How-to Guides

Social and behavior change (SBC) How-To Guides are short guides that provide step-by-step instructions on how to perform core social and behavior change tasks. From formative research through monitoring and evaluation, these guides cover each step of the SBC process, offer useful hints, and include important resources and references.

Inquire

Inquire is the first step in the communication process. In this step you set a vision and conduct an analysis of the situation, the audiences, and programs.

Provider Behavior Assessment for Social and Behavior Change

Service providers play several roles within health systems. Their responsibilities may entail, but often are not limited to, client counseling and care, community mobilization and engagement, and…

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How to Do an Audience Analysis

An audience analysis is a process used to identify and understand the priority and influencing audiences for a SBCC strategy. The priority and influencing audiences are those people whose behavior…

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How to Create a Brand Strategy Part 1: Using Audience Insight to Drive Your Brand

Branding is a marketing technique that has been successfully used in the commercial sector for years to sell products and services. The brand is the idea or promise made to the consumer to…

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How to Conduct a Stakeholder Workshop

A stakeholder workshop is one way to engage stakeholders – those who are affected by, have a direct interest in, or are somehow involved with the problem identified during the situation analysis,…

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How to Conduct a Situation Analysis

A situation analysis or environmental analysis is the fundamental first step in the social and behavior change communication change (SBCC) process. It involves a systematic collection and study of…

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How to Conduct a Root Cause Analysis

A root cause analysis is a process used to identify the primary source of a problem. In social and behavior change communication (SBCC), a root cause analysis is used to examine why there is a…

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How to Conduct Qualitative Formative Research

Qualitative or formative research is an activity conducted at the start of the Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) project design process. Qualitative research is a key step in order to…

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How to Conduct a Program Analysis

A program analysis is the process of looking at an organization’s intended social and behavior change communication (SBCC) program and then identifying enabling and limiting factors to implementing…

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Advanced Audience Segmentation for Social and Behavior Change

Audience segmentation is fundamental to social and behavior change interventions. Segmentation serves to align messages, message delivery channels, products, and services with the needs and…

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Design

Design is the second step in the communication process. In this step you create a communication strategy that includes communication objectives, audience segmentation, program approaches, channel selection, a monitoring and evaluation plan, and implementation plan.

How to Plan an Interpersonal Communication Intervention

Interpersonal communication (IPC) is the tailored exchange or sharing of information, thoughts, ideas and feelings between two or more people to address behavioral determinants of health. It is…

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How to Do Audience Segmentation

Audience segmentation is a key activity within an audience analysis. It is the process of dividing a large audience into smaller groups of people - or segments - who have similar needs, values or…

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How to Develop SBCC Creative Materials

Materials are a primary means by which health programs deliver social and behavior change communication (SBCC) messages. There are many types of SBCC materials, including printed brochures, the…

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How to Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan is a document that helps to track and assess the results of the interventions throughout the life of a program. It is a living document that should be referred…

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How to Develop a Logic Model

Logic models are program planning tools that define the inputs, outputs, outcomes of a program in order to explain the thinking behind program design and show how specific program activities lead to…

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How to Develop Indicators

Indicators are tools used to measure Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) program progress. They are used to assess the state of a program by defining its characteristics or variables, and…

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How to Develop a Communication Strategy

A communication strategy is the critical piece bridging the situation analysis and the implementation of a social and behavior change communication (SBCC) program. It is a written plan that details…

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How to Develop a Channel Mix Plan

A channel mix plan for a social and behavior change communication (SBCC) program is a strategic document that identifies the types of communication channels that best reach the priority audience to…

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How to Create a Brand Strategy Part 3: Developing the Personality and Look of the Brand

Branding is a marketing technique that has been successfully used in the commercial sector for years to sell products and services. The brand is the idea or promise made to the consumer to…

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How to Create a Brand Strategy Part 2: Developing Positioning for a Branded Product, Service or Behavior

Branding is a marketing technique that has been successfully used in the commercial sector for years to sell products and services. The brand is the idea or promise made to the consumer to…

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How to Create a Brand Strategy Part 1: Using Audience Insight to Drive Your Brand

Branding is a marketing technique that has been successfully used in the commercial sector for years to sell products and services. The brand is the idea or promise made to the consumer to…

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How to Conduct a Stakeholder Workshop

A stakeholder workshop is one way to engage stakeholders – those who are affected by, have a direct interest in, or are somehow involved with the problem identified during the situation analysis,…

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Create and Test

Create and Test is the third step in the communication process. In this step you design, test, revise, and produce final communication products including materials, activities, and processes.

