Ethiopia – Page 3 – C4D Network

Digital Democracy: The Tools Transforming Political Engagement (Nesta paper 2017)

March 19, 2017

This paper shares lessons from Nesta’s research into some of the pioneering innovations in digital democracy which are taking place across Europe and beyond.

Key findings

Digital democracy is a broad concept and not easy to define. The paper provides a granular approach to help encompass its various activities and methods (our ‘typology of digital democracy’).
Many initiatives exist simply as an app, or web page, driven by what the technology can do, rather than by what the need is.
Lessons from global case studies describe how digital tools are being used to engage communities in more meaningful political participation, and how they are improving the quality and legitimacy of decision-making.
Digital democracy is still young. Projects must embed better methods for evaluation of their goals if the field is to grow.

The use of new ICTs to support HIV and sexual health, targeting youth and adolescents – case studies and report (C4D Network 2015)

April 26, 2016

This report, commissioned by UNICEF, aims to highlight the use, potential and impact of ICTs in sexual and reproductive health and HIV interventions targeting adolescents and young people. It highlights the lessons learnt from 11 case studies from across Africa, and illustrates the role of innovation in the use of ICT for HIV prevention. The report serves as a useful learning guide for future design and implementation of future programming on HIV and sexual health among adolescents.

Click here for the full report: C4D Network – REPORT & CASE STUDIES on ICT for HIV Prevention 28.11.15

Media development: An evaluation of five capacity-strengthening projects (BBC Media Action Research report 2016)

February 5, 2016

This research report articulates BBC Media Action’s evolving approach to capacity strengthening within the media development sector. It shares findings from the recent evaluation of five different capacity-strengthening interventions in Nigeria, Tanzania, Nepal and the Palestinian Territories.

Click here for full report.

m4Youth SMS service (Pathfinder International, Ethiopia 2014 onwards)

January 23, 2016

Background: Ethiopia currently has over 30 higher education learning facilities with enrolments increasing every year. Many of the young students however lack information to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS infections and many female students face unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion and may face sexual and gender-based violence.

To address these issues, Pathfinder International began implementing m4Youth in 2014. This a free, menu-based SMS service provided through the Integrated Family Health Program, in partnership with John Snow, Inc., and supported by USAID. The goal of m4Youth is to impact positively on students’ knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, thereby increasing their utilization of relevant and safe services.

What did the programme involve? m4Youth provides tailored sexual and reproductive health information to university students at Adama Science and Technology University via SMS. Students text ’8990,’ and receive messages containing menus. They can then request information from the menu, texting a number that corresponds to the topic of their interest, and the information is sent to their phone.

When students text they are offered a range of information from six key topic menus including:

· “HIV and sexually transmitted infections” – information about common misconceptions and stigma, in addition to prevention, testing, and treatment facilities.

· “Contraceptive methods”- Information on a full range of methods, with dual method use (a condom plus another method) being encouraged.

· “Sexuality” – the most commonly accessed menu to date, possibly indicating students’ desire for a broad range information on sexual life.

· “Unsafe abortion”

· “Healthy versus abusive relationships”

· “Where to find services” – contact information for sexual and reproductive health services available on and off campus.

Each topic and SMS message was chosen after a baseline survey and discussions with students highlighted issues students felt they lacked information on. Messages were tested to check they were accurate, easy to understand and culturally appropriate. Messages are written in English and Oromifa – a local language.

The service was advertised widely throughout campus with billboard posters and M4Youth also trained peer educators in various sexual and reproductive health issues.

Why this approach? Many young university students have access to mobile phones and are used to text messaging and receiving information in this way.

Results observed: During the first nine weeks of implementation, the menus most accessed by students were: ‘Sexuality’ (39%) and ‘Contraceptive methods’ (20%), followed by ‘Sexually transmitted infections/ HIV’ (15%), ‘Healthy vs abusive relationships’ (12%), ‘Where to find services’ (8%), and ‘Unsafe abortion’ (6%).”

Lessons learnt: SMS Services are strengthened when they are promoted as a part of a wider supportive sexual and reproductive health campaign such as the training peer of educators and the establishment of youth-friendly health facilities.

Ethopia Meet-Up August 2015

August 12, 2015

Date: 01/18/2015

Location: Addis Ababa, Top View Hotel

The group discussed about how next meeting should be structured and agreed to use the platform as a forum for exchange of information of what C4D members are doing, best practices in program implementation, challenges and strategies to overcome them. We also discussed how to mobilise members who are out of Addis Ababa and agreed to use Ethiopian new year, Sept 12 as many of members are expected to visit their families for reunion. Hence planned to have the upcoming meeting week after the Ethiopian new year (2/3rd week of Sept).