Disrupting the Algorithm: Reclaiming Power in SBCC through AI, Nutrition, and Community Agency

Artificial intelligence (AI) and immersive media are transforming the practice of Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), reshaping how people access, interpret, and act on information related to nutrition, health, and civic life. While these tools open new opportunities to personalize engagement and scale evidence-based interventions, they also risk reinforcing inequities, bias, and misinformation. This interactive workshop invites participants to critically examine how AI influences SBCC ecosystems and to co-design strategies that center equity, cultural integrity, and community agency in digital innovation. Drawing from field experiences in Latin America's nutrition equity efforts and the Middle East's media and identity dynamics and extending insights to emerging SBCC contexts in East Africa, Central Asia, and Europe, facilitators will guide participants through a sequence of experiential and reflective exercises. Participants will deconstruct algorithmic bias, analyze real-world case studies, and apply participatory design methods to reimagine AI-enabled SBCC interventions. The session culminates in the collaborative creation of a Manifesto for Equitable AI in SBCC, capturing shared principles and commitments for ethical, inclusive, and community-driven digital communication. By the end of the workshop, participants will have both practical tools and a co-created resource that advance the global dialogue on power, justice, and innovation in SBCC, positioning AI to amplify human insight, cultural diversity, and social transformation.