How to Write a Creative Brief

A creative brief is a short, written document used by project managers and creative professionals to guide the development of creative materials (e.g. drama, film, visual design, narrative copy,…

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How to Test Creative Concepts

Concept testing is the process of sharing creative concepts with the intended audience to get their feedback and identify the best idea before designing materials (See the How to Develop a Creative…

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How to Develop SBCC Creative Materials

Materials are a primary means by which health programs deliver social and behavior change communication (SBCC) messages. There are many types of SBCC materials, including printed brochures, the…

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How to Develop a Creative Concept

A creative concept is an overarching “Big Idea" that captures audience interest, influences their emotional response and inspires them to take action. It is a unifying theme that can be used across…

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How to Design SBCC Messages

Message design is the process of connecting insights about the priority audience with key information the audience needs to know in order to make the change the program desires. Successful,…

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How to Conduct a Pretest

Pretesting is the process of bringing together members of the priority audience to react to the components of a communication campaign before they are produced in final form. Pretesting measures the…

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How to Adapt SBCC Materials

Materials adaptation is the process of modifying existing social and behavior change communication (SBCC) materials for a different audience, topic or setting. While this involves more than just…

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Stakeholder Participation

The communication process works best when program partners, decision-makers, audience members and technical experts are actively involved in each step. Engaging these stakeholders throughout the process spreads ownership and encourages sustainability.

How to Conduct a Stakeholder Workshop

A stakeholder workshop is one way to engage stakeholders – those who are affected by, have a direct interest in, or are somehow involved with the problem identified during the situation analysis,…

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Mobilize and Monitor

Mobilize and Monitor is the fourth step in the communication process. In this step you mobilize your partners, implement your program and monitor its progress.

How to Use a Theory of Change to Monitor and Evaluate Social and Behavior Change Programs

Behavior change theory is used to explain people’s behaviors and the determinants that make it easier or harder to change those behaviors. Behavior change theory should be incorporated into the SBC…

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How to Do Audience Segmentation

Audience segmentation is a key activity within an audience analysis. It is the process of dividing a large audience into smaller groups of people - or segments - who have similar needs, values or…

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How to Develop SBCC Creative Materials

Materials are a primary means by which health programs deliver social and behavior change communication (SBCC) messages. There are many types of SBCC materials, including printed brochures, the…

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How to Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan is a document that helps to track and assess the results of the interventions throughout the life of a program. It is a living document that should be referred…

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How to Develop Indicators

Indicators are tools used to measure Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) program progress. They are used to assess the state of a program by defining its characteristics or variables, and…

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Evaluate and Evolve

Evaluate and Evolve is the fifth step in the communication process. In this step you evaluate your program and use lessons learned to inform development of upcoming programs.

How to Do Audience Segmentation

Audience segmentation is a key activity within an audience analysis. It is the process of dividing a large audience into smaller groups of people - or segments - who have similar needs, values or…

View Guide

How to Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

A monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan is a document that helps to track and assess the results of the interventions throughout the life of a program. It is a living document that should be referred…

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How to Develop Indicators

Indicators are tools used to measure Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) program progress. They are used to assess the state of a program by defining its characteristics or variables, and…

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Organizational Development

A strong organization is critical to being able to successfully implement SBCC programs. Organizational development focuses on improving leadership, management, systems, and financial sustainability.

How to Develop a Mission Statement

An organization’s mission statement describes clearly and concisely why the organization exists – its purpose. The mission statement defines what is important to the organization and guides the…

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