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.
 
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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PAPER The Drum Beat - 21 - COLOMBIA - Colnodo

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The Drum Beat - 21 - COLOMBIA - Colnodo
Additional Information and Commentary

By Adelaida Trujillo-Caicedo
Citurna Producciones en Cine y Video
Bogotá, May of 1999
adelaidatrujillo@cable.net.co


9. Colombia: Programmes - Colnodo

Colnodo ( Asociación Colombiana de Organizaciones No-Gubernamentales para la Comunicación Vía Correo Electrónico -Colombian Association of Non-Governmental Organisations for Communication Via Electronic Mail) is a non-profit association.
Its main purpose is to provide specialized electronic communication services, to facilitate the interchange of information and experiences at a local, national and international level, at the lowest cost possible. The service is targeted to serve human sustainable development organisations that work in human rights, environment, gender equity, habitat and other related areas.

Colnodo also has wide experience in the development of low-cost electronic networks, as well as web page design and related communication services such as faxes - at 50% of the commercial cost. The service is provided to both non-profit and for-profit organisations, as long as the focus of their work is sustainable development and change.

In the area of human rights, Colnodo has facilitated the interchange of information to more than thirty human rights organisations, using;
a) discussion lists on the themes (i.e. dh@colnodo.apc.org - connected to the Human Rights Protection Network of the Colombian Presidency)

b) electronic bulletin boards (i.e. dh.amlatina)

c) databases (videolibraries, the Directory for the Network of Conflict Resolution)

d) archive servers , like the Annual report of International Humanitarian Right of 1995 and 1996, and

e) information systems through the Internet like the Support Bulletin for Displaced People, 'Exodo' (http://exodo.org.co), the magazine Arcanos ( http://arcanos.org.co) or the Citizen's Mandate for Peace (Mandato Ciudadano por la Paz - a ten million civil society vote against violence), http://www.colnodo.apc.org/colombiapaz, amongst many others.
Besides having the experience of pioneering in the electronic, on-line communications area in Colombia, as well as serving the most outstanding human sustainable development organisations, Colnodo is the Colombian representative of the Association for the Progress of Communications - APC (www.apc.org ) and at the national level is a Titular Member of the Corporation InterRed (www.interred.net.co).

Colnodo's main projects in development this year are:
a) Colombia's Sustainable Development Network (Red de Desarrollo Sostenible - www.rds.org.co) This is an initiative of the United Nations Development Project , with the support of the Ministry for the Environment, Colciencias, the National Planning Department, and Ecofondo ( the national association for scientific research), amongst other major environmental organisations in the country. This will link all the organisations in the country, at a local, regional , national and international level.

b) " Interfaces for consultation of Bibliographical Databases through Internet" (Interfaces de Consulta de bases de Datos Bibliográficas a través de Internet" (bases.colnodo.org.co). This consists basically of putting on-line , with a graphic interface that can be used from a graphic client in Internet ( Internet Explorer or Netscape), the data bases that are available in Colnodo, as well as an evaluation of the different alternatives available thru Internet for database consultation.

c) "Neighbourhood Information Units" (Unidades de Información Barrial)
(www.colnodo.org.co/uib). Colnodo is creating an Information System that is based in the creation and electronic networking of Neighbourhood Information Units. State of the art electronic equipment is placed strategically in low income barrios, accompanied by training workshops on how to use the technology. The idea is to use the electronic media to tell the stories of the barrio, share community experiences, participate in the relationship of the barrio to the city. The units offer a space and tool for democratic access to information and knowledge. The first two Units have been started in the barrios of SanCristobal and Bosa in Bogotá. This project has the support of the IDRC ( Canada), APC and Microsoft of Colombia.
Contact :

Julián Casasbuenas
Director
COLNODO
Avenida 39 # 14-75
Bogotá , Colombia
Tel: (57-1) 338 12 77 / (57-3) 333 9099
Fax: (57-1) 232 4246
e-mail : julian@colnodo.apc.org