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South Sudan Provider Behavior Change Toolkit

Providers’ interactions with clients can influence health-seeking behavior, including those related to family planning. Thus, it is critical to understand both what influences provider behavior and how to encourage and support provider behaviors that help clients achieve their reproductive intentions or fertility desires. Furthermore, providers operate in complex systems that directly and indirectly impact who they are and how they act. Provider behavior results from a complex web of interrelated internal (e.g., knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, values, and preferences) and external (e.g., social norms, medical education and training, professional development, workplace environment, and health care financing and resources) factors. Designing impactful, scalable, and sustainable interventions requires a contextual understanding of providers and the people who interact with them.

The South Sudan Provider Behavior Change Family Planning Toolkit supports the design, implementation, and evaluation of effective facility-based provider behavior change initiatives within family planning and reproductive health programs. It guides users through a holistic yet rapid and flexible process for supporting providers in adopting and maintaining positive behaviors.

Visit MOMENTUM Integrated Health Resilience (MIHR) to learn more about how the toolkit was adapted for use in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

Toolkit Contents

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Date of Publication: March 18, 2026

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More Family Planning and Reproductive Health Resources

Nigeria Provider Behavior Change Learning Briefs

Healthcare providers in Nigeria work to deliver client-centered care and adhere to national guidelines. However, while providers care deeply about serving clients, gaps in knowledge, misconceptions, biases, poor communication skills, inattention to client rights, and challenging work environments make it difficult for them to provide quality health services. Breakthrough ACTION worked closely with federal and state governments to support facility-based providers.

Service delivery and social and behavior change (SBC) professionals interested in using an SBC lens as part of their work with health care professionals can use these learning briefs.

How can we increase provider adherence to fever case management guidelines? A learning brief [PDF]

How can we strengthen the relationships between communities and facilities? A learning brief [PDF]

Last modified: March 18, 2026

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Integrating Gender for Effective and Inclusive Risk Communication and Community Engagement During Health Emergencies

This case study, developed by Breakthrough ACTION with USAID support, highlights how integrating gender considerations can enhance emergency health responses.

The project trained risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) professionals in Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, and Liberia to address gender-specific needs, improving the inclusivity and effectiveness of their communication strategies. In Guinea, participants redefined gender perspectives and applied new tools, significantly boosting their confidence in gender-responsive RCCE. In Niger, participants were introduced to essential gender considerations, laying the groundwork for broader integration in health interventions. In Nigeria, gender was embedded into all training modules, helping practitioners understand the impact of norms on health behaviors and develop gender-sensitive messages. In Liberia, regional sessions enabled county-level leaders to create local gender action plans, maintaining momentum during a politically challenging time.

This case study underscores that a gender-sensitive approach in RCCE fosters trust, addresses disparities, and supports inclusive health interventions, creating a model for effective emergency response across diverse settings.

Date of Publication: March 18, 2026

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Intentionally Incorporating the Social Determinants of Health into Social and Behavior Change Programming for Family Planning

The field of social and behavior change (SBC) recognizes that factors beyond the biomedical model of health affect health and well-being at individual, household, community, and societal levels. However, to date, SBC interventions in family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) have primarily focused on identifying and shifting behaviors in individuals, groups, and communities; therefore, SBC programs too often overlook the root causes of health disparities related to FP/RH and how SBC approaches can and should be used to address them.

The purposes of this brief are to:

  1. Synthesize what is known about addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) inequities in FP/RH.
  2. Propose considerations for future SBC programmingto address the SDOH inequities in FP/RH based on the existing evidence.
  3. Identify implementation research gaps that should be explored to support the use of SBC to address inequities in FP/RH that result from the SDOH.

This document provides evidence to guide strategic decision-making among donors and governments in support of SBC initiatives to reduce inequities in FP/RH. Though the brief focuses on examples from the field of FP/RH, its content is broadly applicable to SBC across all health and development areas. Breakthrough ACTION developed this brief alongside a programmatic tool with practical guidance for SBC practitioners. This resource contributes to work under the “supporting social change in family planning” priority in the Global Shared Agenda for SBC in Family Planning.

ENGLISH

Intentionally Incorporating the Social Determinants of Health into SBC Programming for FP [PDF]

EN FRANÇAIS

Intégrer délibérément les déterminants sociaux de la santé dans les programmes de CSC dans le domaine de la PF [PDF]

Last modified: March 18, 2026

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Social and Behavior Change Guidance for Anopheles stephensi in Africa

Anopheles stephensi, a dominant malaria vector in south Asia and Arabian Peninsula, has been identified by researchers in Africa in recent years, and has the potential to threaten malaria control and elimination efforts. Social and behavior change will play a critical role in the response to this growing threat. This document provides evidence-based guidance on individual, household, and community level behaviors for potential support of An. stephensi mitigation and control interventions in Africa.

Last modified: March 18, 2026

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Nigeria Women’s Empowerment Groups

Breakthrough ACTION developed Women’s Empowerment Groups in Nigeria to create safe spaces for women and strengthen their capacity and agency to:

  • Practice health behaviors
  • Engage in discussion and decision making confidently with their spouses
  • Participate in economic empowerment activities

The Women’s Empowerment Group model is based on insights from formative research, suggesting that many women lack the agency or ability to make decisions—and act—on issues related to pregnancy, childbirth, and child health care.

