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.
Time to read
2 minutes
Print
a- a+
Read so far

Involve men to shift social and gender norms

6 comments

In my work at IRH (Institute for reproductive Health at Georgetown University in Wdc) we are using an innovation which involve men to shift social and gender norms such as  fertity, lack of communication in the couple, no participation of women in couple decision link to her reproductive health. When involve men changed attitude and behaviour and support women and men to be a decison maker and choose the way they would like to follow for their enjoyment. This approch is based on SBCC and prove that with SBCC we mobilise people at differnt level and obtain result.

What Works? Shifting Norms; Changing Behaviours; Amplifying Voice - #SBCCSummit

Comments

Submitted by irene heidy on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 22:51 Permalink

Hi Mariam,

It is really great to hear about your approach. We also promote healthy masculinity and we try to find positive deviant within the community. Would you mind sharing your stretegy to maintain the desired behaviour changes during and following the project period? Thanks for sharing. 

Submitted by Shan.Phil on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 11:25 Permalink

There are the constant increases in poverty, massive abuses of human rights, limited access to health care, the prevalence of gender inequality, the shocking rises in crime and the list seems sometimes endless. All these ills are enough to prey on the pride and social consciousness of any person and to a greater extent any nation. However, there is always a silver lining in every dark cloud. This silver lining comes out in a popular mantra posited by Jamaican Governor General The Right Excellent, Sir Patrick Allen. He said "there is nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed with what is right with Jamaica." I would want to extend the scope to have it say, "there is nothing wrong with the world, that cannot be fixed with what is right with the world." 

It is on that basis that I move to highlight the Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit as a platform that is indeed right with the world. The Sustainable Development Goals seem to be the chief factors beyond the SBCC and I believe wholeheartedly that they are highly attainable.

Submitted by Shan.Phil on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 11:38 Permalink

I am looking forward to an engaging, informatory and fulfilling summit! 

Health is created through the interplay of biology and the social determinants that shape human interaction.  These social determinants include factors such as knowledge, attitudes, norms and cultural practices. Social and behavior change communication programs (SBCC) use the most powerful and fundamental human interaction – communication – to positively influence these social dimensions of health and well-being.

User Image
Submitted by John-Kwakhaindvodza (not verified) on Mon, 02/05/2018 - 04:17 Permalink

Hi Miriam,

I work for an organization in Swaziland called Kwakha Indvodza, which means 'Building a Man'. This post really hits home because for too long has developmental approaches neglected the fact that men and boys are the main perpetrators of GBV and other social ills and such should be targets of primary prevention. Targeting men and boys in changing norms, whilst empowering women through education and a robust legislative and policy framework is the way forward.

Submitted by Nzender on Mon, 02/12/2018 - 03:00 Permalink

Engagement of men and boys is such an important consideration, especially within gender work. As discussed above, gender equality is a great challenge in Swaziland and many initiatives are working to promote equality and empowerment. I think it’s so important to work with both men and women. Focusing on only girls and women ignores half of the context of gender norms. Equal understanding can never be reached if men and boys are not included in the conversation, regardless of how much education is provided to women and girls. Initiatives like Kwakha Indvodza, Men as Partners, and One Man Can are great at empowering men to be positive role models. The messaging used in these programs is so important to focus on the positive change that men can make in terms of gender norms and equality instead of criticizing men for negative behavior.