Strengthening the capacity of organizations and NGOs--small and large--in Africa, South Asia, and Eastern Europe is a critical part of the work that C-Change does to raise the quality of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) programming for HIV prevention, enhanced uptake of modern family planning methods, malaria prevention, and antenatal and maternal health care.

SBCC Framework

The SBCC Framework guides implementation of SBCC. SBCC is:

• An interactive, researched, and planned process aimed at changing social conditions/norms and individual behaviors;
• That requires an socio-ecological model for analysis of not only knowledge and motivation but also social/gender norms, skills, and an enabling environment; and
• Which operates through three key elements, namely, Advocacy, Social Mobilization, and Behavior Change Communication.

SBCC Modules

C-Change is working to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of SBCC by expanding the number of practitioners with SBCC knowledge, skills and appropriate values. C-Change has created a learning package for facilitated, face-to-face workshops on social and behavior change communication (SBCC). The package, which includes a series of six modules for program staff, is currently being field tested in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.

In addition, SBCC courses are being designed for a variety of other audiences (staff of implementing organizations, USAID mission staff, researchers, and students) using several delivery methods: face-to-face in university settings, online self-directed,and online facilitated courses using blended learning methods. Ohio University is partnering in this effort and has developed several SBCC courses. 
 

'Designing for Behavior Change' for Malaria Prevention

C-Change developed and facilitated the training workshop “Designing for Behavior Change” for 21 professionals from 20 USAID Malaria Communities Program Grantees from throughout sub-Saharan Africa (Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Uganda and Zambia), who gathered in Kenya in October 2009. The training drew from the C-Change Learning Package Understanding Social and Behavior Change Communication.

The goal of the workshop was to provide participants with an orientation to the tools and knowledge needed to carry out an evidence-based social and behavior change communication (SBCC) approach when developing communication strategies and interventions for malaria prevention.

The Behavior Change training followed an experiential approach, utilizing a case study with extensive group work and sharing of experiences.

Participants were split into fictional districts, and using a social and behavior change communication framework, engaged in several exercises that highlighted the building blocks of a SBCC strategy. Participants increased knowledge on the basics of SBCC as evidenced by post-test evaluations.
 

SBCC Concentration at University of Witwatersrand

The University of Witwatersrand School of Public Health has officially launched a new concentration in SBCC within its Masters in Public Health program--a first for the Southern African region. C-Change regional partner Soul City worked closely with the University of Witwatersrand in this effort. Thirteen students from South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Lesotho inaugurated the new program in January 2010. The program was designed to accommodate and indeed welcomes  professionals who are actively pursuing their careers.

USAID supported this effort through C-Change. CDC and Great Britain's DFID also provided support. Also inaugurated in early 2009, with technical and financial assistance from C-Change, is the Center of Excellence (CoE) at the University of Witwatersrand’s School of Public Health in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Center offers training in SBCC at the certificate and diploma levels in addition to the Masters concentration.
 

SBCC Capacity Assessment Tool

C-Change is assisting organizations to assess the professional competencies of their staff to carry out SBCC programming, planning and evaluation. In Namibia, Kenya, Nigeria, and elsewhere in Africa, C-Change is implementing an SBCC capacity strengthening program with NGOs and other partners. The process begins with C-Change conducting an assessment using the  SBCC Capacity Assessment Tool. This assessment helps an organization identify the areas where their staff need improvement in

SBCC competencies. As NGOs and partners improve the SBCC skills of their staff, effective communication programming across health and development areas and a better understanding of the importance of communication as a key element in programming,will become the standard.

In addition to the SBCC Tool, C-Change is developing other resources for use by USAID missions, NGOs, and organizations that use SBCC elements in designing and implementing health programs. With these efforts, C-Change is establishing a “gold standard” for SBCC to be practiced in health and development programs.