Message Development Posts
In or Out of an Elevator, Have Your Message
The “elevator pitch” term is well-known among people we train at Burness and tossed around with a somewhat sarcastic tone. “Yeah, I know I’m supposed to do this, but nothing can be said in 30 seconds,” some say.
Red Tape Cripples Global Sustainable Forestry Model
Although the last 25 years have seen significant strides in the development of community forestry in Mexico, a new study by the Mexican Civil Council for Sustainable Forestry reveals that a web of burdensome rules and regulations are preventing these communities from legally and sustainably harvesting their forests.
Short Distances to Large Gaps in Health
The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Center on Society and Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released four new maps illustrating how large gaps in health can exist in very short distances.
Expanding the Pipeline of Skilled Workers
The White House hosted a summit focused on the need to “upskill” America’s workforce. More than 100 leading employers, who employ five million workers, made commitments to "upskill" their workers by expanding access to apprenticeships and on-the-job training in partnership with thirty national and local labor unions and non-profit groups.
What Are Your Kids Doing After 3 p.m.?
It’s 3 p.m. on a weekday and, like millions of moms and dads across America, you’re still at work. Where do your kids go when school lets out?
Scientists Share Tyler Prize for Protecting Forests and Oceans
Jane Lubchenco and Madhav Gadgil, scientists working on land and in oceans, have spent their careers identifying solutions that protect our planet’s biodiversity and some of our most at-risk environments. They are this year's Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement laureates.
Honduran Indigenous Leader Wins Goldman Environmental Prize
Berta Cáceres is not like most people. Her close friends and colleagues carry around a eulogy for her, even though she is very much alive and just won the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize.
Important Perspectives in Development
The 2015 Aspen New Voices Fellows are off to a great start getting their voices out there! The development experts from across Africa and Asia bring fresh perspective to the global development dialogue.
Writing for the Web in Ethiopia
Over the past two years, we have had the honor of working with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health’s Public Relations and Communication Directorate (PRCD). One project we worked on together, after redesigning their website—was a workshop on writing effectively for the web.
Africa’s First “Water Fund” Offers Hope for Nairobi Residents
The Tana River is critical to the Kenyan economy, serving 9.3 million people. It provides 95 percent of Nairobi’s water and half of Kenya’s hydropower-generated electricity. However, it is troubled by soil erosion and falling reserves, which translate into higher costs for utility companies and businesses at a time of rapidly rising water demand. Enter Africa's first-ever "Water Fund" led by The Nature Conservancy and the publication of the business case for the fund.
