Communications Plan

This free online course is aimed at civil society organisations seeking to strengthen their external communications and develop practical skills in designing and implementing effective communications plans.

The course introduces the principles of strategic communication planning, including identifying target audiences, developing key messages, selecting appropriate communication channels, and setting clear communication objectives. Participants will also explore how to develop content for websites, newsletters, social media, and traditional media engagement, as well as how to plan, budget, and monitor communications activities for effectiveness and impact.

The course provides an accessible, step-by-step approach to developing a structured communications plan that supports organisational visibility, engagement, and advocacy goals.

This course is available in English and Portuguese. The course duration is 4.5 hours.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

LO1 Explain the purpose and key components of a communications plan

LO2 Identify and define target audiences for different communication objectives

LO3 Develop clear and consistent key messages aligned with communication goals and audiences

LO4 Describe different communication channels and select appropriate channels for specific audiences and purposes

LO5 Explain best practices for developing digital and traditional communication outputs, including websites, newsletters, and social media content

LO6 Describe approaches for developing and managing media relationships to support communication objectives

LO7 Explain how to plan, budget, and monitor communication activities to ensure effective implementation

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop structured communications plans aligned with organisational goals and priorities
• Identify and segment target audiences to improve communication effectiveness
• Craft clear, consistent, and audience-appropriate key messages
• Select and apply appropriate communication channels based on context and audience needs
• Produce and support the development of digital and traditional communication materials, including web, newsletter, and social media content
• Engage effectively with media stakeholders to support organisational visibility and outreach
• Plan, budget, and monitor communications activities to ensure delivery against objectives
• Evaluate communication performance using relevant indicators and adjust strategies accordingly

The course can be completed as an online-only course or in a blended format where learners first watch the videos and then engage in a synchronous in-person session. A Facilitator Guide is available for download for the synchronous in-person session.

This course was produced as part of the Aga Khan Foundation’s Civil Society programme.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License. To view a copy of this license, go here.