Many institutions have corporate communications unit or department or division. However, not many of them acknowledge or appreciate the strategic role of corporate communications. This thesis aims at generating better understanding and establishing recognition about strategic role of corporate communications. It also aims at analyzing process of developing and implementing strategic communications plan. This thesis answers two important questions regarding bringing corporate communications to a strategic level: (1) strategic role of corporate communications; (2) how to develop corporate communications strategic plan that supports business objectives of the institution. This thesis uses theories on definition of corporate communications, strategic role and position of corporate communication including three cornerstones of corporate communications. There are also theories on how to develop, implement and assess corporate communications strategic plan. This thesis uses qualitative research methodology. Some tools being used in qualitative methodology were focus group discussion, in-depth interview, participant observation and document review. This thesis used IFC Indonesia as the study case. IFC is a member of the World Bank Group focusing on private sector development in emerging countries. This thesis found that corporate communications in IFC Indonesia has strategic role, which goes beyond press release and marketing material production and that recognition from IFC Indonesia management and staff is important to bring corporate communications to a more strategic level. This thesis also presents result from the implementation of corporate communications strategic plan.

Key Words: Corporate communications, IFC, strategic communications plan, communications strategy, strategic role, strategic position.