Soul Beat Africa

• * PROGRAMME EXPERIENCES on storytelling and positive parenting for fathers...
• * EVALUATIONS of a radio edutainment show and a child protection programme...
• * REPORTS on media and governance, and sex worker prevention and care needs...
• * RESOURCES for peer educators working in SRHR, and a video on Ebola...

• 1. Nal'ibali "Story Power. Bring It Home" Billboard Campaign - South AfricaIn October 2014 Nal'ibali launched a billboard campaign in South Africa to "generate awareness and discussion around the power of stories to spark all children's potential...the campaign seeks to inspire and motivate parents and caregivers to give their children a head-start in life, by making reading and storytelling a part of daily life." Over 500 billboards have been erected and corresponding short animated videos are being screened at taxi ranks.
  
• 2. ICTs, State-building, and Peacebuilding in Eastern AfricaThis 2-year research-focused project is exploring the expectations and conceptualisation of using information communication technologies (ICTS) for state-building and peacebuilding in developing contexts, compared to the reality of adaptation and use on the ground. Focusing on Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, the project was developed to address how, in 'media and development' theory, policy and practice, "statements about the transformative power of ICTs have often clouded the understanding of how people and communities actually make sense of, and engage with, the old and new communication technologies that surround them."
  
• 3. REAL Fathers Initiative - Uganda Running from 2013 to 2015, the Responsible, Engaged, and Loving (REAL) Fathers Initiative is working to develop and test a set of interventions intended to "build positive partnerships and parenting practices among young fathers (aged 16-25) in post-conflict Northern Uganda to reduce the incidence of intimate partner violence and physical punishment of children." The interventions include a mentoring programme and a poster-based community awareness campaign, which are being assessed through pre- and post-activity monitoring, to determine effectiveness and feasibility. The project was initiated by Save the Children and the Institute for Reproductive Health.
  
• 4. Literacy Project for Girls and Women - Projet D'alphabétisation des Jeunes Filles et Jeunes Femmes (PAJEF) - SenegalLaunched in Senegal in January 2012, this two-year project seeks to improve access to education for 40,000 neo-literate and illiterate women aged 15 - 55 years. Using classroom literacy education, internet, mobile phones, and CD/DVD, the project trained teachers and offered literacy programmes in national languages and French, coupled with vocational skills training.
  
• 5. Let's Speak Out Project - LiberiaLaunched in January 2013, this project is working with young women in Liberia to tell their stories about sexual violence and issues related to sexual and reproductive health. Using participatory photography, music, a celebrity ambassador, community mobilisation, and print materials, the project is designed to support and empower young Liberian women who have experienced gender-based violence and sexual abuse, and encourage social change. The project is led by PCI Media Impact in collaboration with partners.
  
• 6. Fighting Ebola: A Grand Challenge for Development - GlobalLaunched in September 2014, this is an online initiative that is designed to pool ideas, innovations, and strategies to provide solutions for fighting the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa. The online platform is hosted by OpenIDEO and is designed to generate actionable solutions and help facilitate dialogue and collaboration around ideas.
  

• 7. Using Entertainment Education to Promote Self-efficacy and Aspirations among Young Malawians: The Tisankhenji Radio Program [2013]By Rupali J. Limaye, Rajiv N Rimal, Jane Brown, and Glory MkandawireThis peer reviewed case study, which appeared in the Cases in Public Health Communication and Marketing Journal, discusses the impact of the Tisankhenji radio programme, which was designed to prevent HIV among young people in Malawi, especially girls age 10 to 14, by increasing self-efficacy, encouraging open discussion, promoting career goals, and encouraging aspirations for education and careers.
  
• 8. Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Behavioural Change Among Security and Defense Forces: Experiences and Lessons from East, West and Central Africa [March, 2014]This report discusses the experience and impact of working with security and defence force personnel to build capacity around child protection, with specific focus on insights gained from trainings conducted by Save the Children in East, West, and Central Africa. A key question posed for the research was whether the training resulted in behaviour change during field operations to enhance the protection and well-being of children living through wars or in post-conflict situations.
  

