Context

About WISE

UNDER REVIEW

Vision

A Southeast Asia that is equitable and sustainable for all.

Mission

Acting for social and environmental change through community development, behaviour change, capacity building, and research.

Causes

We focus on water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) as well as waste management, but also collaborate on causes related to public health, inclusion, education, and climate change.

Values

• Empowerment - You decide what to do with your life.

• Expertise - We use cutting edge thinking and practices.

• Excellence - We deliver high-quality outputs.

• Grit - We persist through ups and downs.

Positioning

Positioning refers to the big differentiating idea that we strive to own in the minds of our target audiences.

TO REVIEW

What makes WISE unique?

• WISE acts through and supports ground-up movements. (We take action as members of, or work with, local communities in our projects; we help other changemakers work more effectively through capacity building.)
• WISE acts in solidarity with other social and environmental causes. (Where there is an opportunity for us to add value to someone else's work, we will not hesitate to do so.)

How do we fit in and stand out among our peers?

• We fit in among peers because we act from the local context.
• We stand out among our peers because we strive to achieve genuine impact across social and environmental sectors.

What do we want people to think of when they think of us?

• We are driven by our commitment to create change.

Framework

Vision

External audiences are informed about and engaged in supporting WISE's vision of an equitable and sustainable Southeast Asia.

Objectives

To inform and engage WISE's external audiences, we will:

• Create understanding of the causes and consequences of the issues that our projects act on;
• Advocate for the approaches that WISE utilises to address these issues;
• Mobilise audiences to join WISE through donations, volunteering, spreading the word, and partnerships.

Key messages

WISE creates a more equitable and sustainable community by acting across social and environmental sectors. We aspire to be the regional leader in creating change through community development, behaviour change, capacity building, and research programs in Southeast Asia, led by Southeast Asians because real change happens from the ground up. To achieve this aspiration, we need sustainable funding and passionate volunteers and partners who are committed to continuous learning and long-term growth.

Guiding principles

WISE communications should be:

• Accessible: Jargon-free, easy to understand, in plain English, and translated to the local language according to the needs of the audience.
• Purposeful, in terms of communicating information that are insightful and mobilise action in line with WISE’s vision, mission and values.
• Trustworthy: Information should be accurate, evidence-based, up-to-date, transparent and include all the relevant facts. 
• Add value: Only speak when we have something worthwhile to say.