![The Drum Beat]() The Drum Beat – 646 – Communication and Change News and Issues |
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| EVALUATIONS |
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1. Improving Communication about the Uncertainty of Clinical Trial Outcomes: Using the Collaborative Production of Song to Facilitate Dialogues between Communities and Clinical Staff about the Risks and Benefits of Research in Johannesburg
by Jonathan Stadler, Hayley McGregor, and Sinead Delany-Moretlwe |
| With Wellcome Trust funding, the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI) developed a collaborative participatory process using a local South African musical art form called Kwaito to improve the ability of clinical staff to communicate the uncertainties associated with the outcomes of HIV prevention clinical trials, which are undertaken in «contexts of distrust of medical research». An evaluation found that elements that worked well included: the use of multiple voices in the production of the song, participatory approaches, song as a means to break silences, and using Kwaito specifically as the medium for the song. WRHI used insights gained from the evaluation of the method of a song and the process of developing and using it to plan more effective future engagement with trial participants and their communities. [Jan 2013] |
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2. Evaluating Communication for Development: A Framework for Social Change
by June Lennie and Jo Tacchi |
| This book presents a framework for evaluating communication for development (C4D) that critiques instrumental, upward accountability-based approaches to development and evaluation and offers an alternative holistic, participatory, mixed methods, learning-based approach. Based on systems and complexity thinking and other key concepts, the framework focuses on power relations, gender, and other differences and social norms. This approach is supported by examples and case studies from a number of action research and evaluation capacity development projects undertaken by the authors. These examples demonstrate the rigour and importance of participatory evaluation approaches to processes of sustainable social change and development. [2013] |
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3. Evaluating the Impact of Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescent (ELA)
by Oriana Bandiera, Niklas Buehren, Robin Burgess, Markus Goldstein, Selim Gulesci, Imran Rasul, and Munshi Sulaiman |
| This evaluation of the Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescent (ELA) programme of BRAC, a non-governmental organisation serving Bangladesh and 10 other countries around the world, explores the impact of BRAC’s microfinance/livelihoods aspect of the projects in Uganda. Researchers asked: (i) How effective is social empowerment and livelihood training in elevating the well-being of adolescent girls? (ii) How much additional impact does microfinance have? One finding: In the intervention villages, the percentage of girls who have savings increased 18.5% compared to 5.6% in the control village. [Jan 2012] |
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4. A Development and Evaluation Process for mHealth Interventions: Examples From New Zealand
by Robyn Whittaker, Sally Merry, Enid Dorey, and Ralph Maddison |
| «There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that mobile phones can support behavior change.» One of the University of Auckland, New Zealand’s mHealth interventions («STUB IT») focuses on smoking cessation – developed through a process involving a series of steps: conceptualisation, formative research, pretesting of content, pilot study, pragmatic randomised controlled trial, and further qualitative research. One result: STUB IT participants reported they felt «less isolated and more supported, like they were not quitting alone, and better equipped to quit next time. This was considered to be supportive of the use of role models providing observational learning and social support and enhancing self-efficacy. This was used to inform subsequent mHealth development, including a mHealth exercise support program for people with cardiovascular disease.» [May 2012] |
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5. The Effect of Household Heads Training About the Use of Treated Bed Nets on the Burden of Malaria and Anaemia in Under-five Children: A Cluster Randomized Trial in Ethiopia
by Amare Deribew, Zewdie Birhanu, Lelisa Sena, Tariku Dejene, Morankar Sudhakar, Fessehaye Alemseged, Fasil Tessema, Ahmed Zeynudin, Sibhatu Biadgilign, and Kebede Deribe |
| This article shares findings of a study to assess the effect of community empowerment on the burden of malaria and anaemia in under-5 children in Ethiopia. According to the article, long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLITN) have demonstrated a significant effect in reducing malaria-related morbidity and mortality. However, barriers to the utilisation of LLITN have hampered the desired outcomes. The intervention consisted of tailored training of heads of the households on the proper use of LLITNs and establishing a community network system. The study found that the prevalence of malaria decreased by 38% (from 10.5% to 6.5%) at the 6-month interval of the project period in the intervention villages. On the other hand, the prevalence steadily increased by 55% in the control villages during the same period. [Malaria Journal, Jan 2012] |
