Global/Regional
African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet)
The African Network for Strategic Communication for Health and Development (AfriComNet) is a Network of strategic communication practitioners who reside, work or have a primary interest in Africa. Formerly known as the Regional HIV and AIDS Behaviour Change Communication Network (BCC Network), AfriComNet was born out of a close collaboration amongst individual volunteers who shared a common vision and who were working in the area of HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and/or care communication in Africa.
The Network was established in recognition of the severity of the continent’s HIV and AIDS epidemic and the need for a renewed emphasis on high-quality strategic communication to respond to the crisis. AfriComNet was launched in October 2001 at a consultative meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, and it currently has 540 members in 36 countries. Present membership is drawn from government institutions, international, regional, and national non-governmental organizations, community- and faith-based organizations as well as educational institutions. Membership is currently free and open to individuals and institutions in all sectors working in health and development and especially in HIV and AIDS.
While the network has a particular emphasis on HIV and AIDS, it covers communication issues for a broad array of health and development priorities. Its approach to communication for social and behaviour change is grounded in the fundamentals of strategic communication.
AfriComNet is governed by a formal constitution and managed by a Board of Directors comprised of professionals with a health communication background representing various countries and international organizations. Their role includes the provision of policy direction on the operations of the Network in general and the Secretariat in particular. The AfriComNet Secretariat is responsible for implementing the Network’s programmes and activities.
AfriComNet pursues its Mission by
- providing strategic communication practitioners (individuals and organisations) with tools
- developing individual and institutional capacity
- promoting quality strategic communication through three strategic objectives:
- promoting effective strategic communication practices in the African context
- increasing recognition of strategic communication as critical to the effectiveness of health and development programming
- strengthening the organisational capacity, credibility and visibility of AfriComNet
AfriComNet is building capacity in strategic communication by partnering with three universities and two training institutions: the Department of Information & Mass Communication, University of Namibia; The School of Journalism, University of Nairobi; and the Uganda Consortium, comprised of Makerere University’s Institute of Public Health and the Department of Mass Communication and Mildmay International. The goal is for these institutions to become true Centres of Excellence in HIV and AIDS strategic communication. These centres will offer short- and long-term training courses, conduct operations research, and create professional development opportunities to advance the field of HIV and AIDS strategic communication in Africa. The first three short courses that will be available are as follows:
- Uganda Consortium: HIV and AIDS Communication for social and behavior change
- University of Nairobi: HIV and stigma
- University of Namibia: Research, M&E of communication interventions and programs for HIV and AIDS.
Materials
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Note about materials: Some of the materials and resources listed on each page are available in their full form, others are represented by image or citation only. For more information and resources, go to www.jhuccp.org
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