The Drum Beat – Issue 518 – Communication and Change News and Issues
November 16 2009
This issue includes:
* Selected summaries from our STRATEGIC THINKING section.
* How has The CI supported your work? TELL US!
* Highlights from the EVALUATIONS section.
* Please VOTE in our MEDIA DEVELOPMENT poll.
* A few items from the EXPERIENCES section.
* C-CHANGE update.
From The Communication Initiative Network – where communication and media are central to social and economic development.
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This issue of The Drum Beat features a small selection of recent summaries available on The Communication Initiative website from 3 of our knowledge sections – Strategic Thinking, Evaluations, and Experiences – which illustrate how communication and media are contributing to positive development action, around the world.
Please send additional project, evaluation, strategic thinking, and materials information on communication for development at any time. Contact Deborah Heimann atdheimann@comminit.com
STRATEGIC THINKING
http://www.comminit.com/en/thinking.html
1. Performance Activism and Civic Engagement Through Symbolic and Playful Actions
by Arvind Singhal and Karen Greiner
This December 2008 paper analyses the role of performance activism in enthusing, engaging, and mobilising a citizenry. The authors focus on the role of symbolic protests and actions, analysing 3 cases of performance activism in 3 different contexts: Gandhi’s symbolic mass mobilisation protests in India; Antanas Mockus’ civic engagement strategies in Bogota, Colombia; and the actions of «Billionaires for Bush» in the United States. Through these illustrations, the authors demonstrate their conviction that «symbols and play, taken together, represent highly powerful tools of spurring civic engagement, building social movements, and promoting social justice.»
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/298236/348
2. Vietnam Is Improving Science Communication
by Son Kim Phan
In this article, Vietnamese health journalist Son Kim Phan shares details of the progress his colleagues are making in communicating science and risk. For instance, Saigon Marketing Newspaper now runs a television show called «Life Discovery», which offers a series of short documentaries on natural disasters and health issues. The journalists working on the programmes collaborate with scientists to identify key topics and are trained to communicate the issues simply and comprehensively. «By making sure that journalists are equipped with good scientific knowledge, and know-how to make science widely understandable, we are showing that the media can help the public develop more reasonable responses to health and environmental risks.»
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/283297/293
3. Breaking Ground: Engaging Communities in Extractive and Infrastructure Projects
by Kirk Herbertson, Maria Athena Ballesteros, Robert Goodland, and Isabel Munilla
This February 2009 report from the World Resources Institute outlines a series of 7 principles for effective, on-the-ground implementation of community engagement in extractive and infrastructure projects. The principles include: prepare communities before engaging; determine what level of engagement is needed; integrate community engagement into each phase of the project cycle; include traditionally excluded stakeholders; gain free, prior, and informed consent; resolve community grievances through dialogue; and promote participatory monitoring by local communities. The report also recommends a series of next steps to address remaining gaps.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/289880/306
4. Analyzing Social Change Practice in the Peruvian Amazon through a Feminist Reading of Participatory Communication Research
by Elizabeth Rattine-Flaherty and Arvind Singhal
This article analyses the social change practices of Minga Perú, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the Peruvian Amazon that promotes gender equality and reproductive health through radio broadcasts and community-based interventions. The research drew upon 107 photos and 75 sketches and their accompanying narratives to analyse the feminist research method of assessing Minga Peru’s social change practices. It found that the method provided for expression of emotionality, created community within the participants, and provided them with perspective on their personal and community development. The authors conclude that participatory research methods that reflect a feminist and gender-equitable approach allowed participants to take the role of leader rather than of passive research subject, helping empower both individuals and their communities.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/298289
SEND US YOUR STORY!
Through CI Stories, we are seeking stories of how members of The CI Network have used The CI to support their work, connect with others in the network, and/or highlight their work with demonstrated positive impact on their organisation or work.
For example – this story from Swaziland: «I would like to let you know that from the information posted on your website, Super Buddies was able to get funding for our children’s radio drama that is currently being aired on our national radio. We also received inquiries on Super Buddies from organisations across the globe. Thank you so much for the support.»
