WHAT WE DO
Strategy Development
Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) designs and implements evidence-based strategies at different levels, addressing a range of issues including prevention and treatment of HIV&AIDS; malaria; reproductive health, malaria, child health, tuberculosis (TB), nutrition and Financial Literacy among others. The development process is highly participatory involving different stakeholders in identification of priority areas to be addressed by the strategies as well as the goal; strategic objectives; target audience identification; key messages and channels of communication; desired recommended actions as well as the implementation and monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
capacity-building
Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) has extensive capacity in developing training programmes, guides and tools for partners, organisations and communities. CDFU also facilitates trainings including training of trainers and peer educators on a range of issues including HIV&AIDS, TB, child survival, malaria and reproductive health.
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION & EMPOWERMENT
CDFU works with line ministries, districts, leaders, VHTs, CBOs and networks to mobilise communities for services. Utilising different approaches including interpersonal communication (IPC); group communication (e.g. community dialogues, experiential and other activations) and mass communication (radio, TV, print, social media), CDFU has been able to mobilize communities to create awareness and increase demand for different services.
DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION OF IEC MATERIALS
CDFU has extensive experience in developing materials including posters, flip charts, leaflets/flyers, discussion guides, comic books as well as toolkits and job aids through its in-house Design Unit. CDFU produces materials for different audiences including health workers, leaders, VHTs and other community based volunteers and clients who seek services.
RADIO PROGRAMMES
Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) has vast experience in radio programme development, scripting, production, broadcasting and monitoring of different radio programmes including radio drama (serial drama and magazine radio drama); radio spots and interactive talk shows. All our radio programmes are evidence-based and have evaluation results that show that the programmes have proven effective in influencing behaviour change through modelling rather than instruction. Listeners to the radio programs are closely linked to the toll – free Hotline 0800 200 600 for more information, counselling and referral on health and development issues.
Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) has vast experience in radio programme development, scripting, production, broadcasting and monitoring of different radio programmes including radio drama (serial drama and magazine radio drama); radio spots and interactive talk shows. All our radio programmes are evidence-based and have evaluation results that show that the programmes have proven effective in influencing behaviour change through modelling rather than instruction. Listeners to the radio programs are closely linked to the toll – free Hotline 0800 200 600 for more information, counselling and referral on health and development issues.
With an in-house scripting team, CDFU produces and broadcasts the award winning weekly 30 minute radio serial drama called Rock Point 256 that started under the Young Empowered and Healthy (Y.E.A.H) initiative in 2005. Rock Point 256 is broadcast on various local radio stations country wide in English, Luganda, 4Rs, Nga’Karimajong and Lwo, reaching over 2,500,000 young people every week. CDFU also produced Healthy Choices, a radio programme coupled with interpersonal communication to promote individual and social behaviour change. The 4 – year programme is supported by UNFPA. CDFU also produced Kaloke with funding from UNICEF under the Peace Building and Social Transformation project. On behalf of Pathfinder International, CDFU produced 52 episodes of Oteka, a radio serial drama focusing on gender and reproductive health issues of young people in Northern Uganda under their Gender Roles Equality and Transformation (GREAT) project.
Under the Community Resilience and Dialogue Project (CRD), CDFU was responsible for the production and broadcast of a radio serial drama programme Together We Stand from July 2003 to May 2005. The project was based in the conflict affected regions of Western Uganda, West Nile, Northern and North Eastern Uganda.
CDFU managed the production and broadcast of All Our Children radio program series on behalf of the CORE Initiative program under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD). CDFU’s activities included scripting, managing the production process, production of a signature tune, production of radio spots and managing broadcast.
Audio production studio
Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) set up a modern audio production studio that is well equipped with high-quality equipment and experienced producers. Over the years, the studio has served numerous clients and has been the main production hub for Rock Point 256, Uganda’s longest-running radio drama since 2005.
Do you need professional audio production at an affordable price, look no further. Our spacious studio rooms, outdoor spaces, high-quality sound equipment, and superb acoustics make it the perfect place for your audio production needs.
TOLL-FREE HELP LINE
CDFU operates a toll-free Hotline (0800 200 600) that provides reliable, anonymous and non-judgemental information, counselling and referral services in different aspects of health and development. Areas of focus include Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights; reproductive health (including family planning); HIV&AIDS; Gender Based Violence (GBV); malaria; nutrition; alcohol abuse; leadership and accountability. The anonymous and confidential nature of the Hotline allows callers to divulge vital information at their own convenience. This anonymity is especially valuable in discussions of situations that challenge cultural norms yet prevail in society or even cases dealing with minors. The Hotline has been utilised as a platform through which the community members provide feedback and report any cases that may need urgent action. The Hotline attends to calls from all networks and all parts of Uganda and border towns of Sudan and Tanzania.
Capacity of the Hotline
The Hotline is accessible between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday to Friday and Saturdays (9:00am – 5:00pm). In addition, we have capacity to operate off-site (with calls re-routed to dedicated counsellors) beyond working hours. We have trained counsellors that speak English and most local languages spoken across the country. Our PABX system has capacity that can take up to 80 active lines. We have a pool of volunteers who speak various local languages and our team has been managing telephone counselling and supporting clients for over ten years. We are affiliated to the Uganda Association of Counsellors, which provides regular support to our counsellors.
Partnerships
Currently, CDFU is one of the partners supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through the toll-free Hotline. CDFU also supports/has supported different partners and projects including NI-YETU project (Plan International Uganda); NUYOK project; Smart Campaign (ACCION International); Make Happiness Not Violence campaign (UN Women); Innovation for Poverty Action (IPA); Men Plus Campaign (Reach A Hand Uganda) and US Mission.