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.
Breakthrough ACTION fosters innovation in social and behavior change through continuous learning and experimentation, embodying a growth mindset. This approach encourages teams to test ideas, learn from failures, and synthesize insights. By cultivating an environment that values iterative learning and co-creation, Breakthrough ACTION innovates and adapts existing solutions to address complex social and behavioral health challenges.
Case Example: Using Rapid Research to Prepare for the Next Epidemic
Breakthrough ACTION helped Côte d'Ivoire prepare for future zoonotic outbreaks by studying behaviors that increase transmission risks and developing effective communication strategies for disease prevention. Key findings suggest that messages focused on economic livelihoods rather than health are more likely to resonate with at-risk populations. The research emphasizes the importance of understanding local customs, building trust, and addressing economic concerns when crafting prevention strategies. By developing healthier habits and establishing effective communication channels before an outbreak occurs, communities can be better prepared to respond to future health crises.
Featured Video: Assessing Impact: Monitoring and Evaluation of Provider Behavior Change Interventions
This is the fourth in a series of tutorial videos introducing key provider behavior change tools. The video outlines key recommendations, aligned with the Provider Behavior Ecosystem Map, to improve monitoring and evaluation of provider behavior change initiatives as described in ”Approaching Provider Behavior Change Monitoring and Evaluation with a Social-Ecological Lens: New Frontiers Brief."
Lessons Learned
- Create a culture that embraces failure, tinkering, and learning to foster innovation and refine program designs. Acknowledging what doesn't work requires trust and partnership, and will open up opportunities for improvements.
- Build capacity for co-creation and a beginner’s mindset to support experimentation. Experience and experimentation are often as valuable as expertise.
- Adapt proven SBC solutions in new contexts can save time and generate insights.
- Incorporate social determinants and structural barriers into SBC solutions for greater impact.
- Use local data and voices to tailor interventions for high-risk groups and inform real-time decisions.
- Leverage behavioral science to increase uptake of interventions like nets, tests, and medicines.
- Package data, insights, and solutions in accessible formats to enable partners and communities to take action.
- Measure the effectiveness of SBC interventions to apply lessons in future designs and advocate for further investments in SBC.
Thought Leadership
- A qualitative exploration of how a community engagement approach influences community and health worker perceptions related to family planning service delivery in Togo
- Applying a Behavioral Science Lens to Maternity Care in Liberia: How Scarcity, Salience, and Structural Factors Impact Likelihood of Facility Delivery
- Identifying Novel COVID-19 Rumours Through a Multi-channel Approach
- Malaria-Related Psychosocial Factors, Past Antenatal Care-Seeking Behaviors, and Future Antenatal Care-Seeking Intentions by Maternal Age in Malawi and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Online Courses
- Applying Human-Centered Design to Improve Nutrition Programming [English] [French]
- Applying Segmentation to SBC in Family Planning [English] [French]
- Audience Segmentation for Malaria [English] [French]
- Introduction to Behavioral Economics [English] [French]
- Rumor Tracking and Infodemic Management in Public Health Emergencies [English] [French]
- Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Program Monitoring [English] [French]
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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