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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Media: The Bridge - Mercy Corps Civil Society Newsletter

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Published by Mercy Corps, this April 2003 issue of "The Bridge" newsletter titled "The Media" examines media in the context of how it can be used as a tool to help NGOs put civil society principles into action. According to Mara Galaty, Director of Civil Society at Mercy Corps, "access to accurate and timely information enables more effective participation of people with whom we work in decisions that affect their lives. Responsible journalism helps reinforce accountable behavior in society."

As Mercy Corps strives to use media as a stakeholder, their programmes work to collaborate with media resources in order to produce public service announcements (PSAs), educated and trained journalists to more capably write about development issues, and even provide grants to media organisations to get actively involved in development efforts.

"Media can manifest itself in many ways - print, radio, television, the Internet", writes Ms. Galaty. "Media as an active stakeholder or an implementing partner can open the door to new opportunity and improved impact. This is an opportunity to spread a message, to reach broader audiences, to increase participation and to promote accountability. Informed people can discuss social problems and lay the groundwork for more peaceful change in their countries."

Among other topics, "The Media" issue provides a primer to "Making the Most of Media", recounts Mercy Corps' media experience during their funding campaign, and includes a draft of the Mercy Corps' communications strategy regarding the implementation of a new project.

"The Bridge" is a newsletter magazine produced by Mercy Corps to examine issues related to civil society and development.

Click here to read the full newlsetter online.

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