Breakthrough ACTION is an eight-year USAID-funded global project that accelerates the use of social and behavior change (SBC) through evidence-based tools and processes that encourage the adoption of healthy behaviors, while addressing structural barriers and underlying social and gender norms that prevent uptake of services and positive health practices. Our work builds upon seven pillars.
Global health and development increasingly rely on evidence-based SBC programs. Yet, scaling proven SBC programs often lacks support. To address this gap, Breakthrough ACTION convened key stakeholders to collaborate and advocate for heightened investments in SBC.
Case Example: Catalyzing Local Investments in SBC
Governments are recognizing the value of SBC as a strategic priority. This is evidenced by increased budget allocations for family planning demand creation in countries like Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cote d'Ivoire. In addition, 126 local partners have invested their own resources to sustain Breakthrough ACTION-supported SBC interventions, demonstrating the program's lasting impact.
Increasing Coordinated Investment in Social and Behavior Change for Family Planning Webinar
Despite strong goals set by Family Planning 2030 and the Ouagadougou Partnership, SBC remains underfunded and under-implemented. In this webinar, you will learn about tools and experiences to advocate for SBC investments, enhance resource coordination, and integrate SBC into major development strategies and government planning.
Featured Resources
- Behavior Change Impact: Evidence for Social and Behavior Change Impact
- 10 Lives, 10 Stories, One Message
- Global Shared Agenda for SBC in Family Planning
- SBC in Family Planning Message Framework
- Making the Case for Malaria SBC: Key Messages and Actionable Steps
- Promoting Multisectoral Collaboration for Resilient Health Systems Through One Health
Lessons Learned
- Highlighting evidence that demonstrates SBC’s effectiveness in addressing social and structural factors, alongside individual behavior change, is crucial for enabling partners to understand the broader impact and potential of SBC beyond demand generation.
- Demonstrating how increased investment in SBC can strengthen health systems and existing service delivery investments by effectively engaging communities and building trust enhances health system performance and accountability.
- Presenting data on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of SBC interventions is essential for communicating SBC’s value proposition to decision-makers.
- Using narratives to humanize the impact of SBC evokes empathy among decision-makers, making a compelling case for increased investment in SBC.
- Strengthening the capacity of government agencies to plan for, budget for, and incorporate SBC into existing processes and national strategies, such as Costed Implementation Plans and Global Fund proposals, drives the institutionalization of SBC within government strategies, ensuring SBC becomes a core component of health ecosystems.
- Leading or participating in working groups is an effective way to advocate for SBC, as these groups provide a collaborative space where diverse health practitioners can deepen their understanding of SBC as an evidence-based approach.
Thought Leadership
- Elevating Social and Behavior Change as an Essential Component of Family Planning Programs
- Understanding Psychosocial Determinants of Malaria Behaviours in Low-transmission Settings: a Scoping Review
- Applying a Behavioral Science Lens to Maternity Care in Liberia: How Scarcity, Salience, and Structural Factors Impact Likelihood of Facility Delivery
This Adobe Express page is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Breakthrough ACTION and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
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