The Drum Beat – Issue 559 – Communication and Change News and Issues
September 13 2010
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This issue includes:
* Request for YOUR INPUT: Drum Beat format.
* EVALUATIONS of programmes addressing drug use, birth registration, and HIV stigma.
* CALL FOR PAPERS: media, race, politics.
* EVENT: MDGs – lessons from polio.
* MORE EVALUATIONS of programmes addressing gender norms, child health, the environment, and nutrition.
* Thanks for the support of a current CI ASSOCIATE.
* C-CHANGE on the ground.
* How do you define journalism?: POLL
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From The Communication Initiative Network – where communication and media are central to social and economic development.
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We’ve been experimenting over the past few months with new formats of The
Drum Beat. Now we need to hear feedback from you! Previous editions have
been various styles of HTML email messages. This current edition is a «plain text» email. Please reply to drumbeat@comminit.com and let us know what you prefer – plain text or HTML. Many thanks for your valuable input!
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EVALUATIONS
http://www.comminit.com/en/evaluations.html
1. Tackling HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination in South Asia
This July 2010 report examines an effort on the part of the World Bank’s South Asia Region to address the fact that HIV prevalence in India and South Asia is growing among sex workers, injecting drug users, and other marginalised groups. The most promising work used multiple strategies and stakeholders to address stigma. Also, the evaluation found that involving marginalised communities is essential for strengthening capacity, ensuring appropriate messaging, and maximising results.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/321335/347
2. What We’ve Learned: Lessons from a Communications Campaign for South Africa’s Rural Poor
This October 2008 report describes the Farm Life Project in South Africa, a multi-pronged communications campaign undertaken from 2004 to 2006 to raise awareness of the plight of the rural economically poor in the changing economy. It involved a quantitative survey that exposed the scale of farm dweller evictions and a photography book and exhibit designed to put a «face» on the issue. According to the report, project participants were given the tools to disseminate information to government agencies, the general public, and the media, thereby putting the issue of farmworkers on the public agenda.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/293988/306
3. Sister to Sister: USAID-funded Drug Demand Reduction Program in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the Ferghana Valley Region of Kyrgyzstan
This December 2007 report examines the Sister to Sister Model as conducted from 2002 to 2007 under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Drug Demand Reduction Program (DDRP), which aims to address social problems among vulnerable populations involved in or at risk of involvement in drug use in Central Asia. One finding: Through advocacy and explanation, several projects have raised the visibility of problems faced by women and girls related to drug use and crime at the local level.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/303633
4. Count Every Child: The Right to Birth Registration
by Claire Cody
This December 2009 report documents the process and outcomes of Plan’s 5-year Universal Birth Registration (UBR) campaign. In short, over 40 million people in 32 countries have now been registered through the campaign. Reportedly, partnerships that involved many stakeholders were important for gaining widespread support for Plan’s innovations. But «the most significant changes and successes have included the paradigm shift towards improved legislation, and the greater levels of participation, partnership and commitment from states, local councils and organisations towards birth registration.»
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/308148/303
5. Breakthrough Endline Report
This December 2008 report shares evaluation data on a youth peer education programme called the Rights Advocates which was carried out from 2006-2007 in 3 universities in India. The evaluation process found that the Rights Advocates were able to influence the community at large by conducting awareness-raising activities (street plays, screenings of multimedia material, melas (fairs), putting up stalls, etc.), addressing issues around stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA), preventing HIV, and promoting non-judgmental dialogue on sexual health.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/321905/347
6. Impact of FilmAid Programs in Kakuma, Kenya: Final Report
by Katharine Lee and Paul Bolton
This January 2007 report describes an evalation of the FilmAid International programme in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kakuma, Kenya. Research findings show that 94% perceived FilmAid films to provide assistance with problem solving, and 96% perceived a positive impact on conflict reduction and community building. The research also showed: a perceived positive impact on family planning and a marked increase in level of knowledge of family planning; a perceived positive impact on HIV knowledge and behaviour and whether or not people decide to get tested; and a positive impact on women’s quality of life.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/303627/38
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GRADUATE STUDENTS: CALL FOR PAPERS
PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communications is accepting articles for their Vol. 3 Issue 1 (March 2011) edition with a focus on «Media, Race, Politics».
