The Drum Beat – Issue 601 – Communication and Change News and Issues
November 28 2011
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This issue includes:
* EXPERIENCES: Future photos, pacific media, women online, HIV & farmers…
* Giving thanks to our newest CI ASSOCIATES.
* EVALUATIONS: Texting & disease, gender discussions, ECD…
* Updates from C-CHANGE.
* STRATEGIC THINKING: Vaccine confidence, ICT & climate, remote learners…
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From The Communication Initiative Network – where communication and media are central to social and economic development.
Subscribe to The Drum Beat: http://www.comminit.com/en/user/register
Access this issue online at http://www.comminit.com/global/drum_beat_601.html
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EXPERIENCES
http://www.comminit.com/global/search/apachesolr_search/?filters=tid%3A36%20language%3Aen%20tid%3A10
1. The Future We’ll Make Photo Campaign
To coincide with TEDxChange – a programme of local, self-organised events that bring people together to, for example, use video and live speakers to spark discussion and connection in a small group – and the tenth anniversary of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), this participatory communication initiative involves asking citizens to use technology to address the question: What is the future we will make?
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/future-well-make-photo-campaign
2. Pacific Media Centre (PMC) – New Zealand
Located at New Zealand’s Auckland University of Technology (AUT) University, PMC seeks to stimulate research into contemporary Maori, Pasifika, and ethnic diversity media and community development in Aotearoa/New Zealand. One PMC project: Pacific Media Watch is an Asia-Pacific media monitoring digital repository collected and published by postgraduate students and staff at PMC and also by contributing journalists.
http://www.comminit.com/media-development/content/pacific-media-centre-pmc
3. Project Ripfumelo – South Africa
Initiated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)’s Regional Office for Southern Africa and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2009, this project is designed to reduce HIV vulnerability among farm workers in South Africa’s Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The IOM is strengthening the capacity of the implementing partners to: tackle discriminatory gender dynamics and prejudices through training male role models; promote peer-led education and referrals to relevant services and support; assist farm workers in accessing health services; integrate local tailored social and behavioural change communication programmes implemented by local partners; develop and implement interventions that address contextual issues like life skills, financial literacy, and promoting healthy recreational activities; create a conducive environment for health and wellness by developing/strengt!
hening workplace policies and programmes; and increase technical capacity in order to sustain projects.
http://www.comminit.com/hiv-aids/content/project-ripfumelo
4. EroTICs – Brazil, India, Lebanon, South Africa, United States
Launched by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)’s Women’s Networking Support Program (WNSP), EROTICS involved research designed to answer this question: How do the emerging debates and the growing practice of regulation of online content either impede or facilitate different ways women use the internet and the impact on their sexual expression, sexualities, and sexual health practices, and assertion of their sexual rights? The research, which was conducted in South Africa, India, Lebanon, Brazil, and the United States, focused on networks, communities, and groups working online in awareness-raising, advocacy, and service provision involving the advancement of sexual rights and sexual health and sexual education.
http://www.comminit.com/content/erotics
5. Youth Communication – United States
This non-profit youth development programme is designed to help teenagers in New York City, in the United States (US), develop their reading and writing skills so they can acquire the information they need to make thoughtful choices about their lives. For example, the programme trains teens in journalism and related skills. The majority of participants are African-American, Latino, or Asian; they work under the direction of several full-time adult editors. Story ideas are proposed and discussed in group meetings and also in one-on-one meetings between writers and the adult editors. To complete their stories, students must successfully perform a wide range of activities, including writing and rewriting, reading, discussion, reflection, research, interviewing, and typing. They learn to read subway maps, verify facts, and meet deadlines.
http://www.comminit.com/content/youth-communication
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Welcome to our NEW CI ASSOCIATES!
Many thanks to the following organisations for contributing to the support of The CI Network by recently becoming a CI Associate:
* Breeze FM – http://www.comminit.com/content/breeze-fm/associate
* iMedia – http://www.comminit.com/content/imedia
For a full list of current CI Associates, see http://www.comminit.com/ci_associates/members
The voluntary support of Breeze FM, iMedia, and 35 other organisations goes directly to the services we provide to The CI Network through The CI website, The Drum Beat, and all of our interactive platforms. Please consider joining them and other CI Associates. Many levels of participation are open!
For details and to sign up, please see http://www.comminit.com/ci_associates/register or contact Warren Feek at wfeek@comminit.com
Thank you.
