The field of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) has contributed immensely to the development agenda over the past few decades. However, no global event or platform has focused solely on advancing the practice of using communication to change behaviors by positively influencing knowledge, attitudes and social norms. The Health Communication Capacity Collaborative and its partners are now planning such an event for February 8-10 2016, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the International SBCC Summit.
This event will bring together SBCC practitioners from around the world to exchange SBCC knowledge and practices. The goal of the event is to convene a community of SBCC organizations and practitioners to advance SBCC and demonstrate the strong linkage between well-done health communication and positive health outcomes and impact.Additionally, they will provide a forum to:
- Disseminate best evidence-based tools and methodologies from across the field of SBCC, with a particular focus on innovative approaches to research and programming
- Conduct skill-building workshops focused on institutional, financial and programmatic strengthening
- Allow SBCC practitioners and researchers an opportunity to network and learn from their peers.
Sessions will include panel, plenary and hands-on approaches to learning and sharing SBCC experiences and practices:
- Comm Talks are brief presentations from SBCC practitioners and researchers that are structured like TED Talks
- The Market Fair will allow local and international organizations to exhibit their innovative SBCC tools and methodologies. Poster presentations will also showcase landmark research and programs
- Skill-buildingWorkshops will provide an opportunity to develop new SBCC skills in areas such as program planning, implementation, research and M&E
- OralPresentationswill share SBCC innovations in research, monitoring and evaluation, best practices and multimedia (among other areas)
2016 SBCC Summit hosts include the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health. An International Steering Committee includes these groups plus the U.K. Department of International Development, UNICEF, The Communication Initiative, FHI 360, Population Services International, The Manoff Group, BBC Media Action and the SPRING project.
To register and/or to find sponsorship opportunities click here