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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'Adolescent Pregnancy? A Global Problem' (WAGGGS) - Global

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The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) has launched a campaign on the prevention of early adolescent pregnancy, focusing on young women under the age of 15. WAGGGS intends to raise awareness about the worldwide issue of adolescent pregnancy, and promote ways of actively addressing the problem.
Communication Strategies

WAGGGS believes that education, including non-formal education, is the real key topreventing adolescent pregnancy. WAGGGS calls on communities, parents, governments,schools and health services to provide opportunities for young women to contribute tosociety, and to provide appropriate education, information, skills and access to healthservices to enable girls and young women to make informed and responsible choices. There are over 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 140 countries, with over 30 countries working towards membership. Girl Guides/Girl Scouts in many countries have run awareness campaigns and community projects on sexual and reproductive health issues including adolescent pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

Development Issues

Women, Gender, Health, Education, Rights, Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, Children.

Key Points

17 million adolescents give birth each year. These births carry high health risks for the girls themselves and for their babies. Each year, 60,000 adolescents die from childbirth and 2 to 4 million adolescents undergo abortions, the majority of which are unsafe. Over and above these statistics, early adolescent pregnancy often ends girls' education and hinders social development.