Submitted by crinadmin on
CRIN is a good information resource for us. It creates a basis for our involvement in advocacy processes in general. We find CRIN useful all the time. If CRIN did not exist, it would be necessary to invent it….The range of issues is your huge strength because it helps people like us underline the interconnectedness of rights. Introduction CRIN relies on its members and other users as a rich source of information, breaking news and leads on issues that need highlighting in international advocacy efforts. However, limited resources mean that decisions must be made on a daily basis about which rights issues and information services we prioritise. The survey is one way of consulting directly with members and other CRIN users about whether we are getting these priorities right, of guiding our future direction, and of strengthening opportunities for users’ involvement. The survey is particularly important at this juncture of CRIN’s development to gauge users’ views about the impact of CRIN’s strategic shift. In 2006, CRIN launched a strategy paper establishing three new strategic priorities: 1. Taking a more proactive approach to information management to encourage and fuel advocacy activities 2. Focusing on ‘neglected’ and ‘new and emerging’ issues where gaps are identified 3. Developing a more explicit focus on key audiences, identified by their ability to achieve greater recognition of children’s rights One of the aims of the survey was therefore to find out from members whether they are comfortable with this change and how we might better support their advocacy work in the future in line with these priorities. Recipients · The survey was sent by post to CRIN’s (at the time) 1,800 members Respondents What did we want to find out? Use of CRINMAIL as an information and networking tool Headline results · Overall very positive response to information services · Evidence of CRIN’s contribution to users’ advocacy work · Significant increase in website usage since CRIN’s 2005 survey · CRINMAIL is the mainstay of CRIN’s work for users with regular internet access; the Review is most popular among those with less frequent access · Advocacy and campaigning are the most common activities of CRIN users · Most respondents use CRIN for keeping up-to-date with child rights issues, though many felt they lacked information about how to contribute · Users express strong support for CRIN’s involvement in advocacy work · Data to be used with caution owing to low number of returns
· Email notification was sent out three times as a main item in CRINMAIL to 5,000 addresses in CRIN’s mailing list inviting them to complete the survey
· The survey featured on the homepage of CRIN’s website for a number of weeks
· Reminders were sent out in ‘news in brief’ in six CRINMAILs
Printed survey: 58
Online survey: 153
Level of participation in the network and how to increase this
Profile of respondents
Neglected areas of rights
Whether respondents supported CRIN in playing a stronger role in international advocacy
How useful CRIN has been in strengthening respondents’ own advocacy work
Use of and gaps in language services