The Drum Beat – Issue 606 – Communication and Change News and Issues
February 27 2012
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This issue includes:
* STRATEGIC THINKING: AIDS at 30, Research/Law Link, Integrating ICT into C4D…
* Announcing a WORLD WATER DAY Concert & Conference.
* EXPERIENCES: Participatory Video, Minority Voices, Radio Empowering Women…
* Get Ready for WORLD TB DAY!
* MATERIALS: HIV Monitoring, Accessing Knowledge, African Children’s Book…
* Become a CI PARTNER.
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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_606.html
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STRATEGIC THINKING
http://www.comminit.com/global/search/apachesolr_search/strategic%20thinking?filters=tid:36
1. AIDS at 30: Nations at the Crossroads
This 4-part document from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), published in June 2011, describes the worldwide state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and possible ways forward. The importance of a collaborative approach is one communication-related theme: «Universal access has turned into something more than an initiative: it is now a full-fledged movement, with support from governments, civil society, nongovernmental organizations, including networks of people living with HIV, and multinational systems such as the UN.»
http://www.comminit.com/hiv-aids/content/aids-30-nations-crossroads
2. Linkages between Researchers and Legislators in Developing Countries
by Ajoy Datta and Nicola Jones
Using the Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) framework, this July 2011 study from the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) maps the links between researchers and legislators in transition and developing countries and explores the role of politics in influencing researcher–legislator linkages. One finding: «Legislators emphasised the need for researchers to go beyond stating research findings to actually narrate a compelling story with practical policy recommendations. Moreover, evidence is more likely to be taken up if messages resonate with broader national policy agendas, such as economic growth. Given the pressures on their time and relatively low research literacy levels, research intended for legislators needs to be presented in short summaries, where possible illustrated by pictures and/or charts.»
http://www.comminit.com/democracy-governance/content/linkages-between-researchers-and-legislators-developing-countries
3. Battling Corruption in the Search for Peace: The Common Ground Approach
by Oscar Bloh and Ambrose James
This January 2009 article details the anti-corruption work of Search for Common Ground in Sierra Leone and Liberia, focusing specifically on the organisation’s approach to peacebuilding and fostering accountability. For example, in Liberia, SFCG produces a radio soap opera called Today is not Tomorrow, which depicts a negative character using his political connections and wealth to mismanage community development funds. According to the report, most participants in an internal assessment of the programme relayed that they now understood the dynamics of corruption more clearly and that this has impacted the way in which they have engaged with their communities. The article includes 5 key principles or lessons learned that SFCG uses to guide its anti-corruption interventions.
http://www.comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/battling-corruption-search-peace-common-ground-approach
4. Simple but Not Easy – Why Strategic Integration of ICTs into Development Programmes Is Simply Not Easy
by Patrick Kalas
In this December 2010 editorial published on the Learning and Networking Blog of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Patrick Kalas, former SDC ICT4D Program Manager, reflects on 7 years of engagement within the information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development sphere with the aim of sparking a critical reflection on initial lessons to be learned exploring (a) why the strategic integration of ICTs is simply not easy while (b) formulating 3 critical lessons learned. Kalas endorses the C’s approach (Content, Capacity, Context, Convergence, Communication, Communities, and Conservation), detailing how to adapt each of the 7 C’s to create an enabling local focus that is pro-economically poor, rural, technologically appropriate, and affordable and that addresses training, issues of e-waste, and participation for decision-making, as well as fostering communication for change, including behavioural change/change of practice.
