Trust in the Leader of Collaborative Process Design and Facilitation
SKILL SK-09 | Communication & Inclusion
Culturally Adaptive Communication
Adjusting tone, format, language, pacing, channel, and content to fit the specific social norms, trust levels, communication preferences, and literacy contexts of the community - not the project team preferred approach.
How to Develop It
1. Channel mapping
For a specific community, list every communication channel actually used by community members: group chats, barangay assemblies, church announcements, informal gatherings. Design the next engagement notification to use at least two of these channels.
2. Timing audit
Survey community members about when they are available and willing to participate in meetings. Compare to when the project currently schedules engagements. Identify mismatches and adjust.
3. Dialect review
Have all materials reviewed by a community member who speaks the local dialect as a first language. Ask them to flag anything that sounds formal, confusing, or culturally off. Revise based on their input.
Why This Skill Matters
Communication designed for the convenience of the project team rarely works for the community. When format and channel mismatches create barriers to participation, the problem is attributed to lack of community interest rather than poor design - reinforcing exclusion.
Observable Behaviors
+ Identifies the community preferred communication channels before designing any material
+ Uses local language including dialect, not just national language materials
+ Adjusts meeting format, timing, and location based on community schedules and practices
+ Matches information density to the community familiarity with the subject
+ Reviews and tests communication materials with community members before broad use
Self-Assessment
Read each Reflective Question below and honestly consider how consistently you demonstrate this in your actual fieldwork, not how you think you should behave, but how you do behave. Then assign a score from 1 (lowest) to 4 (highest):
(1) Not yet developed: Rarely demonstrated in practice
(2) Emerging: Demonstrated sometimes, but inconsistently or only under favorable conditions
(3) Established: Demonstrated reliably in most situations, including moderately challenging ones
(4) Adaptive: Demonstrated reliably even in high-pressure situations, and practitioner actively helps
Common Gaps & Pitfalls
! Assuming that national language materials are accessible to all community members
! Treating communication adaptation as a one-time localization task rather than ongoing practice
! Designing for the community representative most familiar with institutional processes, not the broader community
Connections
Related Skills
SK-07: Community Sensitivity
SK-08: Technical-Community Translation
SK-10: Visual Communication Design
Reflective Questions Score from 1 (lowest) to 4 (highest):
I identify community communication preferences before designing materials or events
My engagement materials use local language or dialect, not only official language
I schedule engagements at times and places that work for the community, not just the team
I test communication materials with community members before distribution
Th shared to the public for free courtesy of the
THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION GROUP FOUNDATION
www.coregroup.org.ph * info@coregroup.org.ph
in partnership with SustainABILITIES Lab
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