• 9. The Power of Talk: Media and Accountability in Three African Countries - Policy Briefing #12 [October, 2014]By Rebecca StringerThis policy brief draws on BBC Media Action's experience of delivering the five-year media support project "A National Conversation" in Angola, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. The project worked with media organisations to encourage improved transparency, accountability, and participation. The brief discusses successes, challenges, and learnings from the project and argues "that the media's role as a force for accountability - especially in fragile states or emerging democracies - is complex and the most effective strategies tend to be those which are grounded in the cultural and political contexts of the countries concerned."
  
• 10. Global Mapping of Communication for Development Interventions in Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation [March, 2013]By Beatrice M. SpadaciniPublished by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), this mapping study examines the use of Communication for Development (C4D) in peacebuilding efforts. The findings are meant to offer insight into the processes and impact of effective C4D programmes in peacebuilding across continents that might be replicated, adapted, or scaled up.
  
• 11. Increasing Male Engagement in HIV Prevention in Côte d'Ivoire - Project Brief No.25 [August, 2014]By Alan GreigThis project brief discusses the experience of EngenderHealth's RESPOND Project in Côte d'Ivoire, which is working to challenge gender inequalities and transform harmful norms of masculinity that hinder HIV/AIDS prevention and care. According to the brief, significant challenges still remain, but the strategic approach of the RESPOND project and the Men as Partners (MAP) methodology, which combines male engagement through group education and community sensitisation, offers a positive model for change.
  
• 12. Sex Workers and HIV/AIDS in Uganda: Synthesis of Information and Evidence to Inform the Response - Synthesis Report [October, 2014]This report discusses findings from a study to synthesise existing research to better understand HIV/AIDS prevention and care among sex workers in Uganda, and inform the National HIV/AIDS multi-sectoral response. The study was conducted by the HIV/AIDS Knowledge Management and Communication Capacity (KMCC) initiative and comprised a literature review; interviews with researchers, academics and practitioners; and discussions with sex workers.
  

• 13. ZAZI: A Participatory Programme on Sexual and Reproductive Health for Women and Girls - A Toolkit for Facilitators [2014]By Emma Durden and Mpume GumedeThis toolkit has been developed by the ZAZI campaign for use by peer educators, community outreach workers, faith-based organisations, and traditional health practitioners to help facilitate participatory discussions on sexual and reproductive health with women aged between 20 and 49 years of age. The ZAZI campaign seeks to encourage young women "to resist peer pressure and define their own values so that they can prevent unwanted pregnancies, HIV, have a safe pregnancy and healthy baby when they choose to fall pregnant."
  
• 14. Antiretroviral Treatment for Pregnant Women - Animation VideoProduced by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), this 5-minute animated video, available in English and French, has been produced to help encourage pregnant women to be tested during pregnancy and to inform them about the process and steps a woman would ideally follow once she finds out she is pregnant and living with HIV, namely immediate and lifelong antiretroviral treatment.
  
• 15. The African Child Information HubThe African Child Information Hub (InfoHub) is designed to be a one-stop shop of data and information on children in Africa. The main objective of the InfoHub is "to create a forum to facilitate the exchange of information, ideas and experiences on matters relating to children."
  
• 16. Ebola: A Poem for the Living - VideoThis video animation was created for use in West Africa to help dispel myths about how Ebola is spread, and to prevent infection and further spreading of the disease. The story is based around a teenage boy on a hospital cot in Liberia, who speaks to his parents, brother and sister warning them about the disease and telling them how it can be prevented. The story highlights the need for isolation and shows the heartache of the family as they are unable to comfort, touch, or care for the sick boy.
  

• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Theme site
• HIV/AIDS Theme site
• Health Communication - Africa Theme site
• Edutainment Theme site
• Community Radio Theme site
• Democracy and Governance Theme site
• Malaria Theme site