For more CI Stories, see http://www.comminit.com/en/cistories
If you have experiences or anecdotes on how we have made a difference to your work, please tell us your story! Go to http://www.comminit.com/en/node/add/cistories (NOTE: you must be a registered, logged in user to submit a story).
EVALUATIONS
http://www.comminit.com/en/evaluations.html
5. Impact Data – Love Patrol – Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Love Patrol is a television soap opera produced by Wan Smolbag Theatre in an effort to raise the profile of understanding of HIV and other issues in the Pacific. In Vanuatu, 88% of the 814 people surveyed watched Love Patrol, over three-quarters of them watching almost the whole series. In Fiji, a viewer survey found that up to 15% of the population watched the whole series, with 100,000 viewers every week. Just over 1 in 5 of the participants in the Vanuatu workshops was able to identify the difference between HIV and AIDS prior to viewing the series; once having viewed it, the proportion of participants who answered the question correctly increased to almost one-third (31.3%). Once the participants had viewed Love Patrol there was a notable increase in the proportion of participants who conveyed that they would treat HIV-positive family members «equally» (12.5% increase) and «care for them/give them support» (12.5% increase).
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/290850/347
6. In-Depth Evaluation of the Reaching Every District Approach in the African Region, 2007
Since 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have supported the Reaching Every District (RED) approach to improving immunisation coverage. In short, the evaluation found that districts implementing the approach were raising immunisation coverage, and that many health facilities were including community mobilisation, meetings with community leaders, and frequent interactions with community volunteers in their work plans and regular activities. The evaluation also confirmed that community volunteers were commonly involved in providing health education, assisting during outreach sessions, and tracking immunisation defaulters. Fewer than half of all community volunteers, however, were registering pregnant mothers and births, and volunteers were not sufficiently involved in planning immunisation sessions and/or reporting diseases. Yet «active involvement of community volunteers [is] key in increasing immunization demand, particularly for outreach in rural areas.»
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/297864/292
7. Country-led M&E Systems: Better Evidence, Better Policies, Better Development Results
by Marco Segone (ed.)
This publication seeks to contribute to the debate on country-led monitoring and evaluation systems (CLES) and their ability to enhance evidence-based policy making. A thread woven throughout the contributions to this volume is the recognition that – despite its potential for serving the information needs of a country, acting as an instrumental agent of change, and supporting national development results – CLES is vulnerable to various challenges, such as bridging the gap between policy-makers (the users of evidence) and statisticians, evaluators, and researchers (the providers of evidence). The publication features a guide intended as a practical tool to help managers, statisticians, and media relations officers use text, tables, graphics, and other information to bring statistics to life using effective writing techniques.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/284462
8. Health Alliance International: Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in Timor Leste – Final Evaluation Report
by Lucy Mize
This report explores the initial 4-year cycle of the Child Survival and Health Grants Program (CSHGP), which was carried out by Health Alliance International (HAI) in 7 Districts in Timor-Leste. The intervention mix combined community-level health promotion activities and health system strengthening, with strategies focusing on training, behaviour change, materials development, and community outreach. A culturally relevant film was the centrepiece of the campaign; it was made available to communities through facilitated public screenings. «Data from the KPC [Knowledge, Practice, and Coverage] survey done in June of 2008 indicates that HAI has met or exceeded most of their objectives, for example increasing the percent of mothers with children age 0-23 months who received one or more antenatal care visit from 50% to 82% and more than doubling the percentage of women who deliver with a skilled attendant from 15% to 32%. An objective that still needs further pursuit is the dist!
ribution of Vitamin A, which achieved 44% rather than the targeted 60%, but which did demonstrate a positive trend since baseline was 28%. Results for indicators of improved newborn care were of a mixed nature…»
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/292376/303
Please VOTE in our MEDIA DEVELOPMENT Poll!
What are the best possibilities for journalist-readership connections? (you may choose more than one; please add clarifying comments)
Connection:
* Readers should hold journalists to a high standard of transparency.
* Journalists should ascertain topical concerns of readers.
* Journalists should build support for public risk-taking in the name of media freedom.
* Readers should hold editors, managers, and media owners accountable for journalistic freedom.