This issue invites papers that challenge and explore the visibility (and invisibility) of race and racism in media coverage of political communication and election campaigns.
All submissions to PLATFORM must be from current graduate students (no more than 6 months after graduation) undertaking their Masters, Ph.D. or international equivalent. PLATFORM recommends that prospective authors submit abstracts for approval well before the deadline to allow for feedback and suggestions.
Deadline: October 11 2010.
For more information, please see http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=47f36de6040ac311af3ad9688a318f26
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EVENT: MDGS – LESSONS FROM POLIO
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO), GAVI Alliance, Rotary International, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are pleased to invite you to:
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Reaching the MDGs with Lessons Learned from Global Polio Eradication
Welcome by Mr Bekele Geleta, IFRC Secretary General
Keynote by Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director General
Followed by a panel discussion
at the
MDG Summit Partnership Event
September 20 2010
6:30–8:00 pm
Japan Society
333 East 47th Street
New York, NY
United States
RSVP to IFRC delegation to the United Nations, 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2811, New York
Tel: 212 338 0160; fax: 212 338 9832; or email: delegation.newyork@ifrc.org
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EVALUATIONS
http://www.comminit.com/en/evaluations.html
7. How Effective Is Community-Based Primary Health Care in Improving the Health of Children?
by Henry Perry, Paul Freeman, Sundeep Gupta, and Bahie Mary Rassekh
This July 2009 report summarises current research findings concerning the effectiveness of community-based primary health care (CBPHC) in improving the health of children in high-mortality, resource-poor settings around the world. Overall, the findings of this review provide strong scientific support for the following 3 conclusions: When proven interventions are implemented at the community level by local trained and well-supervised CHWs, coverage, impact, and equity can be favourably affected; Under the right conditions, communities can become strong partners with established health delivery systems in improving the health of children; and health programmes can more effectively and sustainably improve the health of children by mobilising the energy of local people for their own benefit.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/302589/303
8. Changing Gender Norms Among Women and Men in Uganda: A Report on the Evaluation of African Transformation
by Carol Underwood, Jane Brown, Donna Sherard, Basil Tushabe, and Afeefa Abdur-Rahman
This July 2007 report documents the findings of a study that evaluated the effects of participation in the African Transformation (AT) programme in Uganda. The programme is designed to promote gender equity, participatory development, and community action, and comprises a kit containing a series of video profiles of women and men who overcame gender barriers and challenges in their own lives and became role models to others. The study found that the programme had a positive impact on participants’ views and perceptions around gender, but that transforming deep-seated norms takes time.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/289309/38
9. The Community-Driven Eden Area Livability Initiative: Principles, Priorities, and Projects
by Jeremy Cantor, Rachel Davis, and Sharon Rodriguez
This March 2009 report evaluates a community-driven effort to improve well-being on a local level in 6 diverse communities of Alameda County, California, United States (US). As part of the process, more than 800 people participated through community forums, town hall meetings, task force meetings, leadership committee meetings, survey completion, and a community charrette (a collaborative and open community meeting designed to solve problems and advance change). Organisers explain that raising awareness about the initiative and inspiring involvement represented enduring challenges. It was important that the Livability Initiative represent the true breadth of the community’s diverse population and needs.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/298702/348
10. CORE Group, PD/Hearth Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting Report
This February 2009 report examines several experiences with a home/neighbourhood-based nutrition programme for children called Positive Deviance (PD)/Hearth that is being implemented in different contexts around the world. Trained volunteers assist participating parents or caretakers in preparing meals and snacks for their malnourished children with beneficial, locally available food using the results of a PD Inquiry. «There are several new and creative adaptations of the methodology, ongoing experiments in scaling-it up by different actors, and a conveyed community need for effective nutrition interventions. As discussed, there is ample evidence available that can be analyzed to extend current knowledge, and there is need and opportunity for extensive communication activities.»
