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.
 
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 lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Zimbabwe AIDS Policy and Advocacy (ZAPA) - Zimbabwe

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The Zimbabwe AIDS Policy and Advocacy (ZAPA) Project is designed to strengthen the ability of civil society organizations, including NGOs, church groups, and community groups, to advocate for effective HIV/AIDS policies, and to support development activities in the public sector that strengthen government effectiveness in designing and implementing policy. ZAPA is organised around five HIV/AIDS themes:
  1. Women's empowerment
  2. Youth
  3. Stigma and discrimination
  4. Orphans and vulnerable children
  5. Reproductive health
Main Communication Strategies
The project is currently completing the following baseline studies:
  • Situational Analysis of the current HIV/AIDS policy and advocacy environment in Zimbabwe.
  • National situational analysis on the use and availability of HIV/AIDS information by media professionals in Zimbabwe.
  • National baseline assessment of the ability of Faith-Based Communities to speak out on and mitigate HIV/AIDS in their communities.
In addition, it has recently completed work on the CSO Advocacy Index Tool, used to measure the capacity of CSOs to conduct advocacy, and has obtained baseline scores using this tool for each of the CSOs selected to receive ZAPA funding in its grants programme.

The project also manages a national awards program to recognize exceptional contributions of individuals, companies, and civil society organizations in the effort to break the silence on HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. Media advocacy campaigns are designed to influence public policy development, and encourage government and civic leaders to speak out on specific HIV/AIDS issues.
Development Issues
Health.
Key Points
The ZAPA Project is in the process of awarding approximately US$455,000 in grant funding to 22 CSOs for a wide spectrum of advocacy campaigns. CSOs selected for grant funding include, among others, the Child Protection Society, Women's AIDS Support Network, Victory Tabernacle Church, and the Public Service Association of Zimbabwe.

Workshops and training sessions are organized for leadership from civil society, public and private sector organizations. These workshops address a wide range of topics, including: HIV/AIDS technical areas, policy content and formulation, advocacy skills, financial management, monitoring and evaluation and other areas identified by target groups.
Sources

USAID HIV/AIDS E-Newsletter May 15, 2003.