In March 2024 I gave a writing workshop in Addis Ababa for staff from UNHCR (the UN refugee agency), the German state aid agency GIZ, and Welthungerhilfe, a German NGO.
Writing workshops and editing for international organizations
Andrew Johnston
Engage. Explain. Persuade. Change the world.
Powerful writing can help make the world a better place by informing and motivating policymakers, donors and opinion-shapers. But many documents from international organizations fail to achieve that potential. They lack a clear main message, their recommendations are vague, and they use dense, opaque prose.
My writing workshops show participants how to:
- start with the message, not the background
- turn evidence into clear arguments
- make recommendations specific and usable
- tell stories more powerfully
- make the most of AI and avoid its pitfalls
- write shorter, clearer sentences and paragraphs
- adapt tone and language to the audience.
Training
Tailored workshops for teams that need sharper, clearer writing: short or long, in person or online.
Ninety-minute online "clinics" to analyse and improve your documents.
Editing
In-depth editorial support to transform reports, briefs, and communications materials.
In-depth editorial support to transform reports, briefs, and communications materials.
International focus
Designed for people working across borders: UN agencies, NGOs, think tanks, development banks.
Designed for people working across borders: UN agencies, NGOs, think tanks, development banks.