For several decades, both theoreticians and practitioners have been
interested in how to use
communication to support development and have been exploring the relationship
between communication and development. Africa is one of the main areas
of interest. Many development programs have used communication to
increase their chances of success in such fields as agriculture, health,
environment, population and industry. Areas such as education, democracy
and peace are also opening up to the potential uses of communication
for development.
How is communication used in Africa to promote development? What
are the tools being used or likely to be used? What lessons have been
learned? What can be done to improve the use of communication for
development? These are just a few of the basic questions addressed
in "La communication pour le développement durable".
The purpose of the publication is to provide basic material on communication
for development in Africa to students, teachers and researchers, on
the one hand, and to development planners and actors on the other.
The former will discover texts about theory, concepts and methodology,
while the others will find ideas and guidance for drawing up strategies
for information, communication and education (IEC) that are adapted
to the African context.
Among the main texts assembled here the reader will find:
o A summary of the evolution of the communication and development
paradigm; research trends in Africa and a model of communication for
development;
o Thoughts about the complexity of relations between communication,
democracy, national independence and economic growth in Africa;
o A text suggesting possible directions for making better use of
communication to influence dietary habits among populations in developing
countries;
o An integrated model for promoting discussion about environmental
issues that is derived from communication, marketing and public relations;
o A summary of African field experience in using rural radio and
television to further development goals;
o An overview of traditional systems of communication that might
be used for development;
o A case study on the dissemination and use of developmental research
results pertaining to the chemical industry in Senegal;
o Ideas for developing more effective communication strategies to
support the battle against AIDS in Cote d'Ivoire;
o A study on the difficulties of modifying high-risk sexual behavior
among adolescents in Kenya;
o A case study of action by women's groups for the protection of
the environment in the Sahel region; and
o An evaluation of a communication project on nutrition in rural
areas, using interactive theater.
Hughes Kone
United Nations Fund for Population
(UNFPA)
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