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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Global Development Learning Network - Latin America & Caribbean

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Launched in 2000, the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) is an alliance of public, private, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that supports the exchange of knowledge. In Latin America and the Caribbean Region, this interactive community is made up of a group of Distance Learning Centers (DLCs) established at a variety of organisations, primarily universities, that have telecommunications infrastructure and experience in the distance education training area. The aim is to serve the developing world by increasing understanding and capacity, and supporting knowledge networks.
Communication Strategies
Networking is a key tool for engaging people in learning experiences. The network is geared toward people who are considered development catalysts and members of the public, as well as private sector, civil society, and academic institution personnel whose work influences national development in their own (Latin American) countries.

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are central tools for engaging network members in distance programmes, which are classified into: Global Dialogues, Seminars, and Short Courses. These DLCs are points of contact where the main actors in a sector can meet to exchange knowledge and experiences with peers around the world.

Specifically, the GDLN programmes use a "blended approach", combining locally-facilitated email sessions, materials, online discussions, and modules or exchanges among countries by videoconference. The GDLN website is also a key medium for exchange and action.
Development Issues
Education, Agriculture, Health, Human Development, Technology.
Key Points
At present, the Network counts on more than 70 DLCs around the world and hundreds of suppliers of content, from diverse types of organisations.
Partners

World Bank Institute, Young Americas Business Trust (OAS), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Medical Missions for Children, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Cooperación Latino-Americana de Redes Avanzadas (CLARA), Center for Research, Evaluation, Assessment, and Dissemination (CREAD), Asociación de universidades Confiadas a la compañia de Jesús (AUSJAL).

Sources

GDLN website; "Red Global de Aprendizaje para el Desarrollo, GDLN - Global" on the Communication Initiative Latin America site; and email from David Gray to The Communication Initiative on September 13 2005.