Main message

Your purpose statement leads naturally into your report’s main message. Unlike the purpose statement, your main message is not just a planning component. You will also include it in your draft as an essential part of your text.

In not more than a couple of sentences, your main message forms the main idea that you wish to convey in your report or proposal. By establishing a clear main message, you have created for yourself a reference point for your entire document. With a clear main message you will be able to assess how focused your writing is and whether it is organized to help achieve your purpose.

Examples of main messages

Please note that it is not possible to compose a generic main message that can apply to a particular type of report such as a proposal or an evaluation. The main message must contain specific details that will help determine the logical organization of information in your report. Therefore, in the table, you will see more specific main messages as examples of the kinds of main message that would appear for these types of reports.

Donor Report

Purpose

Primary reader

Main message

As a result of reading this donor report, my reader(s) will:
recognize the quality of work performed by WHO’s country office and will be supportive of continued work from the funding provided.

Donor representatives

During the period under review, WHO not only built up the capacity of health partners to prepare and respond to emerging public health threats, but also ensured coverage of health services for vulnerable and conflict-affected people.

Proposal

Purpose

Primary reader

Main message

As a result of reading this proposal, my reader(s) will:
approve funding for a capacity-building initiative for HIV/AIDS training and knowledge management strategies in conjunction with the HIV and AIDS prevention project across the country.

Funder, manager, decision maker

The donor partner should accept this proposal for funding because its objectives are in line with those of the HIV and AIDS prevention project. The funding proposed would help build local capacity for HIV/AIDS training and strengthen health sector knowledge management by improving hospital databases.

Terms of reference

Purpose

Primary reader

Main message

As a result of reading these terms of reference, my reader(s) will prepare work tasks to fulfill the demands of the project.

Working group

The Working Group (WG) will serve as an advisory body to the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Partnership Board with the following objectives:

enhance the RBM partnership's capacity to mobilize new resources for country malaria control actions, including prevention;
ensure the effective utilization of available financial allocations.

Members of the WG will also review financial flows data used by the RBM Partnership for advocacy or international reporting.

Procedure document/How-to

Purpose

Primary reader

Main message

As a result of reading these guidelines, my reader(s) will:
develop an appropriate Office Management Plan (OMP).

Users of the guidelines (Regional and division directors, those who are writing the plan)

In its now simplified form and within 10 pages, the OMP will highlight, in a succinct manner, key division and office functions, expected results and key performance indicators, analysis of resource needs and monitoring and review mechanisms.