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

Time to read
less than
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 26 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Information Boutiques - Burkina Faso

0 comments

Information Boutiques have been established in Burkina Faso by the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in the context of their Programme for Decentralisation Support, and aims to enlarge the range of choices for the population to actively participate in the development of their country.
Communication Strategies

The Information Boutiques collect and distribute information about things such as juridical issues providing training and acting as intermediaries between local citizens and the government. The IICD has become involved in the creation of a new website, and in the creation of a multi-media presentation programme in the local languages.

Development Issues

Democracy and sustainable human development.

Key Points

The website is being established to create an easily accessible information and communication technology (ICT) facility where information can both be published and collected in order to promote the participation of citizens in the decision making process. Local capacity building is also being introduced with the use of ICT training for staff and users of the Boutiques.

Partners



International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), Information Boutiques in Burkina Faso,

Sources

"Annual Report 1998" International Institute for Communication and Development: The Netherlands, 1999.