Bringing People Together for Learning, Impact and Positive Change

The Network begins as an informal lunch group at the British Library in London for people working and consulting in communication for development.

The Network grows in numbers, and we start an email group to share information about jobs and varied developments in ‘good communication’ areas.

Organically the Network grows, with more members and lots of discussions about the theory and the practice of our development communication work.

By this year the Network finally has its own website and an official launch at the Frontline Club, London.

Expanding further online the Network welcomes members from around the world, and begins focused sessions exploring themes in our work.

Collaborating with institutions, such as UNICEF, the Network joins consultations exploring areas such as monitoring and evaluation methods and training.

Continuing to grow as a peer social network the Network hosts in-country meet-ups, with fruitful gatherings of member from different parts of the world. Here in New York.

The Network hosts discussions and expert talks, such as here being updated about ‘faith and communication, and hearing about the experience of HIV/AIDS communication pioneers Soul City in South Africa.

The rapidly expanding Network reaches more than 1,000 members and an Advisory Board of members comes together to consider strategies and future plans.

With member meet-ups as far afield as Nepal, Malawi and Colombia the Network matures, developing its social media usage and establishing national chapters, such as here in Kenya.

Growing to over 2,000 members the core mission of the Network continues wherever members come together - to learn, exchange and improve our communication practice.

With growing partnerships and engagements the Network is a convening space for dialogue between donors, practitioners and academics; for example here in Belgium.

The Network coordinates annual ‘Network Challenges’ - where members are challenged to ‘meet up with one another no matter where they are’ - resulting in meet-ups in over 20 countries, and this year a global survey taking country inputs to over 50 countries.

With an increased focus on the Middle East region the Network convenes information sharing gatherings in Jordan, Lebanon and remotely with members in Syria.

Membership exceeds 3,000 and meeting with colleagues in varied UN agencies, including here in Rome with FAO, the Network links in-country practitioners with strategists and thinkers on the regional and global levels.

In the first few months of the pandemic the Network crowdsources and shares vital resources and guidance for communicators about COVID-19 in 4 languages; resources that are then taken-up by global organisations as they belatedly developed online resources.

As the pandemic continues the Network utilizes social media platforms, such as here via Facebook, to link-up members for mutual aid around communication strategies and tactics.

Post-COVID the Network takes a sabbatical, to reassess activity and pivot toward a stronger capacity development focus; reflecting on the changing landscape of ‘good’ communications, and an increased international focus on social and behaviour change communication.

Developing new capacity development tools and curricula the Network takes its training in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and undertakes research in South Sudan and in Botswana.

Working from an inspiring new location at the ‘Tribe’ co-working space the Network has a new strategy and plan of action for the next phase of its services roll-out, with an online ‘reboot’ and new look.

This year sees our Founder, Jackie Davies, elected to be Co-Chair of the Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change.

We look forward to supporting the Alliance and developing new C4D Network initiatives that ‘fill gaps’ in our sector, avoiding any duplications.

[Image: Jackie with fellow Alliance Officials - Co-Chair Kenneth Mulondo, and Secretary Emma Kayongo.]