Triggering for positive behaviour change in nutrition
This technical brief (PDF) by SNV, Centre for Development Innovation of Wageningen UR (CDI), the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) provides an overview of community Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and triggering on positive nutrition and hygiene behaviors. The brief presents results from the Sustainable Nutrition for All (SN4A) model in Uganda and Zambia. SBCC is a behaviour-centred approach to facilitating communities, households and individuals in understanding, adopting and sustaining improved nutrition related practices. Triggering is a participatory approach to move beyond awareness to engage emotions and harness motivators. The report recommends that policy makers: 1) Support the scalability of community driven SBCC nutrition strategies in different contexts as part of nutrition programming, without compromising on the effectiveness of the approach. 2) Support the capacity building of district and sub-district frontline staff from different sectors to implement SBCC strategies. 3) Build teams of multi-disciplinary members and partner innovatively with traditional and non-traditional partners. 4) Involve the communities themselves in the planning, implementation and review of the nutrition program and ensure involvement of all members. 5) Support the development, activation, implementation and review of national Food-based dietary guidelines, which can play an important role in promoting principles and practices to support healthy diets. 6) Target emotional drivers of improved nutrition behaviors in a sensitive manner. 7) Use existing resources at community level to implement nutrition interventions, for example the schools. 8) Leverage and expand the existing programs to break down gender barriers to practicing optimal nutrition behaviors over time.
This is the second in a series of policy and technical briefs from SN4A, please find the first brief here.