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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Radio & Community Monitoring of AIDS - Zimbabwe

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A community reporting project on locally relevant information to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS beyond Harare, the capital. The objectives of the program are to provide a constant supply of AIDS information to the public through many media, to involve community members in youth interventions to promote behavior change, and to reduce and remove the stigma associated with AIDS infected people.
Communication Strategies

Discussion, comments, and interactions of local people were recorded and slotted into existing programmes (i.e. radio shows or women's programming) where listeners could call in and comment on the content of the show. Also a phone-in magazine using people with AIDS on a station called Radio 2, the most popular radio station (local language) in Zimbabwe. People with HIV/AIDS were involved as the major sources of information and advice. The interactive program increases participation and in doing so, the knowledge retained by the public.
Development Issues

HIV/AIDS
Key Points

Zimbabwe has a very large and growing HIV/AIDS situation. There is a serious stigma associated with people infected with AIDS, which has been difficult to remove. This project attempts to remove this stigma, and replace it with accurate information.
Sources

Draft Health Communication Materials UNICEF: 1996