WIPO organized the Regional Training on Communication Skills for Development Agenda (DA) Project Managers and Officers from African and Arab countries in collaboration with the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC), with support from Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global, in Casablanca, Morocco from October 22 to 24, 2025, marking the second in-person regional communication skills training for DA Project National Focal Points.
Developing strategic communication capabilities
The intensive three-day program put together 25 participants from 18 countries spanning Africa and the Arab region, representing diverse institutions including Ministries, IP Offices, and Academic entities. The training focused on enhancing participants' abilities to comprehend, articulate, and disseminate DA project outcomes and impact while strengthening regional cooperation and visibility of DA initiatives.
Opening addresses by Mr. Abdelaziz Babqiqi, Director General of OMPIC, and Mr. Georges Ghandour, Senior Counsellor, Development Agenda Coordination Division, WIPO, underscored communication's vital role as a connector between innovation, policy, and communities, converting technical achievements into compelling narratives of innovation and partnership that link intellectual property with people, policies, and measurable development outcomes.
Integrated methodology combining knowledge and application
The curriculum merged conceptual frameworks with practical implementation exercises, addressing strategic communication essentials including differentiating communication from dissemination, establishing clear objectives, identifying target audiences, and developing messages that align with project goals. Participants explored communication mechanisms spanning digital and conventional platforms while analyzing WIPO communication resources and exploring AI tools for content creation and expanded reach.
Training delivered in English and French facilitated dynamic engagement between African and Arab participants, encouraging cultural dialogue and mutual comprehension of regional challenges and opportunities. Participants worked in six teams on selected DA projects, conducting SWOT analyses and developing comprehensive dissemination strategies that demonstrated strong collaboration and strategic communication skills.
Fostering regional collaboration and knowledge exchange
The interactive approach proved highly effective in building cooperation and peer learning. For many participants, this was their first comprehensive exposure to dissemination strategies and project communication concepts. They valued the practical methodology and opportunities to apply concepts directly to ongoing DA projects, recommending more time for hands-on exercises. The cross-regional format promoted valuable knowledge sharing, with participants advocating for continued collaboration to advance partnerships.
Participants emphasized the importance of transforming technical results into accessible stories that connect policymakers, entrepreneurs, and communities, identifying storytelling as a powerful tool to demonstrate DA project impact. This training represents a significant investment in cross-regional capacity building, ensuring DA projects achieve greater visibility among diverse stakeholders throughout Africa and the Arab region while demonstrating WIPO's commitment to embedding strategic communication throughout all development project phases.