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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Colombia WASH Radio Campaign

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The WASH Coalition Colombia, led by the Cinara Institute at Universidad del Valle, developed a radio campaign that sought to bring water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues to the forefront and to provide listeners with information to improve their sanitation and hygiene situations at home.

Communication Strategies

From May to September 2009, a total of twenty educational radio shows were aired on Saturdays by Univalle Estéreo at FM 105.3. The programmes brought together experts who discussed relevant WASH information, problems associated with the sector, and possible solutions. While referring to local examples and cases, the programme addressed topics such as sanitation and hygiene in schools, efficient and multiple use of water, and water and sanitation projects in indigenous communities. During the broadcasts, the forum of experts:

  • informed the public about relevant and current WASH topics and concepts;
  • sensitised the public to problems related with WASH;
  • generated discussion among the different stakeholders in the WASH sector; and
  • advocated reinforcing and accelerating different WASH projects in Colombia (e.g. by fostering social responsibility of programmes through participation of different stakeholders).

Public participation was a focus; a vox populi series during the programmes invited people from diverse backgrounds to express their opinions and concerns related to specific topics.

Development Issues

Water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Sources

Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) website, February 24 2012; and email from Saskia Castelein to The Communication Initiative on March 2 2012.