Building strategic communication to “tell GERD Stories to the world”, Improving Ethiopian GERD Communication Strategy

Strategic communication can play a critical role in helping to decrease negative externalities associated with the GERD dispute. Specifically, it is used to pinpoint barriers both externally and internally by telling the truth behind the construction of the dam and the negative role played in Egyptian diplomacy. The Egyptian highly used digital diplomacy to influence the course of the dispute. Egypt used campaign strategies to make their truth heard by the world in the form of propaganda. The joint plan of action used by Egyptians includes media diplomacy. This paper is mainly based on secondary data analysis of the available secondary information and newspaper articles, online articles, and academic literature The “Water, Hydro-diplomacy and communication forum” formed to discuss various issues to have a clear understanding of GERD and a transboundary river issue is a good beginning. However, the effort has to go beyond this. Ethiopia has to use digital tactics to fruitfully introduce the truth to both the riparian countries and to the world through strategic communication using different media channels under the campaign “to tell GERD stories to the world". Additionally this article also found the importance of “GERD” day for the Ethiopian people to continue on this path with unwavering dedication, protecting the prosperity and legacy for generations to come