Communication for Development Foundation Uganda

CDFU aims to help international agencies and local organisations to:

• Develop quality of their BCC interventions by providing technical assistance, leading other organisations through a communication process to "learn by doing". CDFU offers training of trainers sessions to create resource persons for development communication training. CDFU's training emphasises community participatory tools and approaches. To support this work, CDFU develops training curricula and other training aids and produces radio programmes and spots on a range of health and development topics.
• Empower communities by improving their communication skills and providing the tools community leaders, agencies, and resource people need to enhance the adoption of positive practices in the community.
• Motivate people living in Uganda, through media and interpersonal communication channels, to adopt practices that will lead to healthier and more productive lives.
• Assist organisations to develop and implement advocacy campaigns which enhance social development throughout Uganda.

CDFU focuses on design of communication strategies addressing issues including maternal and child health, malaria, prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, and micro-finance consumer education. Other areas for which CDFU has developed strategies include adolescent reproductive health, blood donation, conflict resolution, and cross-cutting issues for the road sub-sector. CDFU provides the following services:

• Behaviour change needs assessment and strategic design
• Communication campaign design, planning, and management
• Production of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials - the organisation has an in-house design unit that creates posters, flip charts, comic books, leaflets, radio programmes (including drama serial programmes), and spots.
• Technical assistance on communication planning and evaluation
• Community mobilisation: CDFU works with districts, leaders, community-based organisations, and networks to mobilise communities for health and development programmes. CDFU's approach emphasises participation of all key stakeholders throughout the process, often using entertainment-education approaches to engage communities in order to promote positive behavior and social change, and utilisation of services. In addition, CDFU has helped establish networks of volunteers that provide information, refer people to services, and promote sustainability of programmes.
• Training and skills development in BCC, IEC, and social mobilisation
• Pre-testing materials and formative research, including focus groups and in-depth interviews
• Monitoring and evaluation of communication interventions
• Distribution of materials
• Network building and support
• Group and organisation facilitation
• Event planning and management

Health.

The CDFU arose from the BCC component of the Delivery of Improved Services for Health (DISH) Project, which assists districts to provide good quality reproductive, maternal, and child health services and to improve public health attitudes, knowledge and practices. In 2002, the BCC component of DISH formed the CDFU, now registered as an independent NGO and working outside the DISH project.