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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International Policy Programme Biodiversity: Communication Campaign

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In September 2001, the international company ARCADIS, which is based in the Netherlands, launched a 3-year-long campaign to facilitate information sharing with the Dutch public about the "International Policy Programme Biodiversity". The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality's Department of Knowledge launched a programme in an effort to make a national contribution to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which is an international treaty to sustain the diversity of life on earth.
Communication Strategies

The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality's Department of Knowledge developed a web portal offering information on the convention and its implementation in the Netherlands. This Netherlands Clearing-House Mechanism for Biodiversity site also provides access to knowledge about status and trends related to biodiversity in that country, and includes contact details so that those interested in learning more, or connecting further, can communicate with the people and organisations involved.

As part of this effort, ARCADIS facilitated communication and information exchange related to the International Policy Programme Biodiversity, largely through interpersonal communication. The company brought together policymaking, scientific, and non-governmental organisations in an effort to foster cooperation in this field. Activities carried out included the organisation of meetings, drafting the programmes, management of the process during these meetings, drafting of newsletters, and the overall management of yearly meetings (around the International Day of Biodiversity, commemorated on May 22 every year).

Development Issues

Environment.

Partners

Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality's Department of Knowledge, and ARCADIS.

Sources

ARCADIS website; and Netherlands Clearing-House Mechanism for Biodiversity website.

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