A Women’s Empowerment Group brings together 15–35 women committed to their health and the well-being of their children and families. The women are also willing to work together on financial empowerment through savings and loans and by learning new skills.

The group’s operational guidelines provide step-by-step instructions on implementing the Women’s Empowerment Group model. The guidelines are designed for use by any group, organization, or individual interested in systematically supporting and promoting women’s empowerment, with a focus on health-related issues.

Women’s Empowerment Group Training Manual is designed for individuals interested in facilitating Women’s Empowerment Groups or similar models. This training manual provides detailed guidance to train facilitators who will support Women’s Groups.

Nutrition Card Game

Breakthrough ACTION developed nutrition resources for these groups to increase women’s nutrition knowledge through gamification and food demonstrations.

The Nutrition Card Game [ Hausa | Igbo ] teaches women about dietary diversity, using the concept of a four-star meal, which includes at least one food item from four food groups. The card game helps individuals and communities understand diet diversity and encourages community members to make nutritious recipes from locally available options.

Nutrition Card Game Instructions [PDF]
A Transformative Journey to Overcome Gender Barriers [PDF]

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Date of Publication: March 18, 2026

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More Advocacy Resources

Elevating Social and Behavior Change as an Essential Component of Family Planning Programs

Citing “no product, no program,” family planning (FP) interventions have traditionally focused on delivering commodities. But ensuring long-term uptake means addressing behavioral and cultural attitudes and practices regarding FP. While social and behavior change (SBC) plays an essential role—backed by almost 50 years of data—it is often underutilized. In a newly-published commentary in Studies in Family Planning, USAID and Breakthrough ACTION make a clear case and a clarion call for more intentionally integrating and funding proven SBC approaches into FP programs. The data outlined in this commentary serves as a cornerstone for advocacy efforts to help increase SBC in FP programs.

Last modified: March 17, 2026

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WABA Provider Behavior Change for Improved Family Planning Service Delivery

Through its community engagement activities; co-creation sessions with family planning (FP) providers, community members, and local decision makers; and various research efforts, West Africa Breakthrough ACTION (WABA) sought to understand better the challenges health professionals and health systems face in ensuring quality FP service delivery. Alongside stakeholders, the project identified priority challenges in each country, including:

  1. Inconsistent provider motivation in Burkina Faso
  2. A lack of a standardized, comprehensive FP counseling tool in Côte d’Ivoire
  3. Poor service organization and client flow between services in health centers in Togo
  4. A lack of provider motivation and a need for a simplified segmentation counseling tool in Niger

These insights laid the groundwork for provider behavior change solutions across the four WABA implementation countries; each focused on improving the FP service delivery experience for all parties involved.

BURKINA FASO

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

NIGER

TOGO

Date of Publication: March 17, 2026

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West Africa Breakthrough ACTION Experiences

Breakthrough ACTION leverages social and behavior change (SBC) approaches to increase modern family planning (FP) access and informed, voluntary use in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Togo. This technical brief, available in English and French, shares promising, proven, or innovative program approaches that can yield FP results in the West Africa region by providing a deep dive into three distinct activities:

  • Community dialogues and facility site walkthroughs, a multi-sectoral and community engagement approach to improve FP service quality via community-driven solutions.
  • FP provider behavior change tools to respond to regional and country-specific challenges identified to offer quality FP services.
  • The Confiance Totale (Total Confidence) radio campaign, which fostered trust in FP services and methods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expériences de Breakthrough ACTION en Afrique de l’Ouest

Breakthrough ACTION s’appuie sur des approches de changement social et de comportement (CSC) pour accroître l’accès à la planification familiale moderne (PF) et son utilisation volontaire et informée au Burkina Faso, en Côte d’Ivoire, au Niger et au Togo. Ce résumé technique, disponible en anglais et en français, présente des approches prometteuses, éprouvées ou innovantes qui peuvent produire des résultats en matière de PF dans la région de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, en fournissant une analyse approfondie de trois activités distinctes :

  • Dialogues communautaires et visites de sites, une approche multisectorielle et d’engagement communautaire visant à améliorer la qualité des services de PF par le biais de solutions communautaires.
  • Outils de changement du comportement des prestataires de PF pour répondre aux défis régionaux et nationaux identifiés pour offrir des services de PF de qualité.
  • La campagne radiophonique Confiance Totale qui a permis de renforcer la confiance dans les services et les méthodes de PF pendant la pandémie de COVID-19.

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Date of Publication: March 17, 2026

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Flourish In Your Land Entrepreneur Radio Program

Florece en tu Tierra (Flourish In Your Land) is a radio program produced by Breakthrough ACTION to highlight the success of young entrepreneurs in the highlands of Guatemala and promote their products and services in their communities. The program also creates a space for self-improvement, learning, and leadership by bringing together young men and women with entrepreneurial potential to help reduce irregular migration by generating income and creating direct and indirect employment for members of their community.

The radio program is broadcast live monthly on local radio stations in Quiché and Huehuetenango. Each episode features a new entrepreneur along with USAID implementing partners and public and private organizations.

Date of Publication: March 16, 2026

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