Media development action with informed and engaged societies
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.
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The Drum Beat 789 - Recent COVID-19 Dialogue on The CI Platform

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The Drum BeatRecent COVID-19 Dialogue on The CI Platform - The Drum Beat 789
July 22, 2020
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In this issue:
* PRIORITIES FOR AN EFFECTIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE?
* COVID-19 RUMOURS AND MISINFORMATION: WHAT CAN WE DO?
* COVID-19: WHAT ARE WE LEARNING ABOUT WHAT WORKS BEST?
* ADD YOUR OWN VOICE!
* PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRIORITIES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND CHALLENGES
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Critical review and peer support are crucial elements for making progress on any Development issue. The Communication Initiative (The CI) works to that principle. Knowledge is shared by the network for review and potential use in their work by others in the network. There are comments spaces provided at the bottom of the page on all CI knowledge summaries, and people can and do submit blogs to share their own perspectives. In addition, we convene a number of online dialogues. This Drum Beat focuses on some of the recent CI dialogues, including those related to COVID-19. Please do engage; your voice and perspective are crucial for improving all of our work.

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From The Communication Initiative Network - where communication and media are central to social and economic development.
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THE INITIAL COVID-19 DIALOGUE ASKED THIS QUESTION:

In your assessment, what are the three strategic and/or programming priorities for an effective response to COVID-19? This conversation and debate has 120 posts (to date).
  • 1.Doubt that this type of material...
    A contribution by Ana Ibarz
    "...While the video is nicely done, and the information very well conveyed to the target audience, I have my doubts that this type of materials will ever make it to rural communities in Malawi (or any other Sub-Saharan African countries, for that matter), where smart phones and computers not accessible. It really goes to show that many international organizations, and that includes the United Nations, are really out of touch with the reality in the field..."

     
  • 2.Lessons learned from a cross-sectional Ebola study
    A contribution by Rabia Sadat
    "...in Afghanistan, there is no study to indicate the level of awareness/preparedness of health facilities and health professionals in the county despite a relatively high number of COVID-19 confirmed cases. I personally think the stated vital steps should be taking place in the country to identify gaps and fill them based on evidence..."

     
  • 3.COVID-19 Interactive Radio Drama Online Training
    A contribution by Ryan Borcherding
    "...Theatre for a Change is currently working with the Malawi Government as part of their national response to Covid-19, using Interactive Radio Drama to disseminate key Covid-19 messages in participatory ways..."

     
  • 4.Real world at population level
    A contribution by Daniel Low-Beer
    "...I agree with you [Warren Parker], clinical epidemiology is not good at showing what works in the real world at population level, and when several interventions combine. People are beginning to wear them here..."

     
  • 5.Gender - neglected
    A contribution by Naseem-ur-Rehman
    "...Very thoughtful of you [Sini Ramo] to share an insightful and relevant communication response to Covid19 - Gender and COVID-19 - that is largely neglected. I am a co-lead in Pakistan's Shelter home initiative to support migrant labour workers. I found the strategy shared by you a very timely intervention..."

     
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CI DIALOGUES ARE NOT RESTRICTED TO COVID-19! WE STARTED THE YEAR/DECADE WITH THIS:
Which words do you want to hear less frequently in the Development context in 2020, and why?
Selected comments were featured in The Power of Words - The Drum Beat 785
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  • 6.Fear message?
    A contribution by Jayashree Balasubramanian
    "...a man suspected to be infected, jumped off from the 7th floor of the hospital in Delhi where he was taken, to his death. We also had the quote of a chief minister of an Indian state who remarked that there would be 'shoot at sight' at anyone who violated the lockdown over corona. This brings us to the all-pervading mood of the people - fear, panic, alarm..."

     
  • 7.Rural Communities
    A contribution by Felico Atabong
    "...To us working in rural communities where the vast majority is illiterate and lack access to information, we have no option other than door to door sensitization. We refuse all forms of community educative talks..."

