The African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development (AfriComNet), is calling for nominations for its Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Communication in Africa. AfriComNet is an association of health and development practitioners that reside, work, or have a primary interest in Africa.

The purpose of the AfriComNet Award is to:

• recognise outstanding contributions made by individuals/organisations in the field of strategic HIV/AIDS communication;
• encourage innovation and the highest standards of quality in strategic communication in Africa;
• enhance appreciation of strategic communication as a necessary tool for health and development;
• attract outstanding individuals and organisations in Africa to advanced careers in strategic communication; and
• highlight programmes, tools, and productions that advance the state-of-the-art in strategic communication and can be adapted and applied elsewhere.

The awards are divided into 5 categories and AfriComNet will give one award per category for outstanding initiatives, campaigns, productions, and tools that advance the field of strategic communication and can be evaluated, adapted, and applied elsewhere. The five awards will recognise the best:

• mass media campaign, intervention, or production;
• folk media initiative;
• multi-channel communication;
• interpersonal/community-based communication;
• HIV- or AIDS-related article, series, or column;

The nominated strategic communication initiatives and productions will be judged according to the following criteria:

• The strategy, campaign, or tool should have made significant contribution to innovating, strengthening, and popularising strategic communication as a necessary tool for health and development.
• The nominee should be an African citizen or have worked in Africa for a period of more than two years, and the initiative or production must have been implemented in Africa.
• If a creative team is behind the communication initiative, at least one member of the team should be an African citizen.
• The initiative should have demonstrated success in communities, workplaces, and organisations, meaning it has contributed to behaviour change, better understanding of health, and improved well-being of the selected audience.
• There should be measurable outcomes to show success of the strategic communication tools used to achieve improved well-being of the community.
• Communication interventions must have followed a strategic communication process, including formative research and evaluation.

To nominate strategic communication programmes, campaigns or productions, the following procedure should be followed.

• Any person or organisation can nominate an individual or organisation for an award by completing a nomination form.
• On the form, the nominator must describe his or her association with the nominated initiative or production.
• The nomination must include a description of the initiative or production, and any documented effects.
• The nomination will include the names and contact information for two referees who are familiar with the nominee's work.

Click here to download the nomination form in PDF format. Forms can also be requested by email from AfriComNet secretariat information desk at infodesk@africomnet.org

Click here for more information about the award and nomination procedures.

Click here to read about previous winners.

AfriComNet website on January 27 2009.