UNICEF and leading universities join forces to advance children’s rights at scale
New regional network brings together 24 universities from 16 countries
NAIROBI, 1 July 2025 – UNICEF today launched the Academia for Social and Behavioural Change Network, a landmark initiative bringing together 24 universities from across 16 countries in eastern and southern Africa to accelerate progress on children’s rights through evidence generation, skills building and policy influence.
At a UN signing ceremony in Nairobi, 24 academic institutions formalized their partnership with UNICEF through a memorandum of understanding, committing to integrate social and behavioural sciences – focused on understanding and influencing human behaviour for positive change in communities – into humanitarian and development programmes across the region. This partnership aims to drive sustainable, context-specific solutions to challenges affecting children by promoting localized knowledge and shaping policy and practice.
Speaking at the event, Alison Parker, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, highlighted the strategic importance of this initiative, “The academia has been a critical stakeholder in shaping human capital and contributing to the broader socio economic development of society, serving not only as centers of research, knowledge and innovation, but also pivotal platforms for cultivating skills and values that drive national progress. It also plays an important role in shaping discourse and societal dialogue. As a duty bearer, it has a vital role in promoting and protecting the rights of children and in generating the evidence essential for identifying decentralized solutions to current and future challenges.”
The Network includes renowned institutions such as the University of Zambia, Makerere University in Uganda, University of Nairobi in Kenya, and WITS University in South Africa. These institutions, among others, will work together under a shared vision aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Professor Ruksana Osman, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand, said "This Network offers a vital platform to elevate social and behavioural change as a core part of the continent’s development agenda. We’re especially excited about the opportunity to generate evidence that speaks to our realities, build skills that matter, and strengthen connections between academia, policy, and communities to drive real, sustained change for children."
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, added, “For us at Makerere, this partnership is about transforming knowledge into action. By embedding social and behavioural sciences into development practice, we can shape more responsive policies and empower a new generation to tackle challenges facing children - head on, and from within our own communities.”
Through the Network, UNICEF and academic partners will drive four key strategic priorities:
- Knowledge and skills building of academic institutions and social behavioural change practitioners through harmonized curricula, training and certification programs;
- Evidence generation and dissemination to influence policies and programmes with localized, rigorous research;
- Network development to strengthen collaboration and capacity across countries so as to influence the field of social and behavioral science across Africa; and
- Policy influence and practice to bridge the gap between academic insight and real-world implementation.
A dedicated digital platform – www.academia4sbc.net – will support the Network by hosting resources, connecting experts, and facilitating peer learning, co-creation, and knowledge exchange.
Over the coming months, the Network will roll out a shared research agenda, an annual symposium, and a flagship publication. Long-term goals include accreditation of social and behavioural change professionals, establishment of Centres of Excellence, and joint resource mobilization.
This initiative builds on more than five decades of UNICEF leadership in social and behavioural change and reflects an ongoing commitment to harness partnerships to ensure that every child survives, thrives, and is protected.
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List of institutions signing the MoU
Universities from 16 countries including:
- Botswana: University of Botswana
- Burundi: Université Nationale du Burundi, Université Lumière de Bujumbura
- Comoros: Universite des Comores
- Ethiopia: Addis Ababa University, Jijiga University, Bahir Dar University
- Kenya: University of Nairobi
- Madagascar: Université Catholique de Madagascar, University of Toamasina
- Malawi: University of Business and Applied Science, School of Arts Communication and Design
- Namibia: University of Namibia
- Rwanda: University of Rwanda
- Somalia: Benadir University
- South Africa: WITS University, University of the Free State
- South Sudan: University of Juba
- Tanzania: University of Dar es Salaam, MUHAS, Zanzibar University, State University of Zanzibar
- Uganda: Makerere University
- Zambia: University of Zambia
- Zimbabwe: Midlands State University
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About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
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About Social and Behavioural Change (SBC)
SBC encompasses community engagement, strategic communication, social norms and behaviour analysis, service design, policy support, digital engagement, and systems strengthening. It focuses on understanding what drives human behaviour and designing effective strategies to influence positive change for children and communities.
