SBC in Emergency Settings

Sure, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) can help people make healthier food choices and complete important civic processes like voting or registration. But what can SBC do in moments of duress? When conflict erupts? When a natural disaster strikes? When a new virus breaks loose? Does SBC have a role to play in a rapidly unfolding emergency? Can it serve and protect the communities most affected by these emergencies?

In this episode, Qali speaks to SBC practitioners who have responded to emergencies from Lebanon to Mozambique to understand whether SBC can truly serve vulnerable populations in humanitarian emergencies.

Guests (in order of appearance)

• Luca Solimeo, Chief of Social and Behaviour Change at UNICEF Lebanon
• Xaher Gul, Public Health Physician and Development Practitioner 
• Mónica Wills-Silva, Director of International Programmes EMEA at the Behavioural Insights Team
• Naureen Naqvi, Lead SBC Specialist in Humanitarian Action at UNICEF
• Mariana Palavra, Social and Behaviour Change Specialist - Emergency Response Team (ERT) at UNICEF

Resources (in order of mention)

• Leveraging behavioural insights to build lasting peace - BIT Radio Shows in Northern Nigeria
• Mozambique: Supporting social mobilizers to reach affected communities with life-saving information 
• Attacks on Health Workers During the 10th Ebola Response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Bringing safer burial rituals to Ebola outbreak countries
• How the Fight Against Ebola Tested a Culture’s Traditions
• UNICEF’s SBC in Emergencies tools 

The views and opinions expressed by the contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of UNICEF or any entities they represent. The content here is for information purposes only.

The ABCs of SBC is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.