AfriComNet Award for Excellence in HIV and AIDS Communication in Africa

The African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet), is calling for nominations for its Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Communication in Africa. The aim of the award is to:

• recognise outstanding contributions made by individuals/organisations to strategic HIV/AIDS communication;
• encourage innovation and quality in strategic communication;
• enhance appreciation of strategic communication as a necessary tool for effective health and development programmes; and
• acknowledge programmes, tools, and productions that advance strategic communication and can be adapted and applied elsewhere.

Winners will be awarded in the following categories:

1. Best mass media intervention, campaign, or production.
This category recognises initiatives using mass media as the main channel (50% plus of the initiative) for their strategic communications (includes film, television, or radio productions advocating behaviour change or raising awareness about HIV).


2. Best multi-channel communication intervention or campaign.
Recognising integrated strategic communication initiatives or interventions (using television/radio, print, and interpersonal channels). Nominations should show that there is a balance in the use of the various channels.


3. Best interpersonal/community initiative/intervention.
Includes use of community radio, peer education, counseling, or community mobilisation.


4. Best social marketing initiative, strategy, or campaign
Entries in this category include product/service advertisement, branding, or promotion.


5. Best popular/folk media initiative.
This category includes the use of creative and performing arts advocating behaviour change or raising awareness about HIV (e.g. theatre, puppetry, visual arts and dance, drama, or music concerts, etc).


6. Best HIV or AIDS related series.
Entries for this category include newspaper/magazine column or series of articles, documentary films and TV/ radio broadcasts, or comic book series.


7. Best social/new media initiative.
This category includes the use of new/social media, e.g. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, text messaging, blogging, etc., to advocate for behaviour change or raise awareness about HIV. Entries must show that social/new media is the main implementation platform for the initiative.

The two finalists in each award category will receive a fully paid trip to the award venue, an opportunity to present their initiatives, recognition during a gala award ceremony, and media exposure. The winner will receive a plaque and the runner up a certificate recognising the achievement. AfriComNet does not offer prize money for this award.