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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Jigawa State Presentation - Country Communication Review

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Presented at: The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting on Communication for Polio Eradication - Abuja, Nigeria

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Summary

This PowerPoint presentation was part of a June 2007 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)-hosted meeting dedicated to examining polio communication efforts, in the context of the final global push towards polio eradication. State-specific presentations for Nigeria’s polio-endemic states were given by in-country communication and health practitioners. These were assessed by an external Technical Advisory Group (TAG) panel of experts who provided communication strategy recommendations based on evidence presented and data gathered on field-visits to endemic states. Communication strategies presented at this meeting were primarily focused on:

  1. Analysing the results of programmes implemented to June 2007.
  2. Detailing activities on national and sub-national levels, specific to social mobilisation, community engagement, data monitoring and media and political advocacy strategies.
  3. Suggesting a planned communication programme for the next 6- to 12-month period, designed to support Nigeria's polio eradication efforts in the event of a resurgence of cases or population/programme fatigue.


This presentation gives an overview of the wild poliovirus (WPV) case profile in the Nigerian state of Jigawa, as well as the state's communication platform and objectives for 2007. Strategic planning and results are discussed, as well as residual challenges facing the programme and proposed ways forward through these challenges.


Jigawa has a population of approximately 4.3 million people, which is serviced by 767 vaccination teams. The total number of WPV cases in the state, as of April 2007, was 18. The main state objective for 2007 include reducing the number of zero-dose children from 8% to 4%, and the number of missed children from 8% to 3% by December 2007.


The core platforms of Jigawa's polio communication strategy include:

  1. Interpersonal (IPC) and Group Communication - Through IPC and counselling skills training for focals persons and healthworkers; community networking and dialogues; involvement of Qur'anic schools.
  2. Advocacy and Partnerships - With state and local government, traditional and religious leaders, non-government and professional groups.
  3. Mass Media Communication - With a special focus on radio and TV.


In order to strengthen community mobilisation between Immunisation Plus Days (IPDs) the following activities have been undertaken:

  • Sensitisation and involvement of Islamiya school teachers
  • Community dialogues
  • Advocacy from traditional leaders and influencers
  • Involvement of professional groups
  • Rally of polio victims
  • Traditional birth attendants referring zero dose children to health facilities
  • Members of Federation of Muslim Women’s Association (FOMWAN) involved to identify new-born and resolve non-compliance


Monitoring data indicates that the number of missed children in Jigawa has decreased from over 14% in May 2006 to under 4% in March 2007, and the number of zero-dose children has decreased similarly from 11.2% in June 2006 to 7.4% in March 2007.



Residual challenges facing Jigawa's polio communication programme include:

  • Need for further strengthening of political commitment.
  • Timely release of state funds.
  • Inadequate skills and capacity of health personnel on IPC and counselling, information and logistics management.
  • Inadequate number of vaccination teams and support personnel.
  • Strengthen monitoring and supervision mechanisms.
  • Long-term mass media (radio and TV) programme implementation.
  • Child-to-child engagement.


In overcoming these obstacles, increased advocacy of policy makers at the State and LGA levels was seen as crucial. Partnership with potential NGOs, mass media and private agencies for longer run programmes in radio and television was also mentioned as important. Other ongoing strategies include encouraging child-to-child engagement, engagement with the new religious or traditional leaders and further skill and capacity building for health personnel.

Click here to download the full PowerPoint presentation as a PDF document.