Development action with informed and engaged societies
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.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Community Animation & Development Organisation (CADO)

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CADO uses a participatory development approach through the process of 'Community Animation' to assist people in translating perceived possibilities into action programmes. CADO's country programme started in 1993. It has a Head Office in Freetown, a Sub Office in Bo supporting programmes in the Southern and Eastern Regions and an office in Lungi (Port Loko District) supporting programmes in the Northern Region. CADO is actively involved in various sectorial programmes such as Agriculture, Basic Education, Health, Child Protection, Youth and Human Right, Micro Credit Scheme, with community animation and social mobilisation as forerunner to ensure total and active community participation.
Communication Strategies

Animation is a process of stimulating people to become aware and conscious of the problems and deprivation they suffer from while they regard themselves as principal actors in their lives and not mere objects. Some of their projects have included: facilitating viable cooperative societies, community structures from village to chiefdom level and the federation of internal animators at section and chiefdom levels; training in participatory development approaches, advocacy and research in community development and human rights issues for animators, civil servants and staff of both International and local NGOs; and developing collaborative links with Government Main-line Ministries in the implementation of sectoral programmes.

CADO is dedicated to the proposition that when people having similar status, living under the same odd circumstances get together to reflect on issues affecting them and form some kind of collective structures, taking initiatives, working with one mind, willingly sharing resources, information and energy, this can authentically foster self-development.

Development Issues

Economic Development, Rural Development, Agriculture, Education, Child Rights, Health.

Key Points

CADO's mission is to stimulate communities to regard themselves as the principal actors in their own development that can influence a change in their situation. CADO has a culture, which encourages creativity, accountability for its activities, partnership and decision-making at the appropriate level.

Partners

Over the 8 years of CADO's operation in Sierra Leone, it has collaborated with several agencies such as UNICEF, World Vision-Sierra Leone, World Food Programme (WFP), Catholic Relief Service (CRS), Africare, CARE International, Christian Children Fund, CAUSE Canada, Action Aid-Sierra Leone, SL/ADB/ADF 2nd Education Project, Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL), Network Movement for Justice and Development (NWJD) and the Agriculture Production, General and Extension Service (APEGS) in the successful implementation of multi-sectoral programmes.

Sources

Letter from Solomon Kargbo (June 12, 2001) and CADO Brochure.