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| FROM BBC MEDIA ACTION: POLICY BRIEFINGS
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6. Factual Debate and Discussion Programmes and their Influence on Political Participation, Political Knowledge and Political Efficacy
by Chris Larkin |
| This paper presents data from Nepal, where BBC Media Action political debate programme Sajha Sawal (Common Questions) is broadcast nationally. An endline evaluation showed positive statistical significance in the association between exposure to Sajha Sawal on the radio and increase in political participation and discursive participation. People listening to the programme were more likely to participate in, for example, a rally or a petition drive and were more likely to discuss politics with others. The paper concludes with considerations for programme design and future impact evaluation research. For instance, it points out that understanding the scope of participation prior to designing a programme is important and should include informal ways of participating, such as contacting media or engaging in local level discussion, as well as mobilising citizens to more effectively engage with more for! mal democratic processes. Accuracy of information and a high quality of discussion in this kind of programming are essential. [Jan 2013] |
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7. Still Left in the Dark? How People in Emergencies Use Communication to Survive – and How Humanitarian Agencies can Help
by Angela Hawke, Ed. |
| Following the BBC Media Action’s policy briefing Left in the Dark of 2008, this briefing updates work done by the humanitarian sector to prioritise information and communication to those affected by disasters. The Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) Network was formed just prior to the January 12 2010 Haiti earthquake, convening discussions on coordination mechanisms designed to ensure the better provision of information. The increased use of mobile technology for 2-way communication has marked a change in humanitarian emergency response. It is noted that social media needs to be incorporated in disaster response information systems. The briefing calls for consistency of information, prevention of duplication, coordination of campaigns, access to research and learning within the country, and convening of practitioners to set standard working practices. [Mar 2012] |
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8. The Media of Iraq Ten Years On: The Problems, the Progress, the Prospects
by Abir Awad and Tim Eaton |
| Based on BBC Media Action’s first-hand experience of working in Iraq, as well as research and interviews with Iraqi and Western actors, this briefing is designed to generate greater understanding of the complex challenges facing support to the media in Iraq and other countries in the Arab region. In short, it argues that the Iraqi media landscape of 2013 has real strengths, as well as weaknesses, which reflect the reality and complexity of modern Iraq. Part 7 highlights lessons from the Iraq experience that may be useful to other Arab countries, especially those in transition. Key lessons include: media support needs to be holistic; media development is a goal in itself; stakeholders should be carefully mapped; independent regulation is a useful model; people’s expectations of the media are not universal; public service broadcasting is a challenging necessity; and media support must consider mark! et realities. [Mar 2013] |
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9. Health on the Move: Can Mobile Phones Save Lives?
by Yvonne MacPherson and Sara Chamberlain |
| «Media and communication can help to achieve health outcomes by improving knowledge, shifting attitudes and social norms and increasing people’s confidence and motivation to act in the interests of their own health. They can also facilitate and stimulate public and interpersonal (one to one) discussion, which in turn can support the adoption of healthier behaviours and greater accountability around health service provision and policy making.» This policy briefing from BBC Media Action focuses on how the mobile phone offers opportunities for saving lives. Taking into consideration barriers produced by low literacy and by variations in the alpha-numeric symbols in various languages in Bihar, India, the programme looked to interactive voice response (IVR). This speaks to recommendations included here, such as the fact that detailed research is central to the planning and delivery of mHealth solution! s and content must be localised, engaging, and culturally resonant. [Feb 2013] |
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| HIGHWAY AFRICA: CONFERENCE ON JOURNALISM, MEDIA, AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) |
| From Sept 1-2 2013, African journalists and allied academic, media support, and donor organisations interested in the interface of journalism, media, and ICTs and politics, society, and democracy across the continent will gather at Rhodes University, in Grahamstown, South Africa. This year, the theme of the conference is Speaking Truth to Power: Media, Politics and Accountability. The annual conference emerges from a partnership involving Rhodes University (School of Journalism and Media Studies) and Corporate South Africa, as well as development agencies, and media associations.
