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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How Fo Do? Television Drama

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How Fo Do? was a ten-week television drama that sought to contribute to and promote meaningful participation in the 2015 election process in Nigeria. The objective of the drama was to educate eligible voters on their voting rights, the voting process, and the need to participate in the election process, as well as to encourage peaceful co-existence and promote the culture of tolerance among the electorates. In particular, the series sought to raise awareness of the strategies, deceptions, and misinformation used during electoral campaigning to mislead potential voters, in order to enable vulnerable voters to make more informed choices. The series was supported by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and produced by Dasamal Television Network.
Communication Strategies

According to OSIWA, "In Nigerian society, there is a great divide between the so called 'haves' and 'have nots' and the way the vulnerable are exploited during electoral campaigns by those seeking political office. 'How Fo Do?' was a drama series designed to address the various issues that arise before, during, and after the elections in the different Nigerian states and highlights the response of the public whether it be positive, negative, or indifferent."

The storyline of the drama was based on real-life and recurring scenarios in the socio-political environment of Nigeria. The drama highlighted the various strategies, deceptions, and misinformation used during electoral campaigning to mislead potential voters, especially at the grassroots level. According to OSIWA, "generally, when these things are pointed out to people who have been exploited by those seeking political office and persons close to them (usually stemming from poverty, threats, blackmail and lack of formal education) their response is expressed through the vernacular "How Fo Do?" meaning 'what choice do I have?' or 'what else could I have done in my situation?'"

The drama sought to address this by raising awareness of these situations before they happen and by highlighting different ways to react to these situations. So, as each dramatised story unfolded against a backdrop of electoral corruption or misinformation, it showed observable best practice and conduct through the key characters in the drama.

The drama was broadcast on DTN, Channel 118, on Startimes, and other networks in Nigeria.

Development Issues

Democracy and Governance, Elections

Partners

Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and Dasamal Television Network.

Sources

OSIWA Electorial Campaign Facebook page on February 25 2015.