Social Norms
Social norms action with informed and engaged societies
Social Norms
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 lainiciativadecomunicacion.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
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Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) Project

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Running from 2010 to 2015, the Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) project is designed to provide a coordinated mechanism for supporting the deepening of democracy in Nigeria by international donors and partners. The main objective of the project is to assist Nigerian authorities to consolidate and advance democratic governance and accountability in order to achieve the development priorities and outcomes of the country. Managed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project is implemented in collaboration with the federal and state institutions and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and jointly financed by the European Union, the United Kingdom Department for International Cooperation, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency.

Communication Strategies

The project goal is to facilitate improvements in accountable governance in accordance with the rule of law and in response to public demand, in the key areas of: elections, justice, and anti-corruption. This is focused on supporting national efforts to build the norms, practices, mechanisms, and institutions that can foster active citizenship and stronger democratic accountability. There are 6 main areas of intervention: strengthening the National Assembly and political parties, improving the electoral process, increasing the capacity and performance of civil society, reinforcing the role and effectiveness of the mass media, and promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment for sustainable democracy and development.

The first phase of the project (April 2010 to May 2011) focused primarily on support for voter registration, civic education, media training, women's political representation, training for elections tribunal staff and election observers, and the production of information materials and electoral kits designed to encourage the 2011 general elections to be free, fair, and credible. It is also seeking to nurture a vibrant, responsible, and capable media, which is capable of engaging in the political process. The project has supported: the training of journalists and editors on professional and conflict sensitive reporting, the convening of an editors’ forum, the organisation of media campaigns, and establishment of functional media centres. Along with training, a guide for media was produced, which was designed to provide journalists with useful information and tools for reporting the 2011 elections.

Click here for the media guide produced for the 2011 elections.

Click here for the elections observation guidelines.

Development Issues

Governance

Key Points

Following this first phase, the project is being reformulated in order to recalibrate the efficacy of its support to Nigeria’s democracy and ensure that it follows the Electoral Cycle Approach, which in addition to electoral support, focuses on deepening democracy and developing the capacities of key democratic institutions.

Partners

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), European Union, the United Kingdom Department for International Cooperation, the Canadian International Development Agency, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency.

Sources

UNDP Nigeria website on September 17 2012