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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System of Communication for the Peace (Sistema de Comunicación para la Paz - SIPAZ)

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This network specialises in the production, management and distribution of information for peace-building, contributing to regional efforts by promoting a culture of tolerance, respect for nature and supporting processes of community organisation.

The network interrelates five local projects recognised for their actions on behalf of peace and sustainable development: Belén de los Andaquíes/ Caquetá, La Cocha/Nariño, Puerto Caicedo/Putumayo, Bogotá (Neighborhoods of Bolívar City), San Gil and Pamplona/Santander. Organisations send information via email to be included in a weekly newscast that is sent to radio stations participating in the network.

The network is an interactive "system", working to generate dialogue and debate, where all the members produce information and exchange experiences on themes such as food security, environmental education, appropriation of regional and local culture, etc.
Communication Strategies
SIPAZ trains members of local organisations, so that they obtain the technical and conceptual tools needed for them to be and be recognised as producers of information for peace. On the other hand, SIPAZ collects and formats this information in order to bring it to a wider public from the local (neighborhood, path, municipality) to the masses (region, department, country) through a system of exchange with members of the network.
Development Issues
Peace, Culture, Community-building.
Key Points
The news features of SIPAZ favour questions and alternatives over vioence and spectacle; SIPAZ focuses on the everyday and routine - women, children, peasants, community organisations, poetry, music, common contests, and the undertakings of the neighborhoods of member stations.
Partners

Asociación para el Desarrollo Campesino, Ecofondo, Procomún, Corporación Nuevo Milenio de Putumayo, Fundación Colombia Multicolor, Fundación Comunarte de Belén de los Andaquíes.

Sources

Translated from Spanish on La Iniciativa de Comunicaci