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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. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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Primero lo Primero (First Things First)

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This programme initiative is a public-private partnership developed in Colombia, as part of the strategy De Cero a Siempre (From Zero to Always), to bring attention to high quality comprehensive care for children from birth to five years in vulnerable situations.

 

This initiative was created by Julio Mario Santo Domingo Foundation (FMSD), the Latin America in Solidarity Action (ALAS), the Barefoot Foundation, and aeioTU-Carulla Foundation, along with 30 public and private institutions. The launch of the programme took place during the Summit of the Americas in April 2012 in Cartagena, Colombia.

Communication Strategies

For the construction of this initiative, the Mario Santo Domingo Foundation provides the resources, while the Barefoot Foundation guarantees entry and retention of girls and boys in the school system. ALAS Foundation, as a mobiliser of Latin American society for the cause of early childhood, does strategic work at regional and international levels to manage additional support from allies.

 

In turn, aeioTU-Carulla Foundation is responsible for the operation of comprehensive care centres and an initial donation during the operation for two years. These funds leverage an investment for the first 13 centres by the national government through its strategy Zero to Always.

 

Development Issues

Early childhood, health, nutrition, education.

Key Points

Through the Alliance First Things First, 13 new comprehensive care centres for young children will be built, equipped, and operated in different regions of Colombia, where 5,920 children will be served.

Partners

Fundación Julio Mario Santo Domingo (FMSD), la Fundación América Latina en Acción Solidaria (ALAS), la Fundación Pies descalzos, and  aeioTU-Fundación Carulla. As allies for the opening of the 13 comprehensive care centres throughout Colombia, First Things First also has the support of 11 public and five private companies and 14 social organisations and multilaterals committed to this goal. The cost for the implementation and operation of these centres during the first two years is about US$36 million. The public sector provides all the locations and about US$25 million, mainly for construction and operation.

Sources

The ALAS Foundation website  and the National Strategy Zero to Always website, January 4 2013.