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/302828/303
11. Assessment Report: Impact of Multi Media Campaigns
This September 2008 report documents the results of an impact assessment of the Multi Media Campaigns (MMCs) carried out as part of Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI)’s Environmental Services Program (ESP) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Indonesia. As detailed here, MMCs are a tool for building awareness of and promoting advocacy for ESP principles related to improved delivery of environmental and health services. The assessment found that MMCs have been effective in at least 6 ways – including that regional and national journalist networks are stronger and better informed about ESP-related issues and there is increased coverage of ESP-related issues in regional and national media.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/299681/306
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RENEWED SUPPORT
Our thanks to Strategies for Hope Trust –
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/271148 – for their renewed support through
the CI Associates process.
All CI Associates – http://www.comminit.com/ci_associates/members – are
giving back by helping preserve, sustain, and advance this growing knowledge sharing and strategic development process. Please consider joining them. Many levels of participation are open!
For details and to sign up, please see
https://www.comminit.com/en/ci_associates/ Thank you.
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FAMILY PLANNING IN DRC/HIV PREVENTION IN JAMAICA
C-Change recently trained 3,000 relais (community health workers) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) three eastern provinces – Kasai Oriental, Katanga, and Kasai Occidental – on use of the Family Planning Conversation Tool (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=02a38cb5a5068ba51fbada2f98f1de13). The Tool was developed by C-Change/DRC partners CARE and AED and assists relais as they talk to groups of men and women about family planning. Issues include spacing of pregnancies for the health of the mother and her children, visiting the health clinic for antenatal care, and adopting use of modern contraceptives, etc. More information is available on the C-Change website (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=b10b099bc0ce1f996ea3cee64ac36c6d).
C-Change recently began work in Jamaica, (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=2ac615c4172d30b82317361a58eae81c) where it carried out an assessment of government and civil society sector HIV prevention programming for most-at-risk-populations (MARP). Technical assistance is being provided to the Ministry of Health and non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners to build capacity to incorporate strategies of social and behaviour change communication into the planning and implementation of HIV prevention activities.
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12. Networking Proves Vital Strategy to Improving Women’s Health Care: Relationships between Parliamentarians and HIV-positive Women Fosters Change
This September 2007 report details the outcomes of a project that sought to form networks between HIV-positive women, their communities, and members of parliament (MPs) in Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, and Tanzania. Although the report states that results varied by country, researchers found that, overall, the project gave MPs a better understanding of women’s barriers to HIV/AIDS treatment and care, and that networking strengthened women’s ability to advocate on issues that affect them.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/303198/347
13. Planning for Life: Final Evaluation
by Mahua Mandal
This October 2009 report is an evaluation of the International Youth Foundation (IYF)’s Planning for Life (PfL) initiative, which is an effort to increase knowledge and skills around integrating youth reproductive health (YRH) and family planning (FP) in development programmes for youth ages 10-24. «PfL had a number of successes, both in the field and at the HQ [headquarters] level», which are detailed here.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/310464
14. BRIDGE Project Final Evaluation
by Jean Capps and Sandra Wilcox
This September 2008 report examines a project launched in 2003 in Malawi that carries the following theme: Belief in a better future (hope); Risk is shared by everyone (personalised risk); I can STOP AIDS (personal responsibility, action, self-efficacy); Discussion about HIV/AIDS (openness, destigmatisation); Gender equity (girls’ empowerment and changed men’s behaviour); Emphasising positives (action orientation, community assets, positive role modelling). Outlets like the media, community leaders, and national celebrities are being used to model and reinforce changed behaviour and support national behaviour change intervention (NBCI) movements. In general, the team found that BRIDGE is achieving most of its stated objectives. However, the actual impact of the project on behaviour is not being measured.
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/298226/2674
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Please VOTE in our Poll on the current definition of journalism:
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/317730/2754
In your context, is this definition of journalism still relevant and valuable?: «a truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context that gives them some meaning.» [see Melvin Mencher, «Will the Meaning of Journalism Survive?» –http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?m=e5a2847a0eebdb42b1daafefd7581370 – Neiman Reports.) Please comment.
– Yes
– No
– Maybe
VOTE and COMMENT at http://www.comminit.com/en/node/317730/2754
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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
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The Editor of The Drum Beat is Kier Olsen DeVries.
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