Managing Community Relations Effectively

The main aim of this seminar is to generate the ideas and modalities that could shape a new thinking in community relations by companies operating in Nigeria.

• To discuss how companies may best function as corporate citizens of the communities in which they operate.
• To analyse and highlight community relations as an important communicative strategy in corporate operations.
• To train and re-skill corporate executives and community relations personnel on the changing contexts and practice of Community Relations.

Course Content

The Communities we Operate in

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vs. Community Engagement
• Understanding the Importance of Community Engagement
• Defining the Corporate Community Involvement Mission
• Identifying Key Stakeholders
• Stakeholder Expectations of Our Organisation
• Assessing Impacts and Pre-empting Risks
• Reputational Impact

Integrating Community Involvement into the Business

• Integrating Community Involvement into the Business
• Environmental Issues
• Health and Safety
• Local Procurement
• Education
• Capacity Building
• Reputation Management

Practical Steps for Community Engagement

• Developing Engagement Programmes
• Engagement Techniques
• Corporate Communication with the Communities
• Presenting our Organisation to the Communities We Operate In
• Budgeting
• Practical Exercises in Community Dialogue

Types of Community Programmes

• Community-Driven Projects
• Social Contribution Projects
• Supporting Neighbouring Communities in Case of a Disaster
• Corporate Giving and Foundations
• Connected Leadership
• Employee Involvement
• Manage Cross-sector Collaboration.

Measuring, Evaluating and Reporting Corporate Community Programmes

• Goal Setting and KPIs
• Measuring Success of Our Initiatives
• Integrated Reporting

For Whom:

Community relations managers, corporate affairs managers, public relations practitioners, General/operations managers, Brand managers, Business development managers, Customer relations managers.

Training Methodology

The training methodology combines lectures, discussions, group exercises and illustrations. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics. The emphasis is on the practical application of the topics and as a result participant will go back to the workplace with both the ability and the confidence to apply the techniques learned to their duties.