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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TechWomen

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TechWomen is a professional mentorship and exchange programme to enable women in the field of technology from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to collaboarte and learn from mentors in the field of technology. The United States (US). Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) launched TechWomen to bring emerging women leaders in technology sectors from MENA together with their US counterparts for a 5-week professional mentorship and exchange programme at technology companies in the US, with on-going follow-up in several MENA countries.

Communication Strategies

TechWomen mentees take part in three-week project-based mentorships at companies in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay area. Each mentee is matched with a professional mentor who partners with the mentee on a technical project at the host company and provides professional guidance and support. For more information on becoming a professional mentor, see Become A Mentor.

 

TechWomen Mentees also participate in professional enrichment activities such as leadership and entrepreneurship workshops and "Tech Talks," as well as serve on panels at community events. They participate in "tech meet ups" and other networking events. Post-programme networking events and seminars are also run by mentors in several MENA countries. This in-country programming focuses on expanding networks of women in the technology sectors, creating and strengthening partnerships, and ensuring the sustainability of mentor/mentee relationships.

Development Issues

New Technology, Gender

Key Points

The TechWomen programme hosts a blog and provides networking through Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Partners

US Department of State - Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), Institute of International Education (IIE), Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI)

Sources

web2fordev website on January 24 2012, and email from Lexi Curtice to The Communication Initiative on January 26 2012.