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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Rural Radio Network and Information Centers for Development (RURANET/ICD) - Niger

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Rural Radio Network and Information Centers for Development (RURANET/ICD) is a seven-year programme initiated to build a network of 160 self-managed, solar-powered, rural radio broadcasting stations in Niger. The stations are aimed at providing access to information and communication for social and economic development.
Communication Strategies
The programme is setting up a rural radio broadcasting network covering the main parts of the country, with 20 units in each of seven regions. These networks of self managed solar rural radio units (SEMRRUs) will be operated by local teams of men and women who will produce, translate, and transmit the local programming. The programme will create local associations, training community members in management, broadcasting, and programme content production to ensure sustainability and critical local ownership.

The three-phase programme began in the summer of 1999 whcich involved setting up one unit in each of the seven rural regions outside the capital, Niamey. The next consolidation phase during 2001-2002 expanded to 20 broadcasting units in each region, including 10 in Niamey, for a total of 150 stations.

The next five years of 2003-2007 are focusing on expanding the programming, partners, applications, and information and communications technology equipment such as computers, TV, and telephones.

The project provides:
  • 30-watt broadcasting units operated by local teams of managers and translators to produce local versions
  • Program content from Africa Learning Channel and fristar/Francophonie Channel downloaded from Worldspace's digital audio satellite
  • Receipt on Baygen wind-up or solar-powered radios distributed to listening groups in a 20-kilometer radius.
The first station was in Bankilare, a village of 2000 plus the 10000 nomads in the 12-kilometer area who are without significant income, electricity, telephone, or clean water.

"Training will be given to local teams or associations to manage the units and produce or translate the programmes in the local languages; in Bankilare these would be Tamacheq, Songhai, Peulh, and Arabic."
Development Issues
Technology
Key Points
The programme is aimed at supporting economic development, such as mills or pumps and also at expanding the range of income-generating activities in both the communications and production sectors.
Partners

United Nations Development Program, (Netherlands Development Agency) SNV, African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), Rural Radio Network, Information Centers for Development (RURANET/ICD), Wantok Enterprises Ltd

Sources

OnTheInternet website on January 22, 2004