To learn more about the event – as well as to learn about how to participate online or through Twitter, click here or, for late registrations, email Karabo Tledima k.tledima@ru.ac.za |
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| MATERIALS |
10. Who Counts? The Power of Participatory Statistics
by Jeremy Holland, ed. |
| Through chapters describing policy, programme, and project research, Who Counts? is written to guide the adoption and mainstreaming of participatory statistics – an approach involving local people themselves generating statistics – within international development practice. [Practical Action Publishing, May 2013] |
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| 11. Creciendo Juntos (Growing Together) |
| «Growing Together», a Chilean radio programme, is aimed at disseminating relevant information on issues of pregnancy, parenting, care, and stimulation of young children. [Sistema de Promoción y Protección Social] |
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| 12. Handbook for Journalists |
| This book for journalists going to dangerous parts of the world lists international norms for protecting themselves and contains advice on how to stay alive and safe. [Reporters Without Borders, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), April 17 2007, updated on April 19 2013] |
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| 13. Journeys of Belonging |
| This website shares the results of a multimedia project that takes an in-depth look at the personal narratives of 17 women and men of diverse faiths, cultures, ages, gender identities, and nations. They are intended to «tackle… mistaken religious, cultural and gender identity stereotypes like the inaccurate assumption that non-Westerners hold contrary values to those of Americans, the British and other Europeans.» [The British Council, Nov 2012] |
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14. A Call to Act: Engaging Religious Leaders and Communities on Addressing Gender-Based Violence and HIV
by Britt Herstad |
| This advocacy guide was conceived and developed as the result of a focus on building the capacity of religious leaders, including women of faith, to address gender-based violence (GBV) in their communities, particularly in relation to HIV. The annexes include samples drawn from: various religious texts; agendas for training, forums, and workshops; case studies; illustrations of institutional commitment; recommendations to leaders and imams; press release samples; and activities. [Futures Group, Jan 2009] |
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| 15. Theatre and Democracy |
| These 16 essays on democracy in performance represent various cultural and national, as well as transnational, theatre traditions, and include topics of gender, folk theatre and politics, religious performance tradition, cultural understanding of theatre, gender and sexuality on stage, puppetry, and history and cultural activism through theatre, among others. [Ravi Chaturvedi for Rawat Publications, Jan 2008] |
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| Become a Communication Initiative Associate |
| The CI Associates are organisations and individuals who recognise the added value of The Communication Initiative toward their work priorities – which may be focused on a development issue, geographic location, and/or population group – and have chosen to provide financial support to this initiative. There are a range of possible payment levels from USD 100 to USD 5,000. The package includes a number of free classifieds listings. A list of present Associates can be seen online here. If you are not there now, please join them!
Contact vmartin@comminit.com for more details. |
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| This issue of The Drum Beat was written by Kier Olsen DeVries. |
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| The Drum Beat is the email and web network of The Communication Initiative Partnership – Partners: ANDI, BBC Media Action, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Breakthrough, Calandria, DFID, FAO, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano (FNPI), Inter-American Development Bank, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, MISA, Oxfam Novib, PAHO, The Panos Institute, Puntos de Encuentro, The Rockefeller Foundation, SAfAIDS, Sesame Workshop, Soul City, STEPS International, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, The Wellcome Trust, World Health Organization (WHO), W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
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.
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. |
| Please send additional project, evaluation, strategic thinking, and materials information on communication for development at any time. Send to drumbeat@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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