OVERVIEW
Legislators face mounting challenges in their relationship with constituents and the general public. How successful they handle this relationship impacts greatly on the image and acceptability of the legislators. There is the need for legislatures to acquire and use the required skills, so as to enhance their visibility, effectiveness, and acceptability. This course has been designed to equip legislators, especially those in developing countries, with the skills for effective constituency and public relations.
WHO TO ATTEND
Serving Legislators
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the course are, to:
- Educate participants on the nature and importance of relating with their constituencies and the general public.
- Enable participants to identify the skills for effective constituency and public relations.
- Stimulate participants to use the skills developed in maintaining fruitful relationship with their constituencies and the general public.
OUTLINE
- The Concept of Public Relations.
- Public Relations Strategies.
- Constituency Relations, Strategies: Provision of Services, and Embarking on Development Projects.
- Low Key and Non-Partisan Approach in Legislator-Constituency Relations.
- Effective Management of Political Change in Constituencies.
- Relating with the General Public: Press Briefings, Writing of Articles, Features in the Print and Electronic Media.
- Legislators’ Constituencies and the General Public.
- Hansard as a Constituency Relations Tool.
- Constituency Relations Strategies: Touring, Constituency Meeting with Stakeholders and Hosting of Press Conferences.
- Techniques for Seeking and Maintaining Broad-Based Stakeholder Support.
- Constituency Relations Strategies: Partnering with Professional and Community-based Organisations.
- Effective Inter-Personal Relationship.
- Conflict Resolution.