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Reviews the background and recommendations for the communication component of DFIDs new research strategy. Concludes that policy processes are complex and that research-based evidence is only one of the many competing influences on policy makers, development practitioners and end users. Outlines a number of gaps in flows of research information and how these may be addressed. Acknowledges the vital role of communication while also noting the importance of context and enabling environments in which the repackaging and circulation of information takes place and that intermediaries and networks are a vital part of this process. The political context and the complex relationships between people are key. Highlights a number of initiatives of European donors to strengthen southern research capacity and initiatives to facilitate knowledge and research sharing by a range of intermediary communication organisations

This study's main objectives are to evaluate traditional means of communication; to note their constraints; to select the traditional methods which can best be used for the diffusion of information and to devise a strategy for implementing the selected method of traditional communication. The methodology of this survey is based on the Active Method of Participative Research.
The study illustrates that the traditional media for communication in Cameroon are: the gong and songs accompanied by dances (in all of the surveyed provinces); the xylophone (in the center and south); griot [travelling poet] and balafon (in the east); colleagues of the traditional chiefs (Lawanes, Djaoros); and messengers of traditional chiefs or muezzins (extreme north).There are numerous constraints to using individuals in devising communications strategies: a lack of trained musicians, the lack of initiative on the part of the village elders, the disinterest of the youth, conflict among the different generations, the proliferation of modern communications technologies, the complexity of training in various methods, the possible alteration of messages, a lack of motivation and the slow speed of transmission. The study notes that the best methods for the diffusion of information in the regions surveyed in Cameroon are: the gong, the colleagues and messengers of traditional chiefs to organize village meetings in which reproductive health issues could be raised, singing and dancing, travelling poets and xylophones.
In order to devise effective strategies for conveying messages about reproductive health through these traditional methods of communication, traditional authorities must be engaged early on in the process and informed of the importance of these means of communication; qualified individuals must be identified as resources and others trained; and a training of trainers must be conducted

This presentation gives an overview of what works in participatory communication based on the experience of the past 50 years. It looks at an 'alphabet soup' of approaches in development communication, provides some definitions and discusses some common misconceptions about communication in development. There have been some changes in the practice of development communication which are noted. There are then some case studies looking at different interventions, followed by five key ideas on what works in development communication

A simple step-by step guide to designing health communication programmes that take gender into account at the strategic design, materials development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages. Includes a short glossary and a number of short case-examples of gender-sensitive 'good practice' programmes from around the world

This report focuses on the way in which the response to the HIV pandemic has been shaped, with a particular emphasis on the way in which communication has been used.
Often the emphasis is on information dissemination, and the distribution of health messages. While information is vital, past successes in fighting AIDS suggest that approaches need to be far broader than this. A politicised civil society, with communities able to take ownership of the response to HIV/AIDS, can catalyse extraordinary change and mobilisation. Similarly, a media able to support informed, inclusive debate will also be critical to future successes.
This report provides an overview of these issues, and suggests how the problems can begin to be addressed through work with policymakers, civil society and the media

VISION 2020 is a joint initiative by the WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, which intends to eliminate avoidable blindness (eg caused by cataract, refractive errors, trachoma, vitamin deficiencies, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma) by the year 2020. The strategy of VISION 2020 is built upon the foundation of community participation. VISION 2020 has the following objectives: implementation of disease control interventions; development of human resources and development of infrastructure. This CD-ROM serves as a toolkit for countries and organisations that want to enforce a VISION 2020 action plan to combat blindness at the national, provincial and/or district level. Relevant background information for planning exercises are provided in the form of reports from expert committees, scientific articles, manuals, guidelines, software packages, websites, and contact addresses. [Abstract courtesy of CAB International]