Defining Social and Behavior Change Competencies for Multi-Sectoral Nutrition: A List for Assessing, Developing, and Evaluating Staff Skills

This tool identifies 52 social and behavior change competencies—knowledge, skills, and attitudes—that project staff must demonstrate to design, implement, and evaluate the SBC components of multi-sectoral nutrition programs. It seeks to help program managers define the competencies most relevant to their activities and identify skill gaps across their project teams, and then use those competencies to guide hiring decisions, identify areas for capacity strengthening, and track changes in performance over time.

Last modified: December 29, 2023

Language: English, French

Source: USAID Advancing Nutrition

Year of Publication: 2020

Call to Action for Strengthening Nutrition Content in Pre-Service Training

Investing in pre-service training is an effective and sustainable way to improve nutrition services, but it requires collaboration among governments, academic institutions, professional associations, funders, and technical experts to ensure curricula prepare frontline health workers to deliver quality nutrition services.

On March 1, 2023, USAID Advancing Nutrition engaged key stakeholders in Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Kyrgyz Republic in a virtual consultative meeting to better understand the complexity of the challenges and opportunities around strengthening the nutrition components of pre-service training for health workers. This brief summarizes the consultation discussions generated, the opportunities highlighted, the lessons shared, and the recommendations jointly formulated as a way forward. It issues a call to action to all stakeholders to better integrate nutrition into pre-service education and more regularly facilitate curriculum review and updates.

Last modified: December 29, 2023

Language: English, French, Portuguese

Source: USAID Advancing Nutrition

Year of Publication: 2023

Influencer Marketing Guide for Public Health: A how-to guide for applying the private sector model of ‘influencer marketing’ to public health

Project Last Mile (PLM) recently released a resource for public health communicators and social behavior change practitioners – the INFLUENCER MARKETING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: A how-to guide for applying the private sector model of ‘influencer marketing’ to public health.

The guide is based on PLM’s experience of conducting public health campaigns with different influencers, from faith-based leaders to TikTok and radio DJs, as well as micro and nano social media influencers. PLM applied a private sector approach to influencer marketing to these public health campaigns in South Africa and Eswatini during the COVID-19 pandemic to drive COVID-19 vaccinations.

Many successful consumer brands such as Coca-Cola, Nike, and Microsoft have used influencers to market their products. They have been doing so for years, which has led to influencer marketing becoming a critical tool in companies’ marketing wheelhouses.

Influencer engagement through community leaders or social media influencers is also commonly used in public health to promote health service uptake and behavior change. To date, while influencer marketing has been leveraged to support public health outcomes in certain settings, there are further learnings that can be leveraged from the private sector to strengthen the impact of these efforts within the public health sector.

Though commercial businesses and brands nowadays typically use influencers on digital channels such as social media, this guide takes a broader view of the term ‘influencer’ and explains when, why, and how best to use a private sector approach to influencer marketing more broadly, in the public health sector.

Last modified: December 28, 2023

Language: English

Source: Project Last Mile

Year of Publication: 2023

Using Social Media for Health Behavior Change: Technical How-To Guide

This guide is a how-to actionable resource for country teams and partners to lead effective SBC social media campaigns. It is a step-by-step guide for preparing for, planning, developing, implementing, adapting, and measuring social media campaigns. Lessons and tips based on practical experience implementing SBC campaigns across nine countries are included. While many of the steps and lessons can be applied to a wide variety of platforms, this guide is focused on Facebook and Instagram. Further, while this is specific to paid campaigns, much of the content is relevant to organic (unpaid) campaigns on Facebook and Instagram, and social media more widely.

The rise of social media has transformed how we communicate and engage with one another and with information. Of the various social media platforms, the most popular among both males and females is Facebook, with nearly 3 billion global active users per month. Instagram is also widely popular with more than 2 billion monthly active users.2 On average, individuals use multiple platforms and spend two hours and 26 minutes per day on social media.

The expansive reach of social media platforms makes them a viable channel to implement social and behavior change (SBC) interventions, inclusive of communication. Social and behavior change (SBC) is a systematic, evidence-driven approach to improve and sustain changes in behaviors, norms, and the enabling environment. SBC interventions aim to affect key behaviors and social norms by addressing their individual, social, and structural factors.3 Social media can influence our knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors at individual, community, and social levels. How can we leverage social media as a tool for public health social and behavior change?

