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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Thetha ICT Discussion Forum

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First launched in March 2003 by the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) as a South African initiative, the overall objectives of the expanded regional Thetha ICT Discussion Forum are to raise awareness and inform national, regional, and international stakeholders about the information and communication technology (ICT) challenges and opportunities facing Southern Africa, build their capacity to engage with these issues in an informed and strategic manner, and ultimately to inform local and regional ICT decision-making and development planning processes. Countries that are included in the project since its inception are South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Communication Strategies

The first phase of the Thetha (an Nguni verb meaning talk, discuss, debate, and share opinions/ideas) ICT Discussion Forum was designed to assist South African civil society organisations (CSOs) to respond to various challenges and opportunities presented in their day-to-day work by ICTs. According to organisers, Thetha forums provide an opportunity to both CSOs which are ICT-enabled, as well as those organisations which are considering introducing ICT solutions to their work, with an opportunity to discuss issues of common concern and learn from one another's experiences. Since March 2003, SANGONeT has organised more than 20 Thethas throughout South Africa.

With the assistance of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and the Embassy of Finland (South Africa), SANGONeT expanded the Thetha project to five Southern African countries (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland) in the period November 2005 - March 2007. The first regional Thetha project was designed to contribute to increased awareness and understanding among CSOs in the respective countries about ICT policy and application issues relevant to their work, as well as national and regional development processes.

Based on SANGONeT’s experience and specific outcomes with this first regional project, SANGONeT, OSISA, and the Finnish Embassy agreed to expand the project to a further five Southern African countries. Beginning in 2008, the Phase Two regional project includes a number of new features which organisers say will ultimately result in more tangible outcomes compared to the first project. From discussing general ICT issues relevant to the CSO sectors in the countries covered during the first regional Thetha project, the Phase Two project focuses specifically on key issues that will inform the regional "ICT for Development (ICT4D)" process in the next ten years.

The objective is to develop a comprehensive understanding of regional ICT4D issues through in-country research processes, stakeholder consultations, discussions of these findings on a country level through Thetha forums, and comparing the respective country lessons and experiences to identify and assess common ICT trends and issues facing the Southern African region. During the research and consultation process the project will draw on the collective expertise and knowledge of various people and institutions involved in shaping the role and contribution of ICTs in the region. Click here to view the individual ICT country reports completed so far on the Thetha website.

Development Issues

Informtation and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

Key Points

SANGONeT’s is a South African based non-governmental organisation that works to strengthen the capacity of NGOs to use technology to find long-term and sustainable solutions in response to Southern Africa’s development problems.

Partners

SANGONeT, icteum consulting, E-Knowledge for Women in Southern Africa (EKOWISA), Centro de Informatica da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (CIUEM), Institute of Finance and Management, University of Botswana, Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), and Embassy of Finland.

Sources

Thetha website on April 27 2010.