The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative

After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. 

Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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Culture, Identity and Reproductive Failure in Zimbabwe

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Author

  • Agnes O. Runganga
  • Johanne Sundby
  • Peter Aggleton
  • Peter Aggleton
Describes findings from a study of reproductive failure conducted in Zimbabwe. It examines the perspectives of men and women who believed they were potential reproductive failures by not having the socially expected numbers and types of children.

In depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to explore the meanings of reproductive failure and their links to local beliefs and culture, sexual behaviour and gender identities, and HIV prevention. Among study participants, a preoccupation with conception undermined the adoption of what are currently regarded as safer sexual behaviours. In seeking to overcome what was seen as reproductive failure, men, and women to a lesser extent, engage in unprotected sex with multiple concurrent and serial partners. Such behaviours are given meaning by long-held local beliefs concerning the importance of childbearing for individuals and for the wider community. These beliefs need to be taken seriously by future programmes and interventions to promote sexual and reproductive health.

Click here to download from the AFRO-NETS website. Click on the file name - repro-failure.doc to download in MS Word format.

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