on high-impact sustainable projects throughout Africa.

Communicating success stories from DFID

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:59:44 GMT

Every year a lot of good techniques are developed to help poor people improve their lives – ranging from better ways to grow crops to techniques for tackling health problems. The problem is that communicating them is never easy, which means that many useful new options get lost and forgotten instead of being applied more widely.

So we’re very pleased to say that Scriptoria has worked with DFID‘s Research Into Use (RIU) programme to produce a book that highlights good ideas from around the world for communicating new development options to the people who really need them. In fact, we’d say that Communications Success Stories - Mainstreaming Research Findings to Lessen Poverty (40 pages) is a must-read for communication officers, researchers, extension workers, project managers, and policy makers everywhere. Examples given in the book include proven ways to use radio, TV, internet kiosks, mobile phones, telecentres, drama groups, cartoon booklets and face-to-face initiatives as innovative ways to get information into the hands of the poor. You can download a copy by clicking HERE (2.3 MB).

Multi-lingual annual report for a pan-Africa anti-poverty programme

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:47:44 GMT

Since SCRIPTORIA started working with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) two years ago, CAADP’s profile has rocketed. Now they’re setting standards for others to follow, with one major donor recently referring to CAADP’s external communications as “a flagship example that other development programmes in the region should work to match”.

The latest product we’ve produced with CAADP to publicise the programme’s work across Africa is its 2008 annual report. We produced it in both French and English, so you can choose your language, settle back and read all about the latest developments in efforts to tackle rural poverty in Africa. You can read the English version HERE (2 MB) and the French version HERE ( (2 MB).

Global Donor Platform annual report

Wed, 1st Jul 2009 13:05:32 GMT

The Global Donor Platform for Rural Development is a grouping of some of the world’s largest international donors working to reduce poverty. Members range from the United Nations to GTZ and SIDA, all of whom are working together to promote economic growth in rural areas, and tackle issues such as boosting agriculture and coping with climate change. Scriptoria’s in-depth expertise and experience made us the clear choice to research and write the Platform’s 60-page 2008 annual report. The report’s look and layout were done by the Platform itself.

The report contains very useful one-page summaries of each donor’s main activities in 2008 in tackling the food-price crisis and other important issues in agriculture and rural development. You can read the report HERE (761 KB)

“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback on the annual report. Scriptoria managed the whole process highly professionally, producing a technically high quality product with minimal time input from our side.” Secretariat Coordinator, Global Donor Platform for Rural Development

SCRIPTORIA helps produce new DFID Water Policy

Mon, 27 Nov 2008 15:38:44 GMT

We’re pleased to say that the UK Department for International Development (DFID) recently launched its new water policy. This globally important publication is designed to help DFID meet its £200 million commitment to vastly increasing the number of people with access to safe water and sanitation.

SCRIPTORIA’s role was to help the government’s senior policy advisors translate a series of complex issues into this relatively short and easy-to-read document. At our initial meeting we advised on the style and tone of the document. The next three months involved regular meetings and lots of late nights as we worked closely with them to rewrite their original policy document and fine-tune the final product according to comments from the International Development Minister and his team. DFID’s aim is help twenty-five million people across Africa to gain access to safe water and basic sanitation over the next five years. To read the Policy Document, please click HERE (1.37 MB).

Teaming up with business to fight poverty

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:29:44 GMT

Here at SCRIPTORIA we’re very proud to have produced the UK Department for International Development (DFID) brochure and display stand for the recently held, and globally important, Business Call to Action meeting.

Getting business to work against poverty The meeting saw the UK’s Prime Minister (Gordon Brown) welcome more than 80 CEOs from some of the world’s largest companies to London to showcase new business initiatives to reduce poverty in the developing world.

The meeting highlighted successful projects run by more than a dozen global companies, including Coca Cola, Microsoft, Thomson Reuters and Vodafone. Over the next five years, initiatives like these are expected to save almost half a million lives, create thousands of jobs, and benefit millions of poor people across Africa and Asia. They’re part of a concerted push to meet the Millennium Development Goals by helping poor people to access up-to-the-minute information, money and business expertise and by creating new business and employment opportunities.

New Photo Guide to help you get the pics you need

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:26:38 GMT

We can’t tell you how frustrating it can be to have an important story to tell (or project to promote), and not have the pictures to really show it off. Charities and NGOs often don’t have the budgets needed to buy photos from picture houses, and instead rely on their staff to take compelling pictures as part of their everyday working lives. But this can be a pretty hit-and-miss process.

So, we’ve teamed up with the UK Government to produce a Field Guide to Photography for anyone working in development.

This guide isn’t aimed at professional photographers. Instead it targets project staff, researchers, volunteers, and the many other people working in the field who have the chance to take great-looking photos if only they had the confidence. The guide explains why it’s important to take these kinds of photos, what situations make for a great photo, and how to frame and actually take your picture.

And of course the same techniques can be applied at your next barbecue to produce great family photos too – what a bargain! You can download the photo guide by clicking HERE (1.2 MB).

Young people's summary of the United Nations’ Human Development Report on climate change

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:26:38 GMT

Do you ever read the United Nations' Human Development report? We do (every year) and we can tell you that it’s a great read – stuffed full of useful statistics and facts and giving much-needed key information on development-related trends. But, it’s certainly not the kind of book you’d use to read your kids a bedtime story from.

So, how are the kids supposed to get balanced information on key issues like global warming? Well through the Human Development Report’s Youth Summary of course! This great little publication makes the key issues accessible to young people, and we’re pleased to say that, for the last couple of years, we’ve had the fun job of giving it a final expert review and read through, to check that it’s readable and communicates its messages as well as possible.

The latest issue is on climate change. So, if you haven’t already given a copy to your kids, we’ve got to ask "why not"? Download it HERE (5 MB).

A new look for the DEW Point Water Consortium

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:26:38 GMT

We’re not just about the big jobs here at Scriptoria; little touches to your public face can make a huge difference too. So, when DEW Point asked us to produce a desk-top calendar and a pop-up banner for them, we took the opportunity to push their brand forwards and really make them stand out. The result was a cracking new look, which Dew Point can now run with and add to their future materials - they’ve already used it to modernize their website. Great!