The Communication Initiative? …global forces...local choices… critical voices…telling stories... The Communication Initiative Very Brief Outline [sorry – wanted to show this but now no internet access]

The Communication Initiative [CI] is a working partnership of development organizations which supports advances in the effectiveness and scale of communication and media interventions for positive development.

CI Focus The focus is across  All major development issues – eg Poverty, Gender, Rights, HIV etc  Full spectrum of media and communication processes and actors – eg journalists, community radio, entertainment, advocacy  Full spectrum of Communication strategies –eg communication for social change, media development, media training, etc

The goals of The CI are: -Improve strategic communication thinking on development issues - Advance the extent and quality of communication for change practice - Effectively advocate the impact and value of communication for sustainable development. - Expand dialogue, debate and review of key communication issues and programmes

CI Strategies: The core strategies include increased: access to real-time information; horizontal networking; peer critiquing; community building; and strategic review and advancement.

Strategy Horizontal Linkages Real Time Knowledge and Information Peer Review Strategic Thinking Change Partnership process

CI Activities: The activities that operationalise those strategies involve: Knowledge sharing platform Network of communicators and other development actors Series of electronic magazines On-line interactive processes Specific communities of practice

Developing those as an integrated platform Specific Communities Interactivity Magasines Knowledge Sharing Network

Network User Survey ,334 people from 153 different countries 47 countries had 10 or more respondents 1,620 [70% approx] respondents reside in the [so- called] developing world or The South. 714 respondents [30% approx] reside in OECD countries. The numbers and percentage for nationality rather than residence is very similar.

Network User Survey cont’d 55% of respondents use The CI to find resources for their work [it was possible to select more than one option 39% also use The CI to conduct research for programmatic/strategic purposes; 33% to find training courses even spread of use

Network User Survey cont’d All other categories were above 25% including  "conduct research for academic purposes“  “conduct research for material for other electronic publications or online resources“  "support my teaching curricula“  "find people who are doing similar work (networking)“  "find new jobs“  "find events"; and  "find funding opportunities (awards, grants, scholarships)".

The CI Global Soul Beat Africa The Communication Initiative Latin America

New Platform includes:  Integrated database  Atomised data  Plug in Modules  Improved searching and presentation  Flexible and varied templates  Wider range of interactive tools  New Design  New Admin system  Greater content team control  Improved and more flexible page reviews, polls etc  Full RSS process [API on the way]  etc

Just a few examples [show] Modules Advanced Search Nodes – flexibility Home page features Calendar Web forms Polls My site Bulk coding News Registration Dynamic teasers Video

CI Network subscribers: 75,418 Individual user sessions - 2,110,306 [12 months] 35,000 plus knowledge summaries from network and on platform

Democracy and Governance Communication and Media - Major theme in CI process - Significant numbers in network work on D and G - Thousands of summaries of on-the ground action, strategic thinking, evaluations and research, events, materials, etc --Highly flexible organisation processes - Poll - Interactive web forms - Calendar - My Site[personalisation] - News -- Advanced search - etc Specific UNDP support

Very recent comments “Thanks - Very much appreciated! In almost every alert of Communication Initiative we find relevant links, resources, events that are very useful to our work/website. Best wishes and keep up the good work. Cheers” [European NGO Director] “I have found the links to be very timely and useful” [Trinidad NGO worker] “I am a fun of Drum Beat... I really appreciate the work you do and would always participate in this great endeavor.” [World Bank Africa Country Director] "I find your News letters very infomative keep up the good work. Since I have started browsing your newletters I have created a very good network aound the globe.Thank you." [Zimbabwe NGO] Many thanks for your kind support. Being featured in the Drum Beat will greatly enhance the visibility of the competition and allow many broadcasters to participate. That's fantastic! Again thanks a lot [Media for Development Agency]