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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Strengthening Local Democracy in the Province of Buenos Aires (Fortalecimiento de la Democracia Local en la Provincia de Buenos Aires)

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This programme is part of the Argentinean Fundación Poder Ciudadano´s (Citizen Power Foundation) "Transparent Municipalities" strategy. The objective of the programme is to increase transparency and citizen participation in local public administration in three ways:
  • Strengthen the skills of civil society organisations (community organisations, NGOs, etc.) to participate in drafting of public policy;
  • Strengthen the ability of municipal authorities to respond to citizens’ demands; and
  • Promote reforms and updates in pertinent regulations.
The initiative promotes the progress of local institutions regarding access to public information, integrity, and public ethics. The Foundation has implemented the programme in Azul, Carlos Casares, La Costa, Luján, Lanús, Marcos Paz, San Miguel, San Fernando, Quilmes and Mar de Plata, and has plans to extend it to all the municipalities of Buenos Aires.
Communication Strategies

The work is geared to facilitate a bridge between municipal administration and the community. Training serves to introduce people to the general aspects of citizen participation and the ability and possibility they have as citizens to impact public policy and hold governments accountable for their actions. The training has been aimed at public institutions, neighbours, the local media, leaders from the social movement, and political leaders from the community.

Other programme activities include strengthening local democracy through promoting citizen participation and transparency in municipal administration as a means to improve public policy.

Development Issues

Democracy, governance and transparency

Key Points

Poder Ciudadano leads the work for good state government, transparency in public administration, and the commitment to invigorate institutions in a democracy. The organisation's mission is to promote citizen participation and transparency in order to strengthen democratic institutions through collective action. The foundation has served as the Argentinean chapter of Transparency International since 1993. Transparency International is a leading organisation in the struggle against corruption around the world.

Sources

Poder Ciudadano website.