This comprehensive guide has four sections taking you through preparations, planning, developing, and implementing to monitoring and evaluating your campaign. We do not expect you to read this document in one sitting, but rather use it as you develop your social media campaign. Use the table of contents to the right to navigate to relevant parts. For example, if you need to refer to Pre-Testing, click on the Pre-Test step.

Meta Program Scaled Support – FHI 360 Project Page

Last modified: December 5, 2023

Language: English

Source: FHI 360

Promoting Vaccination: A Toolkit for Collaborating with Faith Communities

This toolkit is designed to equip faith actors and related stakeholders—such as Ministries of Health, medical and scientific bodies, and non-profit organizations that partner with or work alongside faith actors—with the information and tools needed to raise awareness, reduce misinformation, and address barriers that prevent faith communities in particular from engaging in vaccination. It includes information on theological dimensions of vaccination, holding discussions on vaccination, messaging on social media, holding inter-faith discussion forums on vaccine promotion, organizing harmonized inter-faith vaccine campaigns, and engaging with faith-based scientific technical bodies. Ultimately, this toolkit is intended to promote innovative partnerships that drive vaccine acceptance and uptake and to inspire increased strategic discussion and investment among stakeholders in the vaccine space.

यह टूलकिट धार्मिक/आस्थावान प्रभावीजनों तथा सम्बंधित स्टेकहोल्डर्स यथा – स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय, चिकित्स्कीय एवं वैज्ञानिक संस्थानों, टीकाकरण पर व धार्मिक समुदायों के साथ कार्यरत समाज सेवी संस्थाओं के उपयोग के लिए बनायी गयी है ताकि टीकाकरण के प्रति जागरूकता बढ़ाने , भ्रांन्तियों को कम करने, व टीकाकरण के प्रति अविश्वास /संकोच को कम करने में इस टूलकिट में दी गयी जानकारियों का प्रयोग किया जा सके। इस टूलकिट का व्यक्तिगत और संगठन /संस्थानिक स्तर पर टीकाकरण के उपयोग को बढ़ाने के लिए प्रयोग किया जा सकता है। इस टूलकिट में टीकाकरण सम्बन्धी धार्मिक आयाम, टीकाकरण पर परिचर्चा आयोजित करना, सोशल मीडिया पर सन्देश प्रसारित करना, टीकों को बढ़ावा देने के लिए अंतर्धार्मिक परिचर्चा आयोजित करना, संगतपूर्ण अन्तर्धार्मिक टीकाकरण अभियान आयोजित करना तथा धर्म /आस्था आधारित वैज्ञानिक तकनीकि संस्थाए /निकायों को जोड़ने सम्बन्धी विषयों को समाहित किया गया है। मुख्य रूप से इस टूलकिट का प्रमुख उद्देश्य टीकों की स्वीकार्यता को बढ़ावा देने के लिए नवाचार युक्त सहभागिता को प्रोत्साहित करना तथा टीकाकरण के क्षेत्र में रणनीतिक परिचर्चाओं तथा निवेश को प्रोत्साहित करना है।

Last modified: December 4, 2023

Language: English, Hindi

Source: Christian Connections for International Health

Year of Publication: 2023

Know, Care, Do: A Theory of Change for Engaging Men and Boys in Family Planning [Course] / Savoir, Veiller, Agir : Une théorie du changement visant impliquer les hommes et les garçons dans la planification familiale [Cours]

Engaging men and boys in family planning (FP) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) can improve their own lives and those of their intimate partners, families, and communities. Evidence shows that engaging men and boys in FP/SRH programs decreases unintended pregnancy, improves maternal health, reduces sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS, and advances gender equality. Though progress has been made to engage men and boys more effectively in FP/SRH programs, most programs continue to do so in incomplete ways.

This course is intended for program implementers who are working to increase and improve the engagement of men and boys in FP programs and services. Course participants will deepen their understanding of what engaging men and boys in FP means and how programs and services can engage them in supportive, affirming, and gender-equitable ways. Throughout this course, participants will familiarize themselves with the Know, Care, Do theory of change and case studies that guide the design and implementation of programs and services that engage men and boys in FP/SRH across their life course and across all levels of the socio-ecological model. Allowing for pauses to complete short reflection exercises, this course will take approximately two hours to complete.

