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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Environmental Health Promotion and Waste Management - Gaza City

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Years of military conflict and civil unrest left Gaza City with major environmental health problems. There were few garbage disposal facilities and almost no solid waste management system. As a result, the citizens of Gaza faced an elevated level of disease and injury and a lowered standard of living. The objective of the Gaza City Solid Waste Management Project was to improve waste collection and disposal as well as to develop partnerships between citizens and municipal staff in creating a healthier city and environment.
Communication Strategies

This initiative included: training courses in environmental management, finance, administration, health promotion, and composting for municipal staff; training courses for residents to learn to engage in dialogue with municipal staff; and the establishment of discussion groups in health clinics, schools, youth clubs, restaurants, etc., on health promotion techniques.

Development Issues

Health, Sanitation.

Key Points

The project initiated programmes to improve the city's environmental services and promoted a grassroots approach to garbage control.

Partners

Gaza City Municipal Heath Department.

Sources

"Environmental Health Promotion and Waste Management in Gaza City" by Liesbeth Zonneveld.