| Abstract:
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The first World Congress on Communication for Development was held between October 25 and 27, 2006 at the FAO, in Rome, Italy. It was organized by the World Bank, FAO, and The Communication Initiative.
There was agreement that communication is integral to development and to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. For this reason, it must be built into development planning and embedded in strategies for poverty reduction, health planning, and governance. Participants noted that Communication for Development is a two-way dialogue that is horizontal rather than vertical. Debates must be inclusive and the rights of those most affected must be guaranteed. This approach was underlined in sessions involving community media, disabled people and indigenous peoples.
There was also understanding that Communication for Development is not a quick fix: it requires long-term consistency of engagement. Involving people actively from the start takes time and resources, but it pays off in terms of results and sustainability. All participants recognized the need to foster partnerships among government agencies, donors, academia, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and the people affected.
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