Savoir, Veiller, Agir : Une théorie du changement visant impliquer les hommes et les garçons dans la planification familiale [Cours]
Impliquer les hommes et les garçons dans la planification familiale (PF) et la santé sexuelle et reproductive (SSR) peut améliorer leur propre vie et celle de leurs partenaires intimes, de leurs familles et de leurs communautés. Il est prouvé que l’implication des hommes et des garçons dans les programmes de PF/SSR réduit les grossesses non désirées, améliore la santé maternelle, réduit les infections sexuellement transmissibles telles que le VIH/SIDA et favorise l’égalité des sexes (voir l’onglet Matériel pour les références). Bien que des progrès aient été réalisés pour une meilleure implication des hommes et des garçons dans les programmes de PF/SSR, la plupart des programmes continuent à le faire de manière incomplète.

Ce cours est destiné aux exécutants de programmes qui s’efforcent d’accroître et d’améliorer l’implication des hommes et des garçons dans les programmes et services de PF. Les participants au cours approfondiront leur compréhension des tenants et aboutissants de l’implication des hommes et des garçons dans la PF. De même, ils découvriront en quoi les programmes et services peuvent impliquer les hommes et les garçons de manière positive, affirmative et équitable en termes de genre. Tout au long de ce cours, les participants se familiariseront avec la théorie du changement Savoir, Veiller, Agir et les études de cas qui sous-tendent la conception et la mise en œuvre de programmes et services qui impliquent les hommes et les garçons dans la PF/SSR tout au long de leur vie (disponible uniquement en anglais) et à tous les niveaux du modèle socio-écologique (disponible uniquement en anglais). En tenant compte des pauses nécessaires à la réalisation de courts exercices de réflexion, ce cours durera environ deux heures

Last modified: November 29, 2023

Language: English, French

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2023

Behavioral Design to Inform Social and Behavior Change for Nutrition [Course] / Conception comportementale au service du changement social et de comportement en matière de nutrition [Cours]

Behavioral science offers empirical insights into how people interact with their environment and each other under different conditions. It includes research from various fields, such as cognitive and social psychology, marketing, neuroscience, and behavioral economics, that provide insight into the complexity of human behavior. Behavioral design leverages insights from behavioral science to develop and test innovative solutions that, rather than trying to change people, seek to reshape their context to positively influence their behavior. It offers a powerful tool to address some of the stickiest challenges you may encounter in health and nutrition programs, services, and policies.

This online course, developed by Breakthrough ACTION and USAID Advancing Nutrition, offers a practical, hands-on introduction to behavioral science, behavioral design, and how these approaches can be applied to nutrition challenges. It uses a real-life case example to illustrate the behavioral design process in action and guides participants to consider whether and how the solutions in the case example can be adapted to their own contexts. This case example draws from research and design work conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to support families to follow nutrition guidelines for feeding their young children during and after illness.

Conception comportementale au service du changement social et de comportement en matière de nutrition [Cours]

La science comportementale offre des perspectives empiriques sur la manière dont les êtres humains interagissent avec leur environnement et entre eux dans différentes conditions. Elle comprend des recherches menées dans différents domaines tels que la psychologie cognitive et sociale, le marketing, les neurosciences et l’économie comportementale, qui permettent de cerner la complexité du comportement humain. La conception comportementale s’appuie sur ces connaissances pour développer et tester des solutions innovantes qui, au lieu d’essayer de changer les gens, s’attèlent à remodeler leur contexte afin d’influencer positivement leur comportement. Il s’agit d’un outil puissant permettant de relever certains des défis les plus épineux pouvant être rencontrés dans les programmes, services et politiques de santé et de nutrition.

Développé par Breakthrough ACTION et USAID Advancing Nutrition, ce cours en ligne est une introduction pratique et concrète à la science comportementale, à la conception comportementale et à la manière dont ces approches peuvent être appliquées pour relever les défis en matière de nutrition. À partir d’un exemple basé sur un cas pratique, il fait ressortir le processus de conception comportementale et amène les participants à se demander si et comment les solutions émanant dudit cas pratique peuvent être adaptées à leur propre contexte. Ce cas pratique s’inspire d’un travail de recherche et de conception mené en République Démocratique du Congo pour aider les familles à suivre les directives nutritionnelles concernant l’alimentation de leurs jeunes enfants pendant et après la maladie.

