The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
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.
Time to read
less than
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 14 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Bangladesh WASH Radio Campaign

0 comments

Created by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC)-Bangladesh Coalition and broadcast on the national radio network Bangladesh Betar, this radio campaign shared information about water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) issues with a specific focus on reaching out to underserved and marginalised groups. Conducted from November 2009 to April 2010, the goal of the Bangladesh WASH Radio Campaign was to advance local participation in WASH activities in order to achieve total sanitation coverage by 2013.

Communication Strategies

On air every Thursday evening for 15 minutes, the programme focused on: raising awareness about sanitation, hygiene behaviour, and waterborne diseases; sensitising Bangladeshis to Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approaches; and enhancing dissemination of WASH information across the country. Programming of the campaign was varied. For example, programmes included WASH news, interviews, theme songs, jingles, and dramatisations of real-life issues about a range of topics like sanitation problems in urban and rural areas, the importance of personal hygiene for well-being, government allocations to achieve total sanitation, and empowering individuals to start community initiatives.

 

This participatory, grassroots approach was a central theme of the campaign, and the radio programme particularly showcased the stories of ordinary people and their communities. Participation was built into the programming as well: listeners were encouraged to participate via a quiz game at the end of every episode.

Development Issues

Water, sanitation, and hygiene.

Key Points

According to WSSCC, people sent hundreds of letters with positive feedback to the radio station during the course of the broadcasts.

Sources

WSSCC website, February 24 2012; and email from Saskia Castelein to The Communication Initiative on March 2 2012.