Reaching the Outside World

Writing for UNDP

Writing for UNDP products, such as publications or websites, should be clear and concise. Click below to learn more about:

• UN and UNDP Writing and Style Guidelines
• Storytelling

As a public organization, UNDP should communicate in language that is concise and easy to understand. This requires plain words, simple sentences and well-structured analysis. Currently, too much communications on development is convoluted and full of jargon. It takes time to craft sentences in which each word counts.

UNDP follows the UN Secretariat in
using the latest edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary for spelling
and hyphenation conventions. The dictionary is a combination of traditional
English and US spellings.

Some common spelling examples:

Analyse (not analyze)
Catalyse (not catalyze)
Organization (not organisation)
Decentralization (not decentralisation)
Programme (not program)
Paediatrics (not pediatrics)
Travelling (not traveling)
Fulfil (not fulfill)
Enrol (not enroll)
Favour (not favor)
Behaviour (not behavior)

UN and UNDP Writing and Style Guidelines

All writing at and for UNDP, including publications, web content and other materials produced for UNDP stakeholders, should follow the UNDP Style Manual. The Style Manual provides clear and simple guidelines to ensure evenness in UNDP writing, without detracting from the writer’s personal style. It is important for UNDP's written content to be consistent, not just in terms of our core branding messages, but also in terms of style and language. Editors use style guidelines to make consistent choices about spelling and grammar. Being consistent lends UNDP communications products a sense of professionalism and polish.

A second editorial source that staff can consult for editorial questions is the online UN Editorial Manual. For technical and academic publications, please consult the Chicago Manual of Style.

To assist in meeting UNDP’s editorial and production standards, UNDP’s Bureau for Development Policy (BDP) established a roster of writer/editors in the English language in 2010 that will significantly reduce the staff time spent sourcing, attracting and recruiting suitable writers/editors and help to ensure a high caliber of editorial input.

Storytelling

Adapted from the UNDP Storytelling Guidelines. With increased competition for donor funds and international scrutiny of the organization, it has become essential that UNDP communicates its results better. One way of doing this is to write and disseminate compelling human interest stories about how UNDP’s work changes the lives of ordinary people around the world in a positive and sustainable way. These stories must contain relevant technical information about the project to create an informative piece of writing.

What is a compelling UNDP human interest story?
This is a story that has a particular human being(s) at the centre of the narrative whose life has been affected in a positive and sustainable manner by a UNDP intervention. Meetings, workshops, launches, reports, plans, pledges, intentions, etc, do not, by themselves, make a gripping human interest story. Trainings only work as a story if the training is used to a positive end - i.e. the people trained are able to deliver concrete results and become self-reliant. You must also remember that this story is competing with others for the reader’s attention. Use the “So What?” test.

What is the technical information required?
This provides the context, the factual background to the story, and covers the basic journalistic questions of Who, What, Where, When, How and more importantly, Why. The facts are best reflected when they are clear and jargon-free.

• What is the project? (access to justice or microfinance, reducing the effects of climate change, etc)

• Why is this project in existence? (To improve participation of women in the political sphere, or enable sustainable livelihoods, etc)

• Where is the project? (Country plus: urban, rural, desert, coastal, forest, etc)

• Who benefits from the project? (Number of women, children, ex‐combatants, IDPs, etc.) Also, who are the partners? (Donors, government counterparts, NGOs, other UN agencies, private sector, etc)

• How is the project being implemented? (Training and deployment of judges to rural areas, rehabilitation and equipping of local government buildings, etc)

• When did the project start?

• What arrangements are in place to promote self‐reliance among the beneficiaries when the project is over?

Once all this information has been established, you must then look for the human interest angle of the story.

After the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Jean Sergot Altidor participated in UNDP's cash-for-work programme in Les Cayes, which resulted in a 160-metre stone and wire reinforcement wall along one side of the riverbank bordering his neighbourhood. He used the money he earned to finish building his house and send all three of his children to school, including his nine-year-old daughter Marie Fabine Altidor. Photo: Sophia Paris/UNDP

What is the story?
Essentially, the story is how people’s lives have been changed by UNDP’s work. Select a consenting adult (or minor with a guardian’s consent) who can elaborate how their life was before UNDP's involvement, and how it has changed since. It is important to narrate how the individual became self-reliant. Keep in mind that in a story there can be additional benefits, for example, if a community gets running water, children, particularly girls, will be able to go to school all day, instead of having to fetch water for the family. Think of the story in a broad fashion that allows the detail of the story to emerge.

Key points to remember when writing the story:

• Confirm the basic facts of the story – background and human interest story.

• Get the name, age (if appropriate to ask) and other relevant facts of the person being interviewed e.g. number of children, title (if any), current occupation, previous occupation, etc.

• Include quotes from the person being interviewed as it adds authenticity to the story.

• Ensure you include numbers (of people assisted, of money provided for microfinance, etc).

• Give credit where it is due – name your partners.

• Use active rather than passive verbs. “Donors gave money to UNDP,” rather than, “UNDP was given money by donors.”

• No UN jargon, use plain language. For guidance on decoding clumsy words see The A to Z of Alternative Words from the Plain English Campaign.

• Avoid all acronyms that smack of being made up. UNDP should be UNDP. The Informal Consultative Group on Democratic Governance probably doesn’t need to be the ICGDG, except among members of the group. See UN Acronyms for an acronym decoder.

• Don’t use unnecessary language, which often creeps in when writers are struggling to define a point. For example: “It is important to point out that GDP has fallen.” Instead, say: “GDP has fallen.”

• Don’t use overly florid or unusual language to pump up points, especially if you are trying to convey emotion. You may feel strongly about eradicating poverty, but rhetorical displays about big issues quickly seem over the top. Stick to concrete details to define problems. Present the most relevant data, especially if it is new or unusual.

• Take a picture, video, or soundbite if possible to accompany your written piece.

• And finally, put yourself in the shoes of the reader. Would you want to read this story?

Keep in mind the guidelines of the UNDP voice: clear, concise and easy to understand, no matter how complex the issue, and you will write an interesting and compelling story that can be accessible by a number of audiences. UNICEF's Issue-Action-Impact is a fail safe formula to help you compose your content; simple and linear, it will lead the reader directly from the problem to whatever solutions you may be proposing. For further guidance on clean and clear writing also see, In Other Words: A Plea for Plain Speaking in Foundations. Additional storytelling resources can be found in the Tools section of this Toolkit.

The Anti-Jargon List...

Accountability	Responsibility
Aid coordination	Working together
Aid effectiveness	Real impact
Capacity building	Improving/enhancing ability/performance Teaching skills Strengthen institutions, people
Capacity development	Working with individuals to increase abilities Helping people to help themselves
Coordination	Working together
Delivering on results	Living up to your promises
Human development	Improving people's lives
Mitigation	Reducing the negative effects
Operationalize	Put into action/put into practice
Outcomes	Achievements/results
Outputs	Product/activity
Resource management	Fundraising

 

Adapted from the evolving UNDP Bangkok Regional Centre's Jargon Glossary List.

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