The African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet) is an association of HIV and AIDS, health and development communication practitioners who reside, work, or have a primary interest in Africa. Formerly known as the Regional HIV and AIDS Behaviour Change Communication Network (BCC Network), AfriComNet was established in October 2001 in recognition of the severity of the continent’s HIV and AIDS pandemic and the need for high-quality strategic communication to respond to the crisis.
AfriComNet Vision
People in Africa making informed choices and taking action to improve their health and well being
AfriComNet Mission
To strengthen capacity in, and commitment to, strategic communication for heath and development in Africa
Objectives
The Network has three Strategic Objectives and these are:
- To promote effective Strategic Communication practices;
- To increase recognition of Strategic Communication as critical to effectiveness of H&D programming;
- To strengthen organisational capacity, credibility & visibility of AfriComNet.
For more information, please download the 2006-11 strategic plan.
While the Network has a particular emphasis on HIV and AIDS, it covers communication issues for a broad array of health and development priorities
Its approach to communication for social and behaviour change is grounded in the fundamentals of strategic communication, which include: social marketing, human rights-based approaches, entertainment-education, counselling and client education, and mass media.
Network structure and Constitution
Network Structure
The Network is composed of three principal organs: the Secretariat, the Board of Directors, and the General Assembly. The network has a fully functional Regional Secretariat comprised of professional staff that report to the Interim Board of Directors. The secretariat staff is charged with the oversight, management and coordination of the network regional and the local secretariat based activities.
The General Assembly is composed of all members of the Network. The General Assembly meets once every two years at such a time as determined by the Board. The last network General Assembly was held on 19th November 2009 at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda.
Network technical subcommittees
AfriComNet has three major subcommittees namely: capacity building, resource mobilization, and health and development integration. The committees comprised of its members provide volunteer technical assistance to the secretariat for the implementation and initiation of new network activities and programmes.
As AfriComNet continues to grow, new sub committees will be identified to meet new needs and challenges and foster increased network membership sharing of technical expertise, involvement in the network growth and expansion to other priority health and development areas in Africa.
The Network Constitution
The AfriComNet Constitution was developed in April 2006 and amended in November 2009 during the general assembly.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is comprised of 10 members (including one ex- official), all members of AfriComNet and strategic communication practitioners from the region. The Board provides strategic direction, technical assistance and leadership to the network and its secretariat. The Board meets regularly to provide policy direction and technical assistance to the Secretariat.The current (2009 – 2012) Board members include;
| Name(s) | Title | ORGANISATION |
| Anne Gamurorwa | Executive Director | Communication for Development Foundation Uganda |
| Cheryl Lettenmaier | JHU/CCP Regional Representative for Eastern Africa | John Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs |
| Fekerte Belete | Project Director | PACT Ethiopia |
| Fungai Machirori | Founder/Managing Editor | Her Zimbabwe |
| Maria Pontsho Makhetha |
Ag. General Manager | SABC Education |
| Mubiana Macwan’gi | Lecturer | Institute of Economic and Social Research University of Zambia |
| Peter Mwarogo | Country Director | Family Health International, Kenya |
| Protais Ndabamenye | Associate Director ; Francophone Countries | Regional Outreach addressing AIDS through Development Strategies (ROADS) Project |
| Robert Ritzenthaler | Associate Director | Regional Outreach addressing AIDS through Development Strategies (ROADS) Project |
USAID/East Africa | ||