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EVALUATIONS
http://www.comminit.com/search/apachesolr_search/evaluations?filters=
6. Taipei’s Use of a Multi-Channel Mass Risk Communication Program to Rapidly Reverse an Epidemic of Highly Communicable Disease
by Muh-Yong Yen, Tsung-Shu Joseph Wu, Allen Wen-Hsiang Chiu, Wing-Wai Wong, Po-En Wang, Ta-Chien Chan, and Chwan-Chuen King
This November 2009 reports on a multi-channel crisis management mass communications programme that included, amongst other strategies, the sending of short message service (SMS), or text, messages to approximately 2.2 million Taipei City, Taiwan, residents. The messages were sent on October 12 2007 in the context of an outbreak of acute hemhorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC), which is frequently accompanied by a highly transmissible acute eye infection. In short, the evaluation finds that the timely launch of this systematic, communication-based intervention proved effective at preventing a dangerous spike in AHC and was able to bring this high-risk disease under control.
http://www.comminit.com/ict-4-development/content/taipeis-use-multi-channel-mass-risk-communication-program-rapidly-reverse-epidemic-highl
7. Overcoming Violence: Exploring Masculinities, Violence, and Peacebuilding – Pilot Training of Trainers Cycle 2009-2010
by José de Vries
This report examines «Overcoming Violence: Exploring Masculinities, Violence, and Peacebuilding», which was organised by the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR). The evaluation revealed that the participants highly valued: the connection to and sharing within a multi-cultural, male-only group; the opportunity to learn about theories on active nonviolence and gender-sensitive active nonviolence, as well as on positive masculinities and their link to socialisation processes; and sharing of training tools and facilitation methodologies. Fifteen recommendations for women’s organisations that are planning to engage men in their work for women’s empowerment and gender justice are offered here.
http://www.comminit.com/content/overcoming-violence-exploring-masculinities-violence-and-peacebuilding-pilot-training-tr
8. SEXINFO: A Sexual Health Text Messaging Service for San Francisco Youth
by Deborah Levine, Jacqueline McCright, Loren Dobkin, Andrew J. Woodruff, and Jeffrey D. Klausner
This March 2008 article describes an evaluation of SEXINFO, a sexual health text messaging service developed in response to rising gonorrhoea rates among African American youth aged 15-19 in San Francisco, California, United States. A consortium of community organisations, religious groups, and health agencies assisted with identifying culturally appropriate local referral services. Also, organisers conducted 4 focus groups of youth to discuss the feasibility of the service and assist with its development and marketing – for instance, outreach workers distributed palm cards on the streets and in schools, banner ads ran on Yahoo!, and a media press release was issued. «Preliminary evaluation data show consistent positive associations between demographic and geographic risk factors for STIs [sexually transmitted infections] and campaign awareness.»
http://www.comminit.com/ict-4-development/content/sexinfo-sexual-health-text-messaging-service-san-francisco-youth
9. Promoting Early Childhood Development through a Public Programme: Wawa Wasi in Peru
by Santiago Cueto, Gabriela Guerrero, Juan Leon, Alvaro Zevallos, and Claudia Sugimaru
This July 2009 paper presents the results of a Young Lives study into the impact and perceptions of the Programa Nacional Wawa Wasi, a Peruvian government programme for impoverished children aged 6-48 months. The paper presents and discusses information on the subsequent development of a sample of children who went to Wawa Wasi in comparison to children who did not participate. It also provides qualitative information on the implementation of the programme and on ways key actors believe the functioning of Wawa Wasi could be improved.
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/promoting-early-childhood-development-through-public-programme-wawa-wasi-peru
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UPDATES FROM C-CHANGE
C-Change and Ohio University Have Launched the Facilitated and Self-Paced Versions of the Online C-Modules
C-Change and Ohio University recently launched the C-Modules course on social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) in two versions – facilitated online and self-paced online. The goal of the 6-module course is to develop and strengthen competencies in the planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of SBCC activities. To enroll in the self-paced course or to find out more about future facilitated courses, click here:http://comminit.com/clickthru/8f15bc2d8e2ad977743cd0fc6bf16d05?node= The self-paced course covers the same topics as the facilitated course; however, the user does not receive individual feedback or comments. Visit the C-Change website http://comminit.com/clickthru/f1cf43de6607829091616575b6db2b3a?node= for detailed information on the C-Moduleshttp://comminit.com/clickthru/8d56dcc57ebe017ab5402820ae7bc8cd?node= and other SBCC tools http://comminit.com/clickthru/652397490d8022acd974ff6e883c9b10?node= that the project has developed to streng!
then the capacity of organisations and individuals to carry out SBCC.