http://www.comminit.com/ict-4-development/content/simple-not-easy-why-strategic-integration-icts-development-programmes-simply-not-easy
5. PRIX JEUNESSE WATCHwords Winter 2010
From December 2010, this newsletter from the PRIX JEUNESSE Foundation describes the Foundation’s Suitcase project, which is an offshoot of its bi-annual festival promoting quality in children’s and youth television worldwide. One article describes a workshop that took place in Argentina: «hundreds of children experienced ‘a new way of watching TV’ through the Suitcase….The activity is truly participatory: children can talk, ask questions and discuss the programmes during the screening, but the real debate begins afterward, with guessing games about the geographical origin of each story, new possible endings to the fictional stories, other alternatives for resolving conflicts, or just applause….[C]hildren are asked to leave their ‘signature’ by drawing their favourite image from all the scenes and characters encountered during the screenings. They take their creations home, along with a small printed guide of tips to see and judge TV…»
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/prix-jeunesse-watchwords-winter-2010
6. Media & Learning Brussels 2010: Addressing a Changing View of Media Literacy and Developing Digital Media Skills in Education
This document summarises the presentations at the Media & Learning Brussels 2010 conference, November 25-26, Belgium, organised by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training and the media company ATiT, Audiovisual Technologies, Informatics and Telecommunications, with the support of the European Commission Directorate General for Education and Culture. The conference revolved around 3 main themes: digital and media skills and competences; fostering the creation of media-based resources at all levels of education and training; and use and re-use of existing media resources in education and training. The 2012 event will take place November 14-15 2012.
http://www.comminit.com/media-development/content/media-learning-brussels-2010-addressing-changing-view-media-literacy-and-developing-digi
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Water: The Global Challenge Of Our Future
November 2011 – April 2015
Melody for Dialogue Among Civilizations Association (MDAC) – http://www.comminit.com/clickthru/ecf0464b58f8daf2f1172ed8465b6c1e?node= – and its partners are embarking on a series of multifaceted concerts and forums around the world to underline the importance of the growing global challenge concerning the sustainability of fresh water. The second regional programme will take place in New York City, United States, March 22-23 2012. It includes a multicultural concert as well as a forum designed to reflect on and discuss issues such as water security, the role of women, and water as a human right, with stakeholders from the private and public sector as well as academia. In addition to discussion, the forum will feature a number of short films and videos, interactive displays, data visualisations, and other materials.
To learn more about this event and to learn how to attend the concert and participate in the forum, see:http://www.comminit.com/clickthru/bde04b593c8b603464aa24ec00b4a7c3?node=
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EXPERIENCES
http://www.comminit.com/global/search/apachesolr_search/?filters=tid%3A36%20language%3Aen%20tid%3A10
7. ACE Electoral Knowledge Network – Global
The ACE network is a collaborative effort between 9 organisations seeking to promote credible, and transparent electoral processes with emphasis on sustainability, professionalism, and trust in the electoral process. ACE offers a wide range of services related to electoral knowledge, assistance, and capacity development. The network is comprised of a global, thematic component (the ACE Practitioners’ Network) and a regional component (the ACE Regional Electoral Resource Centres). The ACE website is an online knowledge repository that provides information and customised advice on electoral processes. The interactive ACE website is freely accessible to all.
http://www.comminit.com/fragile-contexts/content/ace-electoral-knowledge-network
8. The Valley Trust and InsightShare Participatory Video Project – South Africa
The Valley Trust, a centre for health promotion in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, collaborated with InsightShare, a United Kingdom (UK)/France-based organisation using participatory video (PV) as a tool for empowering individuals and communities, and the community of Inanda to use PV to draw attention to community development issues. Members of the community planned, directed, and filmed each of the short videos during a 12-day workshop. In one, youth speak freely about why they smoke drugs and drink alcohol. They were interviewed by other community members, which gave them the chance to tell their story in their own words and try to break some of the stereotypes they faced.
http://www.comminit.com/global/content/valley-trust-and-insightshare-participatory-video-project
9. Minority Voices Newsroom – Global
From Minority Rights Group International (MRG), Minority Voices Newsroom is an online multimedia library that showcases the stories of minority and indigenous communities in developing countries and makes these stories available to the global media. The website is designed to enable journalists to identify stories and develop useful media contacts – with a focus on minorities and indigenous peoples. According to MRG, the communities featured on this website are some of the economically poorest and most disempowered, who otherwise have little or no opportunity to make their voices heard.
http://www.comminit.com/media-development/content/minority-voices-newsroom
10. Samajhdari Radio Programme – Nepal
Samajhdari (meaning «Mutual Understanding») is a 30-minute weekly radio programme produced by Equal Access in Nepal that aims to cover the correlation between violence against women (VAW) and HIV/AIDS from the listener’s point of view, providing discussion and advice. Every programme begins with a real dilemma that a listener has faced. The Nepalese radio show is combined with a community outreach component, which includes 60 listening groups, and legal literacy training for more than 1,800 women at the community level.