Last modified: November 29, 2023

Language: English, French

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2023

Audience Segmentation for Malaria [Course] / Segmentation de l’audience pour le paludisme [Cours]

Social and behavior change (SBC) strategies are critical for encouraging positive behaviors and addressing social and structural barriers around malaria prevention and case management. SBC can foster an increased utilization of health services, improved client-provider interactions, and the proper diagnosis and treatment for malaria.

To increase the effectiveness of SBC strategies, program planners need to understand the intended audience(s) of SBC efforts and the factors driving their behavior. Audience segmentation is a technique that divides a population into groups with similar characteristics related to a topic or behavior of interest, enabling a deeper understanding of the demographic factors, norms, and attitudes that drive malaria-related behavior among each group. The use of audience segmentation can help SBC practitioners develop interventions and messages tailored to each group’s particular characteristics and needs.

This course is intended for use by SBC and service delivery professionals to encourage antimalarial acceptance and uptake by employing segmentation based on attitudes and behaviors of their intended audience(s).

Segmentation de l’audience pour le paludisme [Cours]
Les stratégies de changement social et comportemental (CSC) sont essentielles pour encourager des comportements positifs et s’attaquer aux barrières sociales et culturelles liées à la prévention du paludisme et la prise en charge des cas. Les stratégies de CSC peuvent favoriser une utilisation accrue des services de santé, une amélioration des interactions entre le client et le prestataire, ainsi qu’un diagnostic et un traitement adéquats du paludisme.

Pour accroître l’efficacité des stratégies CSC, les planificateurs de programmes doivent comprendre le(s) public(s) visé(s) par les efforts de CSC et les facteurs qui déterminent leur comportement. La segmentation de l’audience est une technique qui divise une population en groupes présentant des caractéristiques similaires liées à un sujet ou à un comportement d’intérêt, ce qui permet de mieux comprendre les facteurs démographiques, les normes et les attitudes qui déterminent les comportements liés au paludisme au sein de chaque groupe. L’utilisation de la segmentation de l’audience peut aider les praticiens du CSC à développer des interventions et des messages adaptés aux caractéristiques et aux besoins particuliers de chaque groupe.

Ce cours est destiné aux professionnels du changement social et comportemental (CSC) et de la prestation de services afin d’encourager l’acceptation et l’utilisation des antipaludiques en utilisant une segmentation basée sur les attitudes et les comportements de leur(s) public(s) cible(s).

Last modified: November 29, 2023

Language: English, French

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Year of Publication: 2023

Family Planning Sermon and Messaging Guide for Faith Communities

This guide is designed to support faith communities, congregations and religious leaders who want to improve family planning (FP) literacy and acceptance through sermons and other messaging opportunities. The sermon guide addresses how religious texts and sacred traditions can help break the silence on FP and correct misinformation. The guide addresses sacred texts and norms from Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Baha’i faith, and Sikhism and includes messages that can be tailored to each faith. The messages can be delivered in a variety of settings, including at worship services, faith community ceremonies, or other events.

Last modified: November 29, 2023

Language: English

Source: Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH)

Year of Publication: 2023

Stopping Dog Bites Helps Stop Rabies

In Sierra Leone, rabies is among the most highly prioritized zoonotic diseases responsible for hundreds of deaths per year. As access to vaccines and therapeutics remains a challenge, and as the majority of rabies cases are caused by dog bites, Breakthrough ACTION developed a social and behavior change campaign “Stopping Dog Bites Helps Stop Rabies”. The dog bites and rabies campaign was developed in close collaboration with the One Health Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) technical working group (TWG) and featured a campaign song, two radio spots, a job aid for providers, a reminder card to be used by for community engagement by community health workers and community animal health workers, and a poster for community members.

Since 2019, Breakthrough ACTION has conducted three rounds of dog bites and rabies campaigns in Kenema, Western Area Urban, and Moyamba and Western Area Rural, where the campaign reached 109,000 individuals, 350,456 individuals, and 105,265 individuals, respectively. The dog bites and rabies campaign trained 914 community mobilizers to conduct house-to-house visits and outreach to schools, colleges, healthcare facilities, markets, and parks. In addition to reaching community members with messages about key prevention behaviors related to dog bites, the campaign also prompted multiple communities to take action by establishing bylaws to decrease exposure to dog bites and rabies (i.e., bylaws around responsible dog ownership).

Resources:

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Date of Publication: November 21, 2023

Language: English

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