Research and Development Consultancy: Lifeblood for Revenue, Source for New Knowledge

Research and Development and Consultancy (RDC) activities are in the following areas: (1) policy research, (2) communication management, and (3) design, implementation and evaluation of communication programs.

RDC outputs have been institutionalized in many development plans and programs, a significant contribution to national development.

Through its former president, Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid, a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission. Several communication principles have been integrated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

AIJC outputs have been integrated in the following:

Information, education and communication plan of Philippine Agenda 21
Supreme Court Blueprint for Action on Judicial Reform
Supreme Court Action Program for Judicial Reform
Advocacy and Social Mobilization Plan of the Education for All (1991-2000)
Country Programme for Children IV
Literacy Coordinating Council Blueprint for Action
Policy Research and Advocacy

Policy research focuses on development and communication issues. The former includes development planning, social indicators, rural development, resource management, health, education, women and children, among others. Communication interventions in these areas are highlighted.

Communication issues cover mass media, information and communication technology, traditional and folk media, and organizational communication.

Communication Management

As a communication management consultant, AIJC has the following areas of competence; conduct of information and training needs analysis and internal communication audit; design of communication plans and programs; development of communication network; change management; and conceptualization and evaluation of communication policies and programs.

In the study, "Enhancing Communication between the Judiciary and the Citizenry completed in 1998", the Insitute examined the issues and concerns affecting the effectiveness of communication initiatives of the Judiciary. The study made recommendations on how the Supreme Court can improve its communication strategies with the other pillars of the criminal justice system.

Two related studies for the Supreme Court are the development of a "Comprehensive Communication Framework Plan" and the "Internal Comunication Audit of the SC".

The AIJC served as consultant to the Bureau of Internal Revenue for the Communication Support to Manage Change Project, part of the World Bank-funded Tax Computerization Project.

Through UNISYS, the AIJC provided change management support to the Bureau of Customs, also for its computerization project.

Communication Program Planning, Management and Evaluation

AIJC in partnership with MADECOR, a Philippine-based international consultancy firm, is implementing a three-year information, Education and Communication (IEC) program for the ADB-funded Fisheries Resource Management Project (FRMP).

Among the activities of this project are: (1) design of overall, regional and community communication plans, (2) communication research; (3) PR, community relations and advocacy; (4) capability-building; and (5) development of multimedia IEC materials.

Similar IEC program is provided to the World Bank-Funded Early Childhood Development Project

The Institute was at the forefront of the IEC campaign of the Philippine Centennial Celebration in cooperation with the Philippine Centennial Commission. It also co-published the monthly newspaper, Kalayaan, convened regional fora, published three important books, including Handbook on Communicating History (1997) and The Philippine Revolution: The Making of a Nation.

Another important involvement of AIJC is the IEC campaign for the Philippines 2000/Medium Term Philippine Development Plan

The AIJC has developed an IEC Model for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which was also adopted in the Philippine Agenda 21. Since 1990, the AIJC has worked closely with UNICEF and the Department of Education (DepEd) and Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the advocacy and social mobilization requirements of the Country Programme for Children. The other organizations that have been supported by AIJC are Cooperatives Development Authority (CDA), Central Visayas Regional Project, and UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines .

Editorial Services

Editorial services include conceptualization, writing, editing, design, and packaging of in-house publications; production of IEC materials such as posters, newsletters and brochures; and production of broadcast and audiovisual materials. Offered at socialized cost, editorial services are limited to development-oriented organizations such as DepEd, Literacy Coordinating Council, DSWD, UNICEF and UNESCO.

The Institute also pioneers in process documentation of development programs and projects. These documentations were eventually translated into books or video documentaries. Among these were projects of the DSWD for Smokey Mountain and Payatas, Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS), and Mt. Pinatubo Rehabilitation.