VOTE and COMMENT: http://www.comminit.com/en/node/288047/2754
RESULTS thus far (November 13):
29%: Journalists should build support for public risk-taking in the name of media freedom.
28%: Readers should hold journalists to a high standard of transparency.
28%: Readers should hold editors, managers, and media owners accountable for journalistic freedom.
16%: Journalists should ascertain topical concerns of readers.
EXPERIENCES
http://www.comminit.com/en/experiences.html
9. Yes…Because I can – Maldives
This social marketing campaign was conducted in the Republic of Maldives in an effort to shift young people’s negative mindsets about skill-based training and occupations. This campaign drew on the attention, interest, desire, and action (AIDA) model of communication. A brand – «Yes» – which is an acronym for Youth Employment Skills (an existing government programme) was created – and then supplemented with «…Because I can» – in an effort to inspire a positive and attitude towards life. Newspaper advertisements, a television clip, and free postcards all introduced the central communication tools of the campaign: a toll-free telephone number and a website – with the incentive of winning an ipod by using these tools. Motivational print, video, and radio material was created, and a systematic career development programme implemented.
Contact: Mariyam Nazima nazima@employment.gov.mv
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/272154
10. African Rural Press in Action (ARUPA) – Tanzania
ARUPA works to: create awareness of fundamental human rights and the right to access information through mass media such as radio, television, and magazines; identify and advocate for human rights in relation to HIV/AIDS, child labour, the environment, and poverty; conduct short- and long-term training programmes for rural people and rural communicators; provide a forum for exchange of news and views, skills, and experience among non-governmental organisations (NGOs)/community-based organisations (CBOs) and bridging the information gaps between urban and rural people, and between the government and people at grassroots level; and establish active information systems.
Contact: arupadan@hotmail.com
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/133230/347
11. Teenage Health Freak – United Kingdom (UK) and Global
Teenage Health Freak is a web-based attempt to provide accurate, relevant, and reliable health information to teenagers in a contemporary, entertaining, and engaging way. The format, which includes new content available daily, is designed to enable young people to «take effective responsibility for their health-related actions within an appropriate moral framework». It is run by 2 UK physicians who are authors of the «Diary of a Teenage Health Freak» series. Distributed worldwide, these diaries have offered «cringe-free» health information specific to teenagers – in the form of books that have been translated into 22 languages, as well as a UK television series.
Contact: Dr. Aidan MacFarlane aidanmacfa@aol.com
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/298210/307
12. Media Parliament – Peru
Peru’s Association of Social Communicators Calandria and the Veeduría Ciudadana together organised an exercise in active citizenship which brought together communication students, concerned citizens, educators, members of the Peruvian Congress, media activists, and representatives of social organisations. Held in 4 of Peru’s main cities, the consultation was the culmination of a series of activities in a process that encouraged citizens to engage with mainstream media in order to provide feedback as well as to put forward proposals for change to the content offered by Peruvian TV.
Contact: Rosa María Alfaro rmaria@calandria.org.pe
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/285794/2754
13. Russia Maternal and Child Health Initiative (MCHI)
MCHI is an intergovernmental, bilateral health care collaboration implemented from September 2003-April 2007. By the completion of MCHI, over 200 health care institutions in over 20 regions of the Russian Federation were taking part in ongoing efforts to promote the dissemination of modern approaches to care during pregnancy, delivery, and infanthood, as well as the preservation of women’s and men’s reproductive health. Various communication tools and approaches were used in this effort to stimulate the creation of an empowered Russian organisation responsible for providing MCH innovations in Russia: the Institute for Family Health (IFH). Amongst other interventions, IFH provides educational materials (publicised in the media and disseminated in hospitals and medical colleges and universities) and conducts mass media campaigns that promote breastfeeding and reproductive health. IFH has also focused on creating conditions in hospitals for the mother and the baby to be togethe!
r all the time, and to enable the father and the family members to take an active part during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period.
