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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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Digital in a Community Context - Added Value

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Best wishes and many thanks for highlighting your interest and/or experience in community participation when joining The Communication Initiative Network. On the theme of digital media in a community context I would welcome you sharing your strategic insights and experiences on the analysis and issues below in support of the work of others.

There has been a lot of conversation about the impact and added value of digital technologies relative to Development goals. The argument is that there are some key intrinsic "values" or capacities in the digital technologies that help to accelerate progress on key development goals. For example, they support:

  • Much improved peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and networking, including, of course, South-to-South relationships - a democratisation of knowledge in real time
  • Greatly enhanced local social organisation through the social media and networking technologies
  • A wider and more diverse range of "voices" as part of the important dialogue and conversation in local settings
  • The removal of physical distance as a factor for community engagement and action - everyone involved does not need to be in the same place
  • Greater equality as the qualities of the digital technologies can "cut through" social norms and customs that can hamper the participation of some sections of communities

Well, that is the theory! But from your experience and analysis what is the reality? Are the digital media living up to their promise? Has the reported widespread (is that correct?) availability and use of mobile phones and other digital technologies helped to advance community participation? With a consequent impact on local development issues, goals and priorities? 

Many thanks for sharing your insights.

Warren