CPM-17 adopts IPPC Communications Strategy 2023-2030

Rome, 28 March 2023. The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), during its seventeenth session, has adopted the global communications strategy of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). The IPPC Communications Strategy 2023-2030 will serve as a roadmap for the IPPC Secretariat and the plant health community to carry out communication and advocacy activities that will further raise awareness on the importance of plant health, advocate for the support of the IPPC mission, and engage the public, media, governments, donors, industry stakeholders and academia.

The strategy builds on previous communication initiatives by setting eight milestones that will define the IPPC’s new communications approach. Among others, these include rebuilding a more user-intuitive International Phytosanitary Portal, establishing a Community of Practice in communication, and providing communication support for achieving the Development Agenda Items under the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020-2030.

“The IPPC Communications Strategy will set forth a more robust and tactical approach for reaching and engaging the plant health community and beyond”, said Lihong Zhu of New Zealand NPPO and Chairperson of the CPM Focus Group on Communication which was tasked to develop the strategy along with the IPPC Secretariat.

“One milestone we have set, which many of us in the IPPC community are looking forward to, is the establishment of a Community of Practice of communication professionals. This will be a game changer as it will provide a platform for two-way communication within the IPPC community where best practices and opportunities in communication and advocacy will be exchanged,” she added.

IPPC Secretary Osama El-Lissy said, “We are very pleased and would like to thank the CPM for adopting the strategy, as well as the Focus Group on Communication for their excellent work. The communication and advocacy milestones we have set support the IPPC Strategic Framework 2020-2030 and thus, the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through strategic communication, we can further let the world know – and get them involved – in protecting plants from harmful pests so we can ensure food security for all, protect the environment and biodiversity, and facilitate safe trade that will protect economies and livelihoods across the globe”, he concluded. The IPPC Communications Strategy was developed by the IPPC Secretariat, led by the CPM Focus Group on Communication, a 12-member group with experience in communications and knowledge of IPPC. It is represented by national and regional plant protection organizations, industry, a CPM Bureau member and FAO.

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IPPC Communications Strategy to set global roadmap in promoting plant health - International Plant Protection Convention