Ohio University was named one of seven North American partners in a new multimillion-dollar project to improve how agencies, media and citizens use communication to promote health and development worldwide.
The United States Agency for International Development, the federal agency responsible for providing non-military foreign aid, announced OU as an associate in the new Partnership for Health and Development Communication program.
Focusing largely on Africa, the three-year partnership strives to enable local organizations to continue work done by foreign aid agencies, limiting their dependence on foreign help. It will focus on health communication and also address issues involving the environment, civil society, democracy and governance
We're trying to build capacity
help out these local organizations and give them the skills to take over these projects so they no longer have to depend on these foreign experts to come in and help said David Mould, associate dean of the Scripps College of Communication.
OU is the primary university partner and will work with universities, government ministries and development agencies in providing training and skills in health and development communication.
Tasks performed in the project will depend largely on individual need, and will be determined by the countries being aided.
OU will not know what specific projects they will be working on, or in what country they will be working for several months, Mould said.
Ohio University has so far received $20,000 to cover project start-up costs. Most of the project's $175 million funding will come from USAID country missions.
It's pretty significant it shows we have some real strength in the area of health communication
Mould said.-
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Jessica Holbrook