Contact: Nino Berdzuli nberdzuli@jsi.com OR Natalia Vartapetova nvart@jsi.ru
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/281425/303
14. Saving the Planet – Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand
This Asian multi-year, multi-media initiative uses television to promote innovative projects in the area of education for sustainable development (ESD) and to support public education about this topic. Based on worldwide public nominations, an independent regional panel chose 6 projects for the first series of Saving the Planet. Representatives from the 6 selected projects were sponsored to attend a regional workshop in mid-2007, where they received a week of training in communicating through audio-visual tools and new media. TVEAP claims to be «committed to an inclusive, participatory communications process…we don’t just shoot and depart; we stay engaged with the individuals and groups whose stories we capture and amplify.»
Contact: Nalaka Gunawardene nalaka@tveap.org OR savingtheplanet@tveap.org
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/134670/306
15. Ankoay and Ankoay Doré – Madagascar
This integrated population/environment programme aims to engage, educate, and promote behaviour change among young people with a view to transforming them into frontline leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Ankoay, or Eagle, approach includes some 25 activities that employ experiential learning techniques to build young people’s capacities to develop life skills such as in communication, forming relationships, and learning how to resist peer pressure, as well as to acquire values concerning gender equity. Groups or clubs of young people work through a series of highly participatory life skills activities, guided by an activity book that promotes the development of positive social norms and skills. Public recognition as part of an «Ankoay Team» through a community-wide celebration of success is an important step in strengthening collective efficacy – the notion by members of a youth group that they can make a difference.
Contact: Peter Gottert pgottert@aed.org OR ghcm@aed.org
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/298793/347
16. Radio Station Building Project – Indonesia
This Indonesia-wide radio station building project is being implemented by Indonesian radio news agency, KBR68H, together with an Indonesian non-profit called the Indonesian Association for Media Development (PPMN), and supported by the Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF). Over the past several years KBR68H and PPMN have built or rebuilt (in disaster areas) dozens of radio stations. Staff of the stations receive training from KBR68H and PPMN on programme production and, as their capacity grows, so too does the number and variety of programmes they are able to produce. In most areas, the prevalence of mobile phones and the popularity of text messaging means that on-air debates are lively. The goal is clearly to inform and educate, but also to encourage active public participation in debates about local issues.
Contact: Tessa Piper tessa.piper@mdlf.org OR Santoso tosca@kbr68h.com OR Eni Mulia eni.mulia@ppmn.or.id
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/299835/2754
UPDATE FROM C-CHANGE
C-Change has published a research report and programme brief with a focus on gender norms and family planning. The research report «Gender norms and family planning decision-making in Tanzania: A qualitative study» – http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=6dceacbef4621523eb82ff8e708808e2 – examines the role of gender norms in decision-making among young married Tanzanian women and men on issues of family planning and contraceptive use. The study found that gender factors such as men’s dominance in decision making and cultural norms that condone a man beating his wife if she uses contraceptives secretly are barriers to use of modern contraceptives, but also determined that fear of side effects of modern contraceptives was a significant deterrent.
The programme guidance brief «Incorporating male gender norms into family planning and reproductive health programs» – http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=3e8fc07d7f2386720476205056f64a06 – provides evidence-based recommendations to guide family planning programmers in the design, implementation, and evaluation of family planning programmes with a male gender norms component. Recommendations derive from a USAID-funded C-Change Experts’ Meeting in March 2009 and build on the 2007 WHO report «Engaging men and boys in changing gender-based inequity in health: Evidence from programme interventions». Both documents are available on the C-Change website under Resources – http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=2b305c3f200ad193535499652f990046
The Drum Beat is the email and web network of The Communication Initiative Partnership – ANDI, BBC World Service Trust, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Calandria, CFSC Consortium, CIDA, DFID, FAO, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano, Ford Foundation, Healthlink Worldwide, Inter-American Development Bank, International Institute for Communication and Development, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, MISA, PAHO, The Panos Institute, The Rockefeller Foundation, SAfAIDS, Sesame Workshop, Soul City, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, WHO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Chair of the Partners Group: Garth Japhet, Founder, Soul City garth@heartlines.org.za
Executive Director: Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com
The Editor of The Drum Beat is Kier Olsen DeVries.
Please send material for The Drum Beat to The CI’s Editorial Director – Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com
The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.
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