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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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JustFilms Documentary and Media Support Funding

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JustFilms and the Ford Foundation invite grant seekers with a focus on film, video, and digital works that show courageous people confronting difficult issues and actively pursuing a more just, secure, and sustainable world. Initiative funds will be distributed through three distinct paths:

  • Partnerships with major organisations such as the Sundance Institute, the Independent Television Service, and others;
  • Collaboration with other Ford Foundation grant-making programmes where the introduction of documentary film could help draw attention to an issue or advance a movement; and
  • An ongoing open-application process that will help JustFilms stay attuned to fresh ideas and stories wherever they may emerge.


 

Fellowships

According to JustFilm, the majority of foundation grants go to organisations. They provide a very limited number of fellowship opportunities for individuals through the Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships Program, which aims to diversify the faculties of American colleges and universities.

Application Info

Approximately one-third of JustFilms support is dedicated to finding projects through the open-application process, the "Grant Inquiry" process. At the end of the online application process, applicants are given the option to attach a document to the form. For documentary film and media support, JustFilms requests that a letter be attached that includes a brief description of the project and creative approach, the primary purpose of the film, the current stage of the project, and whether any other funds have been raised for the film. Steps include:

  • Review the initiatives most relevant to your work.
  • Read the Grant Application Guide, which describes the grant-making process.
  • If you determine that your work aligns with the priorities, submit a Grant Inquiry. 


 

Click here for more information.


Click here for grant application guidelines in PDF format.

Previous Winners

Click here to access documentaries whose production was previously funded with the help of the Ford Foundation.

Source

PR Newswire website, January 20 2011.