In this digital age, technology has the power of great positive transformation for organizations. Information and Communication technology (ICT) has been booming and non-profits have great opportunity to utilize ICT for internal systems strengthening and external stakeholder involvement and communication.
In the context of non-profits, the main areas where ICT can be applied are implementing digital infrastructure of the organization, application or implementation of programs, monitoring and evaluation, interpersonal communication, information dissemination, advocacy and many others. So, ICT can be disruptive for both internal information and communication system and external communication systems and impact, and engaging with multiple stakeholders.
A few steps for NGOs to utilize ICT for professional development and streamlining their work in the external stakeholder context:
- Preparing a comprehensive communications plan and calendar, with focus on social media and website for external communication
- Using the website and other social media applications for communicating impact
- Increasing e-presence for reaching out to potential donors and engaging them
- NGOs may consider outsourcing the IT since it will allow it to focus on the operations and programs, while letting the specialist people handle ICT related activities
- Maintaining consistency and sync between posts on Social Media and websites, and current activities and programs of the NGO. Posting and updating these can be daily or weekly or fortnightly as per the convenience and availability of resources.
- Blog can be a very effective tool to express to the World the activities of a non-profit. Some very popular platforms to blog may be WordPress, e-blogger, etc.
- It is very important to remember that ‘What cannot be measured, it cannot be managed’. Most of the platforms have built-in tools to measure interactions, page-visits or hits, etc. Monitoring these, identify trends and then acting upon them is very important.