C-Change/Namibia Developed a QI Process to Improve SBCC Programming for Organisations
C-Change/Namibia uses a participatory quality improvement (QI) process with small to large organisations to evaluate their social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) programming in HIV prevention as well as other health areas. To assist the process, C-Change has developed tools comprising two checklists and a recommendation form. Visit C-Hub http://comminit.com/clickthru/30967a71c7071693dc39c68999211ca9?node= or the C-Change website http://comminit.com/clickthru/65c44e969953f98eb4c9463d09d639df?node=to download the tools.
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STRATEGIC THINKING
http://www.comminit.com/global/search/apachesolr_search/strategic%20thinking?filters=tid:36
10. State of World Population 2010: From Conflict and Crisis to Renewal: Generations of Change
by Barbara Crossette
This report, published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), discusses how women in conflict and post-conflict situations, as well as in emergencies or protracted crises, are faring on the 10th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution 1325. It recognises and seeks to address the vulnerability of women and girls to violence during and after armed conflict, and the absence or low level of women’s representation in efforts to prevent war, build peace and restore devastated societies. «Working at the grassroots level, community organizations and larger non-governmental organizations have already broadened the meaning of Security Council resolutions and United Nations declarations…»
http://www.comminit.com/fragile-contexts/content/state-world-population-2010-conflict-and-crisis-renewal-generations-change
11. Addressing the Vaccine Confidence Gap
by Heidi J. Larson PhD, Louis Z. Cooper MD, Juhani Eskola MD, Samuel L. Katz MD, and Scott Ratzan MD
Published in the Lancet in June 2011, this paper discusses some of the characteristics of the changing global environment that are contributing to increased public questioning of vaccines and outlines some of the specific determinants of public trust. The authors argue that «[t]he vaccine community demands rigorous evidence on vaccine efficacy and safety and technical and operational feasibility when introducing a new vaccine, but has been negligent in demanding equally rigorous research to understand the psychological, social, and political factors that affect public trust in vaccines.»
http://www.comminit.com/polio/content/addressing-vaccine-confidence-gap
12. New and Emergent ICTs and Climate Change in Developing Countries
by Stan Karanasios
This January 2011 paper from the AIMTech Research Group, University of Leeds, outlines the range of new and emergent information and communication technologies (ICTs) (e.g. wireless broadband and wireless sensor networks, geographic information systems, and webbased tools) being applied to climate change issues and investigates their use in developing countries. «Beyond their traditional use as an information and computer access centre, emergent examples of information to be made available through telecentres include digitised hazard maps that track the hazards to which the communities are vulnerable (for instance, propensity for heavy rainfall to cause flooding in a densely inhabited area), digitised resource maps that indicate the locations of the resources available to deal with the risks, and chronological logs of disasters that had previously taken place in the area.»
http://www.comminit.com/natural-resource/content/new-and-emergent-icts-and-climate-change-developing-countries
13. Making Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanisms Work through Full Engagement of Civil Society
This October 2008 International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) report looks at the functioning of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) in 7 countries – Argentina, Cambodia, Cameroon, India, Jamaica, Romania, and Uganda – with a particular focus on civil society (CS) engagement in CCMs. One finding: «CS members have made notable contributions in several CCMs….However, CS CCM members generally have limited influence compared to government representatives due to not being considered equals by other members, not having appropriate knowledge or expertise (including knowledge about their roles as CCM members), being reluctant to challenge leadership, and not having confidence in their own skills.» Argentina and Romania are exceptions, «in part because of the CS members’ active engagement (sometimes in contrast with the passivity of other sectors), their ready access to information, and their recognition by other members as equal partners.»
http://www.comminit.com/democracy-governance/content/making-global-fund-country-coordinating-mechanisms-work-through-full-engagement-civil-so
14. Reaching REMOTE Learners: Successes and Challenges for Students in an Online Graduate Degree Program in the Pacific Islands
by Kavita Rao and Charles Giuli
This March 2010 article describes an evaluative study of the Regional Education Master’s Online Training in Evaluation (REMOTE) programme, which is designed to address a need for building the capacity of educational leaders in the Pacific to conduct and utilise programme evaluation appropriately and effectively. Recommendations for multi-year degree programmes in settings such as the Pacific Islands include the following: (i) provide opportunities for synchronous meetings either in person or virtually using technology; (ii) create support structures for students with key personnel who are connected to students and who remain with them over the course of the programme; and (iii) be aware and respectful of the realities of the students’ lives: «Adult learners from traditional and indigenous communities have multiple obligations that require them to prioritize their coursework in different ways.»
http://www.comminit.com/ict-4-development/content/reaching-remote-learners-successes-and-challenges-students-online-graduate-degree-progra
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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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