Throughout the year, the IPS headquarters and regional centres organize, sponsor and participate in a number of communication and media events. Such occasions give IPS a chance to meet and network with other actors operating in the information and communication sphere, as well as to interact with its audiences. Most events are conducted in partnership with civil society organizations, donors, or other media entities. Trainings for journalists and other communication professionals and events that provide a venue for media development and other capacity-building activities happen throughout the year.

Two events, in particular, have been a regular feature of the IPS networking and dissemination effort for more than a decade: the IPS Support Group Meetings and the IPS International Achievement Award.

The IPS Support Group Meetings are held every year around the end of November, when IPS partners, clients and donors, as well as Board Members, Trustees and key staff, meet to discuss important issues related to communication and development. The latest Support Group Meeting was held in Venice, Italy, on November 29, 2007, entitled “The role of communication in the dialogue among civilisations”.

The IPS International Achievement Award was established to recognise the work of individuals and organisations that fight for social and political justice in the “new world order”. The latest Award (2006) was bestowed upon former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, for his lasting contributions to peace and security, and his commitment to help the world’s poorer nations in their fight to reduce extreme poverty and hunger. These videos cover the most significant moments of the award ceremony: