The Social Communication Institute of Mozambique (ICS) and PACTO (Active Prevention and Communication for All) – a partnership between the Center for Communication Programs and the Foundation for Community Development), signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 18 in Maputo, Mozambique.

The MoU establishes a partnership between ICS and PACTO where PACTO will provide technical support to ICS as it seeks to design interactive and innovative radio programs that address the prevention of HIV.

Patrick Devos, CCP’s Country Representative in Mozambique, explained that PACTO’s core contribution to ICS will be to build the capacity of ICS community radio technicians by sharing innovative communication tools and approaches and applied research methodologies; assist with the design of strategic communication programs for behavioral change; pre-test and measure the impact of the radio programs in a systematic manner; and co-produce the programs.

Sofia Ibraimo, the Director of ICS, added, “The signing of this memorandum of agreement is an honor for ICS. We have had the pleasure of working in partnership with the University of Johns Hopkins [sic] since 2009.”

PACTO is a 4-year project, funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by CCP in partnership with the Foundation for Community Development (FDC). The goal of the project is to reinforce social norms and facilitate structural and behavioral factors to overcome existing barriers to HIV preventative behaviors using a combination of three prevention components (structural, behavioral and services).

Learn more about PACTO.