Communications with depth

We live in a time where superficial, fast paced communications are dominating. There is no escaping this, but for real change to come about communications need to have depth.

I am a strategic communications advisor. I offer bespoke advice to clients on how to communicate evidence & ideas specialising in the not-for-profit, global development & think tank sectors.

I work with organisations, teams & individuals to help them to develop communications, advocacy & policy engagement strategies. This includes exploring ways to collaborate with audiences, shape narratives, define vision, goals & values, & embed communications across all strategies.

I write and develop content for clients, as well as guides, blogs & articles on effective communications.

I also facilitate workshops, talks & webinars on a range of practical communications skills, & provide coaching &1:1 support.

I am particularly interested in how insights from behavioural & political sciences can help us to change narratives, move conversations on and resolve conflict.

About me

I am an independent consultant & On Think Tanks Associate.

I have 15+ years global experience, working in countries such as Indonesia, Egypt, India, Ghana, Vietnam, Colombia, South Africa, Switzerland & the UK.

My clients have included government departments, funders, private foundations, academic institutions, consultancies, NGOs, media organisations & think tanks.

I previously set up & led the strategic communications unit at the UK think tank ODI. I have also worked for organisations such as the BBC & tve.

My languages are English, French, Spanish & Russian.

Caroline Cassidy at the On Think Tanks Conference 2019

How can I help you?

Strategic advice & counsel

I can support you to develop a new communications, engagement or audience strategy or review an existing one.

I can help you to think through your narratives, & how you frame your messaging.

I advise on team management, internal communications & staffing.

I develop assessments & reviews to evaluate & inform organisational, programme & project design.

Training, coaching & mentoring

I facilitate & run workshops, talks & webinars.

I provide 1:1 or group mentoring & coaching.

Topics include:

Creating policy engagement strategies,
Writing for impact,
Presenting your ideas,
Developing talking points,
The art of framing & storytelling
Evaluating & learning from communications

Writing & Editorial

I write content for clients such as blogs, op-eds, articles, case studies, reports & speeches from scratch or work with existing text.

I provide senior editorial services including copy-editing.

Publications, blogs & articles

I have written a range of blogs, guides, case studies & articles on how to communicate evidence & ideas for change.

Publishers include The Guardian, Oxfam's From Poverty to Power, the London School of Economics, On Think Tanks and ODI.

My Clients

Past & current include:

Bernard van Leer Foundation (The Netherlands)

Centre for International Forestry Research (Indonesia)

Data & Evidence To End Extreme Poverty -DEEP (Global)

DFID-ESRC Growth Research Programme (UK/Global)

foraus (Switzerland)

Grand Challenges Canada (Canada)

IEMed (Spain)

INASP (UK)

Institute for State Effectiveness (USA)

3ie - International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (Mexico, Italy & India)

The International Organisation for Migration (Belgium)

Knowledge Sector Initiative (Indonesia)

The Mastercard Foundation (Ghana, Uganda & Canada)

Mekong Economic Research Network (Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos)

MIDEQ (Global)

NWO-WOTRO (Holland & Peru)

ODI (UK)

Open Society Foundations (USA, UK)

Prindex (DFID/Omidyar Network) (UK/USA)

Rodeemos el Diálogo (Colombia)

SAIIA (South Africa)

The University of Nottingham (UK)

The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (Jordan)

The World Bank - Global Partnership for Social Accountability (Global)

The World Health Organization (Switzerland)

Testimonials

“We hired Caroline to support us on the Bernard van Leer Foundation’s refreshed communications strategy. She provided us with thought-provoking & well-organised insights & recommendations. Caroline also conducted a well-received set of writing trainings for our team. She’s a wonderful writer who knows her stuff when it comes to influencing policy change.

A pleasure to work with!”

Patrin Watanatada,

Knowledge for Policy Director,

Bernard van Leer Foundation