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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Published 22 years ago
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Women’s Feature Service - Global

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A news-feature service that produces news features for mainstream media from 40 countries in all regions of the world. WFS's network of 120 women journalists produces approximately 500 articles a year, written from a woman's perspective, with a special focus on developing countries. WFS stories focus on the political, social, economic and cultural issues and trends that shape women's lives.
Communication Strategies
WFS's offerings began with the printed medium only. In 1993, WFS diversified into producing video films and radio programmes. WFS has produced numerous radio programmes in Hindi and English covering issues such as reproductive Health, adoption, sexual violence and inheritance rights for women. WFS radio programmes can be used for training and creating awareness. In addition, WFS has produced and broadcast 21 videos in Hindi and English on subjects like women's leadership, violence against women, population planning and community initiatives, women's organising experiences in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and Africa. WFS video films can be used for workshops/training programmes, sensitisation, and awareness-raising.

A feed of a minimum of 4 features and a maximum of 10 features per week is available for a consolidated sum through an e-mail subscription. Every week, all WFS articles are compiled into a Weekly Digest and sent via e-mail. Several current articles and summaries of all other WFS features are posted weekly on the WFS site.
Development Issues
Environment, health, politics, economic development, traditional customs, human rights, women's movements, children, immigration.
Key Points
WFS began in 1978 as an UNESCO-UNFPA initiative to create "Women's Feature Services" with the specific purpose of impacting mainstream media. WFS has been a completely independent organisation since 1991 and is now headquartered in New Delhi, India. WFS is coordinated from regional offices in the Philippines, Costa Rica, South Africa, and the United States. The USA staff distributes WFS articles to individuals, organisations and media with the USA and Canada.
Sources

WFS site; and letter sent from Prem Chadha to The Communication Initiative on April 2 2003.