http://www.comminit.com/hiv-aids/content/samajhdari-radio-programme
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TB AWARENESS: WORLD TB DAY IS MARCH 24th
As described on the Stop TB website – http://www.comminit.com/clickthru/b3c7985e0bbe398632f43ee27819b8c0?node= – falling on March 24th each year, World TB Day is designed to build public awareness that tuberculosis today remains an epidemic in much of the world, causing the deaths of several million people each year, mostly in developing countries. As part of this effort, the United Kingdom (UK)-based TB Alert is looking for health professionals and community groups that would like to hold awareness-raising events – perhaps partnering with a local TB nurse or community group. TB alert says: «We can help you get in contact with each other and provide all the awareness raising materials you will need. We have a range of FREE resources for you to order, including: pens, t-shirts, handy TB symptoms checker cards, posters and information on TB. The form, which must be returned by February 29, and all contact details are available here:http://www.comminit.com/clickthru/980bca7ecf!
a3d2d4e56ce8343c262966?node=
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MATERIALS
http://www.comminit.com/global/search/apachesolr_search/?filters=tid%3A36%20language%3Aen%20tid%3A30
11. HIV Monitoring, Evaluation and Strategic Information Curriculum: Introduction and Modules for Countries with Generalised and Hyper-endemic HIV Epidemics
by Verne Kemerer and Marlea Clarke
This group of training materials, produced in July 2011 by the Core Group for the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA MEWG), has been published as an aid to development of the knowledge and skills of individuals within national HIV monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems or organisations engaged in similar activities. Each module includes a learner’s guide and a facilitator’s guide, along with a variety of supporting materials.
http://www.comminit.com/hiv-aids/content/hiv-monitoring-evaluation-and-strategic-information-curriculum-introduction-and-modules-
12. Access to Knowledge in the Age of Intellectual Property
by Gaëlle Krikorian, ed. and Amy Kapczynski, ed.
This October 2010 book from Zone Books charts the rise of the access to knowledge (A2K) movement and features 32 essays on A2K. It maps the terrain of legal, cultural, and technical issues that activists and thinkers aligned to the movement negotiate.
http://www.comminit.com/ict-4-development/content/access-knowledge-age-intellectual-property
13. Bouba and Zaza: Childhood Cultures – An Intergenerational African Series of Children’s Books
Launched in September 2011 by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s regional office in Dakar, Senegal, this intergenerational African series of children’s books covers topical subjects affecting the lives of African families that parents are sometimes reluctant to address. These include topics such as war and conflict, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the issue of water resources, and environmental protection. The books are designed to help children debate these problems.
http://www.comminit.com/children/content/bouba-and-zaza
14. The Impact 2.0 iGuide: New Mechanisms for Linking Research and Policy
Fundación Comunica and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) have developed this website on linking research and policy using technical guidelines to support activists and civil society organisations to deploy new interactive services and applications in their research and advocacy work in order to promote and strengthen links between research, advocacy, and policy.
http://www.comminit.com/ict-4-development/content/impact-20-iguide-new-mechanisms-linking-research-and-policy
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Help Sustain The CI
Become a Communication Initiative Partner
http://www.comminit.com/en/node/263701
The CI Partners (a) collectively provide the strategic guidance and direction for The Communication Initiative – ensuring that it meets the overall development priorities and needs of the communication and media community and (b) provide significant resources to support this overall initiative.
Current CI Partners: http://comminit.com/en/node/263701
Please contact Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com if your organisation is considering providing this significant level of support to The CI.
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The Drum Beat is the email and web network of The Communication Initiative Partnership – ANDI, BBC Media Action, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Calandria, CIDA, Citurnas ldta., DFID, FAO, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano (FNPI), Ford Foundation, Heartlines, Imaginario, Inter-American Development Bank, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, MISA, Ohio University, Oxfam Novib, PAHO, The Panos Institute, The Rockefeller Foundation, SAfAIDS, Sesame Workshop, Soul City, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, World Health Organization (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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