Strategic communications is used tobuild support and local ownership for reform initiativeswhile diffusing stakeholder opposition. It addresses thecritical 'people' side of the reform process byfostering dialogue between stakeholders, changingperceptions, and strengthening the capacity of government toassist taxpayers. This note outlines an approach tested intax reform projects in the Republic of Yemen and SierraLeone, where strategic communications has been used toidentify, and then systematically inform and engage relevantstakeholders a process that has proved essential to reformimplementation and acceptance. This note also highlights theexperience of the Lao People's Democratic Republic,where a multimedia informational campaign preceded theintroduction of the value-added tax (VAT), influencingpublic opinion and paving the way for the reform.