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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Social and Behavior Change Communication Approaches

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Event/Training Summary

This course forms part of a series of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) short courses within the University of Witwatersrand's Masters of Public Health program, which have been developed by the Division of Social and Behaviour Change Communication in partnership with Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication.

 

According to the course organisers, "social and behavior change communication has a critical role to play in promoting health and well-being, preventing illness, and assisting with health literacy to bring people into the health system appropriately and ensure compliance with treatment measures. Strategies can be utilized to address some of the social determinants of health include advocacy and social mobilization. These strategies have been demonstrated to be effective in facilitating the implementation and introduction of health policies like tobacco control. It is important for practitioners to develop an understanding and set of skills in evidence-based advocacy and social mobilization.

 

Participants in this course will:

  • Describe the evidence-base for different approaches, “methods” or strategies such as: peer education, advocacy, edutainment, social marketing and social mobilization for enhancing and fostering social and behavior change
  • Discuss the theoretical underpinnings of different approaches
  • Apply the most advantageous mix of approaches for their programming context 
  • Select an approach based on the determinants that are underlying the issue
  • Critique, using evidence, the different approaches including IEC, edutainment and advocacy"

 

The short courses are supported by Communication for Change (C-Change), a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded health and development communication project, and the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID).

Registration Information

For more information, click here.

Due to high demand, course participants are selected through an application process. To apply please send a CV and a letter of motivation that details your background, interest in the course, and how you hope to apply what you learn. No additional forms are required. Application deadline: July 15 2011

Location

Johannesburg, South Africa

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