Social and behaviour change
UNICEF is supporting government goals to promote the adoption of positive behaviours, practices and to change harmful social norms.
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The challenge
Social and behaviour change is a key element in addressing some of the bottlenecks hindering the realization of children rights.
Government programmes – and an enabling environment – are needed to accelerate change in behaviours and social norms at individual, family and community level.
These include promotion of early childhood development, early childhood education, continued school education for girls and boys, prevention of early and forced child marriages, child labour, gender-based violence and enhance young people’s participation in decision making process. Lack of evidence based behavioural policies to combat protection risks, meeting the increase in demand for basic services, models of delivery to engage the vulnerable and at-risk communities to achieve the key results for children are some of the key emerging challenges.
The solution
The overall purpose of social and behaviour change is to address harmful social practices and attitudes that perpetuate the acceptance of certain forms of violence against children, particularly child marriage, child labour, bullying and other forms of gender-based violence.
It enables us to keep people at the centre of what we do and meet the needs of the most vulnerable communities. By ensuring that policies and programmes are behaviourally informed, designed with communities and tailored to local contexts.
The SBC interventions will be implemented in several ways, including behaviour change communication and social mobilization across platforms in partnership with government, implementing partners and other key stakeholders.
The interventions are also expected to increase the knowledge and understanding of the government, private sector, communities, parents, caregivers and children and front-line workers on child rights.
Key focus areas
- influencing behavioural and social factors for positive child development and change
- encouraging parents/caregivers to engage in proper infant and young child feeding, positive discipline, childhood immunization, early stimulation and empowering them to engage in the early detection of disabilities
- strengthening existing national parenting programmes and working to improve the capacity of front-line workers in promoting appropriate behaviours and practices
- increasing public understanding of the importance of inclusive education, child friendly school environments and formal education
- generating public demand for good quality education and encouraging community/parental engagement with education systems
- increasing the understanding of marginalized children’s rights to inclusive education
- promoting the systemic, planned, strategic and evidence-based engagement of communities, girls and boys
- engaging parents, communities and relevant stakeholders to support the participation of adolescents and young people
- mitigating harmful social norms that prevent young people from achieving their full potential.