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.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Pakistan And Psychosocial Support

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Author: Tassawar Ali, September 13 2013        Psychosocial intervention has become a valued dimension of immediate and long-term disaster response all over the world. Pakistan is a country that is facing both natural and manmade disasters. These disasters are a hurdle in continuing psychosocial awareness programming, although the disasters create opportunities to work in families and communities which are in the greatest need of psychosocial support, but these interventions are difficult and challenging. Psychosocial support should not be a stand-alone but part of comprehensive, integrated programming.  Psychosocial support programming in different sectors of Pakistan is a requirement at this time.

Psychosocial support programming can play a unique role in the key areas of education, research, and humanitarian organization programming. I believe that, before implementation of psychosocial support programming, comprehensive research is needed to understand the dynamics of society. Often, I observe, that without proper assessment and research, many psychosocial support programs were not result oriented. Psychology departments in Pakistan could make a difference through introducing psychosocial support courses, including research components, as a regular part of their syllabi.

In many programs, without involvement of relevant stakeholders and coordination, the expected outcomes are not achieved. Many times, psychosocial support interventions conducted during an emergency are for formality without strategy. Comprehensive psychosocial support programming in Pakistan can be effective - if we launch a psychosocial program, we need to develop this program with consultation and participation of all stakeholders. Such a program must consider that society should be educated about the program before launch. IEC [information, education, and communication] material can be an effective tool for the training of participants and students. A volunteer training program on psychosocial support can play a helpful role for communities. Organizations need to support psychosocial support advocacy as part of changing minds in Pakistani communities.