About The Communication Initiative

The Communication Initiative (The CI) network is an online space for sharing the experiences of, and building bridges between, the people and organisations engaged in or supporting communication as a fundamental strategy for economic and social development and change. It does this through a process of initiating dialogue and debate and giving the network a stronger, more representative and informed voice with which to advance the use and improve the impact of communication for development. This process is supported by web-based resources of summarised information and several electronic publications, as well as online research, review, and discussion platforms providing insight into communication for development experiences.

Currently, The CI network process includes: The Communication Initiative: Global [1]- in English, with a worldwide overview and focus; La Iniciativa de Comunicacion: Latin America [1] - in Spanish, with a worldwide overview and focus on the Latin American experience and context; and, Soul Beat Africa [1] - in English, with a focus on the African experience and context.

Please join us in this process by exploring our website (see below for more details) and through our free registration on the right side of this page.

Some of The CI’s activities:

An extensive website of summarised information related to communication for development which includes:

• Base Line Data [2] – providing statistics against which to gauge this work;
• Programme Experiences [3];
• Evaluation Methodologies and Data [4];
• Planning Methodologies [5];
• Change Theories [6];
• Articles, reports and documents that include Strategic Thinking [7] on the use of and Trends [8]in relation to communication for development;
• an extensive listing of resource Materials [9]including publications and reports;
• a frequently updated listing of Awards [10] and of Funding Opportunities [11] such as fellowships, grants, scholarships, and internships;
• active Discussion Forums [12];
• interactive Surveys;
• ongoing Polls; and
• Classifieds Services: listings of Events [13], Training [14], and Vacancy [15] opportunities.

All of the above Knowledge Sections and Interactive Features can be viewed through a lens of Communication Approaches [16](ie: advocacy, entertainment, social marketing, etc.), Communication Tools [17](ie: radio, television, live performance, etc.), Development Issues [18](ie: Environment, Health, Human Rights, etc.), Regions [19](ie: South Asia, Caribbean, West Africa, etc.) and the 8 Millennium Development Goals [20]. See the dark navigation bar under our website title for these features.

Theme websites – “windows” into The Communication Initiative:

• These provide specific point of interaction for those people working on the specific themes which are our current focus.
• They often include additional information and interactive features (such as discussions and polls) that will not be found on The CI: Global website.
• Please see the top navigation in this website where the “tab” reads “Theme sites” and click on that “tab” to open a list of our current featured themes.

E-publications:

• The Drum Beat [21], a weekly electronic magazine featuring summaried information included on The Communication Initiative website.
• DB Classifieds Vacancies [22], issued once a month - a newsletter of Vacancy Opportunities posted on the website.
• DB Classifieds Training, Materials, Events (TME) [23], issued once a month - a newsletter of training events, materials, and upcoming conferences and workshops.
• DB Clicks, issue-specific monthly mailings that correspond to the Theme websites.