WHAT WE DO

COMplus provides a platform for media, communications professionals, researchers, academics and the public to learn, exchange and debate on issues related to sustainable development and communication. Our key activities include delivering news and feature articles, reports, films, documentaries, and radio programmes,. We also host an online resource centre and organise international policy meetings.

The goal of COMplus is to:

• Create a multiplier effect for awareness-raising and commitment to sustainable development through effective communications
  
  
• Ensure a constant flow of ideas and information to shape agendas on every level (local, national, regional and global)
  
  
• Raise the profile, role and effectiveness of sustainable development communications
  
  

COMplus activities are implemented by COMplus collectively or by one or more COMplus partners serving as "focal point(s)". The COMplus Steering Committee, which is made up of representatives of all member partners, decides which activities will receive COMplus support and/or sponsorship. 

A small Secretariat, based in Costa Rica, and an operational manager in London are responsible for coordinating the agreed activities of the Alliance.

The ‘added value' that the COMplus Alliance platform provides includes the following:

• Tracking opinions of 5,000 sustainable development decision makers --more than 50 percent of them in the developing world-- in government, civil society, private sector and academia through surveys conducted by GlobeScan.
  
  
• Reaching 300 million homes around the world through films, documentaries, and video news releases broadcast by BBC World, TVE, and DevTV.
  
  
• Reaching mainstream and alternative media globally, especially in developing countries.
  
  
• Training hundreds of journalists annually and tracking skills upgrade and use.
  
  
• Establishing strategic alliances with legislators, private sector, civil society and academia to move agendas forward on key sustainable development areas such as climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystems management.
  
  
• Decoding sustainable development to the public's daily needs in the developing world.
  
  

Acting as a clearing house for communications on sustainable development. During 2009 COMplus implemented a series of global and regional initiatives through its three business lines:

• Multi-stakeholder platforms for dialogue among decision makers
  
  
• Capacity building and knowledge sharing
  
  
• High-impact multimedia products.