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African development action with informed and engaged societies
Soul Beat Africa
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Mobilising Media Activism and Community Participation in Stigma Reduction

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This two-year project is designed to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in the media and other identified communities in Nigeria. Launched by Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS), the project aims to harness the capacity of the Nigerian media and communities as a potential force for change to reduce the high levels of HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the country. The project will also support the activities of Nigeria's Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM) for the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis by building the capacity of community leaders in HIV/AIDS advocacy, in particular by providing support and protecting the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and by promoting increased partnership between the media, PLWHA, human rights groups and HIV/AIDS activists in protecting and affirming rights of PLWHA.
Communication Strategies

The project plans to achieve its goals through a package of capacity building, as well as community empowerment and information dissemination activities addressing key media personnel, PLWHA, public sector personalities, and members of traditional leadership institutions in Nigeria.


Specific activities will include:

  1. A baseline survey to determine key issues, factors and determinants of HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Nigeria, including focus group discussions, policy mapping and analysis and media monitoring studies.
  2. Consultative roundtables to be held with PLWHA, media gatekeepers and community actors that aim to generatepopular debate around stigma and to proffer ways to addressstigma-related issues. The roundtables will be held in Enugu, Kano, Ado-Ekiti and Lagos.
  3. Capacity-building workshops aimed at building knowledgeof stigma-related issues among media, PLWHA, and leaders of targeted communities.
  4. Publication and circulation of a tri-yearly newsletter showcasing the efforts of community actors to reducestigma and discrimination and to provide information aboutservices/facilities for protection of the rights of PLWHA.
  5. Annual awards to profile and honour individuals andorganisations who have by their actions and pronouncements broken the silence surrounding stigma and discrimination in their communities.
Development Issues

HIV/AIDS.

Key Points

The goal of the project is to reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in measurable ways within the media and other identifiable communities in Nigeria by mid-2005. The project is designed to equip gatekeepers in the media with accurate, up-to-date information to report on issues, challenges, and solutions around stigma and discrimination; to provide platforms for informed public discussion and debate on stigma and discrimination; and to build capacity among leaders of the Nigerian media so that they will, on their own, become advocates for change (both in terms of communicating behaviour change to reduce stigma, and mobilising policy change for a legal and institutional framework that protects and promotes rights and access to redress for PLWH and people affected by AIDS (PABA) when confronted by stigma).

Partners

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), JAAIDS, World online.net. The project is funded by USAID through the Rapid Response Mechanism for HIV/AIDS Activities (Community REACH) project, managed by Pact, Inc., Washington, DC, USA.

Sources

Nigeria-AIDS eForum - Newsletter June 10, 2003.