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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Ghana AIDS Commission

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The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) is a policy-making body that provides leadership in the coordination of HIV/AIDS-related programmes and activities in Ghana through public awareness campaigns, advocacy, joint planning, monitoring and evaluation for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. A key strategy is developing posters that are designed to engage young people through sports figures and other familiar images designed to change discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and to stimulate anti-AIDS action.
Communication Strategies

The roles and functions of the GAC are to formulate national policies and strategies and establish programme priorities relating to HIV/AIDS, in an effort to:

  • provide high-level advocacy for HIV/AIDS prevention and control
  • provide effective leadership in national planning and supervision
  • expand and coordinate the total national response to HIV/AIDS
  • mobilise, control and manage resources and monitor their allocation and utilisation
  • foster linkages among all stakeholders
  • promote research, information and documentation on HIV/AIDS
  • monitor and evaluate all ongoing HIV/AIDS activities.


To highlight one example, the GAC has developed different poster campaigns aimed at fighting HIV/AIDS, such as:

  • Make Me Part of Your World - aims to foster a sense of compassion and tolerance toward PLWHAs. The poster calls on people to reach out and include those with HIV in their lives.
  • Rights of PLWHAs are Your Rights - focuses on the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. It emphasises that PLWHAs have the same human rights as other members of society. The campaign aims to combat fear, prejudice and the sense of stigma that many PLWHAs are made to feel.
  • I Want to be part of the Game - addresses young people. The campaign highlights the exclusion often felt by people living with HIV/AIDS. The organisers believe that prejudice from society often forces people with HIV to hide their status from friends and family, and they find themselves unable to ask for support. The campaign aims to encourage young people to reach out to friends and family with the virus.
  • Knock HIV/AIDS out of Ghana - one of a series of sports-related images designed to reach young people throughout Ghana. The poster features a boxer, using the metaphor of fighting to encourage young people is to get actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
  • Run Away from HIV/AIDS - uses the image of the runner taking off. It conveys several messages to youth; among them: stay healthy and look after your body, and 'Run Away from HIV/AIDS'. The campaign informs young people that they can stay clear of the HIV virus through abstinence, safe sex (condom use every time they have sex), and faithfulness to their partner.
  • Kick Against HIV/AIDS - uses the image of a footballer to address young people and encourage them to get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS - whether in school, sports clubs, or in the community.
Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Rights, Youth.

Partners

Government Ministries, British Department for International Development, Canadian International Development Agency, Danish International Development Assistance, Japan International Cooperation Agency, The Royal Netherlands Embassy, The United States Agency for International Development, International Labour Organisation, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund, World Bank, World Food Programme, World Health Organisation, Action Aid, Care International Ghana, Christian Health Association of Ghana, Family Health International, Ghana HIV/AIDS Network, Ghana Red Cross Society, Ghana Registered Midwives Association, John Hopkins University Center for Communication Programmes, Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, Policy Project, Prolink, Salvation Army, Save the Children, UK, West African Aids Foundation, Wisdom Association.