| To promote effective
strategic communication practices in the Africa
context, AfriComNet established the ‘Annual
Awards of Excellence in HIV/AIDS Strategic Communication
in Africa’. The annual awards create a
much needed space to share and encourage effective
HIV/AIDS communication programming in Africa.
The annual awards highlight cost effective,
high quality, innovative and cutting edge communication
strategies, tools and programs that can be easily
replicated in Africa. The winning communication
initiatives, all implemented in Africa, are
monitored and evaluated to show that they have
affected behavior and contributed to the prevention
and mitigation of the HIV epidemic. More specifically,
the purpose of the AfriComNet annual awards
is to:
a. Recognize outstanding
contributions made by individuals/organizations
in strengthening and popularizing strategic
communication as a necessary tool for health
and development.
b. Encourage innovation and
the highest standards of performance in strategic
communication as a necessary tool for health
and development.
c. Enhance appreciation of
strategic communication as a necessary tool
for health and development.
d. Attract outstanding individuals
and organizations to advance careers in strategic
communication.
e. Highlight strategies,
programs and tools that advance the state-of-the-art
in strategic communication and can be adapted
and applied as best practices.
The annual awards are open to individuals
and organizations implementing HIV/AIDS strategies,
campaigns and tools that advance the field of
strategic communication and can be evaluated,
adapted and applied as best practices. The annual
awards, launched in 2007, are awarded in five
categories namely:
a. Best mass media strategy,
campaign or tool.
b. Best community/interpersonal
strategy, campaign or tool.
c. Best folk media strategy,
campaign or tool.
d. Best social marketing
strategy, campaign or tool.
e. Best multi-channel strategy,
campaign or tool.
In addition to the above five categories,
there is a Chairman’s Award that is specifically
given out in recognition of an individual or
organization that has excelled or made an outstanding
contribution to the prevention or mitigation
of HIV/AIDS through communication. |