     
  • 8.Urban informal settlements
    A contribution by Pascal Mailu
    "...Reflecting on Kenya and using two cities as case studies, 62 percent and 41 percent of the inhabitants of Kisumu and Nairobi live in urban informal settlements respectively....I therefore concur with you [Robert Cohen] that beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, human rights agencies and believers should embark on a global movement aimed at freeing these populations..."

     
  • 9.C-19 - Public gatherings and reasonable measures?
    A contribution by Alexandra Will
    "...some of the measures prescripted by the government of Cameroon are not doable for many people in the population (wash your hands if you do not have access to running water or soap...? social distancing?) So can you recommend sources that are adapted to these kind of contexts?..."

     
  • 10.C-19 - Correspondents from each corner of Africa
    A contribution by Bill Jong-Ebot
    "...The picture in the USA is not bright now - number of those infected and loss of life on the rise. For the sake of the African Diaspora, we will like to enlist correspondents from each corner of Africa: West, East, Central, South, North to work with us - provide us with perspectives (updates) on the response so that we can, in turn, report to the community here and worldwide..."

     
  • 11.Traditions
    A contribution by Samira Elamin
    "...I totally agree with you [Peter Chen] on the issue of culture and traditions....However, what I observed in the context of too many guidelines is that people start to mix or segregate some traditions based on behavior in the private and public spheres..."

     
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READ FULL/ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, AND ADD YOUR OWN VOICE!
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AS TIME WENT ON, WE CONTINUED THE CONVERSATION AROUND COVID-19 BY ASKING:

COVID-19 poses some serious challenges for all who use information and engagement strategies to pursue their goals. So, what are we learning about what works best?
  • 12.Sound the alarm - people left behind in decision-making on COVID
    A contribution by Alison Dunn
    "...[W]ho is making these decisions on isolation and lockdowns? How do their judgments take into consideration the wider impact on the population and the secondary effects of these restrictions, especially on vulnerable people? We, a group of colleagues working on universal health coverage, decided to do a rapid analysis of 24 national COVID-19 Taskforces to identify their composition and investigate their decision-making processes. What we found out was shocking..."

     
  • 13.Religious leaders spreading the word - Bangladesh
    A contribution by Monjur Ahmed
    "...Rangpur field office of UNICEF Bangladesh has reinforced awareness message dissemination with Islamic Foundation and local government institutions through engaging religious leaders for promoting the urgency of social distancing, personal hygiene and healthy behaviours, protecting and caring for the most vulnerable, encouraging positive parenting, preventing violence against children and reducing stigma and discrimination..."

     
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THEN, WE TURNED TO A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE, ASKING PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT:

Rumours and Misinformation are a huge hurdle for effective Development action. COVID-19 is a further example of that difficult obstacle. The question (of course) is what can we do?
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READ FULL/ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, AND ADD YOUR OWN VOICE!
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PLEASE TAKE OUR SURVEY

ENQUIRY: Your priorities, opportunities and challenges!

What kinds of challenges and opportunities infuse your communication and media development, social and behavioural change work? This survey is a chance for you to let us know! We will report back on results and trends so you can gain insights from your peers in the network.
Click here to lend your voice.

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This issue of The Drum Beat was written by Kier Olsen DeVries.
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The Drum Beat is the email and web network of The Communication Initiative Partnership.

Full list of the CI Partners:
ANDI, BBC Media Action, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Breakthrough, Citurna TV, Fundación Imaginario, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano (FNPI),
Heartlines, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), MISA, Open Society Foundations, Oxfam Novib, PAHO, The Panos Institute, Puntos de Encuentro, SAfAIDS, Sesame Workshop, Soul City, STEPS International, UNAIDS, UNICEF, Universidad de los Andes, World Health Organization (WHO), W K Kellogg Foundation



The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.


Chair of the Partners Group: Garth Japhet, Founder, Soul City garth@heartlines.org.za


Executive Director: Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com
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The Editor of The Drum Beat is Kier Olsen DeVries.
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Please send additional project, evaluation, strategic thinking, and materials information on communication for development at any time. Send to drumbeat@comminit.com


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