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. 

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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No Hoodie No Honey Social Media Campaign

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Launched in December 2013, the No Hoodie No Honey (No Condom, No Sex) social media campaign is designed to reach young people in Nigeria, especially girls aged 15-24, with information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including safer sex. The messages and dialogue are promoted through social media, accompanied by two 3D animation videos, promotional materials, radio, and interpersonal communication. The campaign is led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Communication Strategies

The overall goal of the campaign is to "contribute to the reduction of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/HIV among young people by promoting access to age appropriate and gender responsive sexual and reproductive health information." This is achieved by generating active online discussion among young people to enable them to make informed choices about their sexual health and relationships, empower girls with accurate information to initiate and negotiate safer sex practices, and promote correct and consistent use of condoms.

The campaign is premised on the belief that safer sex education should happen before sexual debut. Key messages are designed to stimulate discussions about the discomfort girls face in initiating and negotiating condom use with their partners and ways they can overcome it, as well as promote the concept that "girls who carry condoms are smart, brave and taking charge of their life." The campaign also promotes safer sex as being a shared responsibility essential in every relationship.

Tag lines include the following:

  • "Smart Girls Use their Hoodie!
  • Wear a Raincoat, Prevent a Stormy Future
  • No Glove, No Love
  • Don't be the Girl who couldn't say NO!
  • Have your Hoodie Just in Case
  • Wrap Up or your Future is a Wrap
  • If You Really Love Her, Wear a Cover"

Social media such as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, are being used to disseminate messages and promote dialogue under the hashtag #NoHoodieNoHoney. Twitter discussions are anchored by youth blogger/youth panellists, with periodic tweet chats, tweetathons, and Q&A, usually linked to commemoration days (World AIDS Day, Valentine's Day, etc.) or key activities. Youth social media personalities receive training on the SRH issues to keep the issues trending. Wherever possible, the discussion features young people sharing their experiences.

As part of the campaign, two 3D videos are used in small group sessions led by peer educators. The sessions include a video screening, discussion, a male and female condom demo, a role play on condom negotiation, and a question and answer session. Pre-launch screenings with adolescents aged 15-24 years were hosted in 4 states (Benue, Cross Rivers, Lagos, and Kaduna). Facilitators are equipped with a facilitator's guide, comic book, and promotional materials (T-shirts, keyrings, notepads, wristbands). The campaign launch was also promoted on radio through daily hypes and live discussions.

Development Issues

Sexual and reproductive health

Key Points

As of February 2016, the programme has achieved the following:

  • part one of the video reached 6,181 people and part two reached 3,156 people;
  • the twitter discussions have reached an audience of 8,482,101;
  • 300 peer educators and 50 programme managers have received training, reaching 5,000 young people.

Some of the key lessons learned are related to the fact that "gender stereotype is a strong barrier to girls' access and utilisation of condoms" and that "programme managers must continually explore and employ non-traditional ways to reach young people with SRH information."

Partners

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).