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. 

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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Radio show 'hatches' a plan

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Author: BBC Media Action blogger Elizabeth Mbwana, January 20 2016 - Listening to radio programme Nyakati Zinabadilika (Times are Changing) inspired three young unemployed men to approach the district veterinary officer, helping them to start a chicken farm in Tanzania.

A tiny chick cocked his head, flapped its fluffy wings and looked up at me from its box. It was time for feeding.

I’m visiting a chicken farm to meet Ramadhan Boli and his two friends. Until recently, the three young men were unemployed and passed their time sitting idly in the streets hanging out with friends. Ramadhan, known to his friends as Rama, told me, "I wanted to do better in life, but didn’t know where to start."

One evening, Rama was at home with his family listening to Nyakati Zinabadilika (Times are Changing), a programme produced by local radio station Ulanga FM. The show helps listeners become more resilient to changing weather patterns by exploring "climate-smart" farming and livestock practices - like drought-resistant crops, honey production and terracing. This particular episode focused on keeping chickens as an alternative source of income.

Rama had listened to a number of Nyakati Zinabadilika programmes in the past but this one inspired him because the person featured had managed to make money without investing too much to begin with. He also heard the district veterinary officer, Juma Kapilima, answering listeners’ questions about keeping chickens and thought it didn’t seem too difficult, maybe even he could start a business too!

The next day, Rama spoke to his friends about the programme and they went to visit Juma Kapilima, who answered questions about where they could buy chickens, how to take care of eggs, vaccinate and feed chickens. Juma also gave the boys a brochure on how to identify chicken diseases. Within a few days the three boys had found someone who was willing to invest in their business idea and they purchased 14 chickens and built a chicken coop in Naloukou village, near to Mahenge.

Rama explains how Juma, who he calls “the farm doctor”, comes to visit their chicken farm regularly and arranged for the district to grant them a small egg incubator in recognition of their hard work. Rama said, “Though we’re now selling some eggs, we’re focusing on rearing more chickens. We have huge ambitions and want to start selling chickens when we reach 1,000 - and hope to sell them in [the capital] Dar Es Salaam.”

Radio not only helped ‘hatch’ an idea in Rama’s head – but also helped connect him with the people who could help his business grow. I’m certain his story will inspire many more to follow in his footsteps.

 

Click here to access this BBC Media Action blog and related links on their work in radio.

Image credit: BBC Media Action

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