Reimagining capacity building: Leveraging peer-to-peer learning and creative tools to broaden the understanding and implementation of Social and Behaviour Change

Organizations rely on employees with diverse and complementary skills to succeed. Mapping the capacities of an existing SBC team helps evaluate the staff's strengths and weaknesses so that capacity development gaps and opportunities can be identified to leverage staff's strengths, inform targeted capacity development initiatives, support the review of the tasks and responsibilities assigned to each team member to maximize the overall team effectiveness, increase individuals' motivation and enhance collaboration among practitioners to promote decentralized, tailored, peer-to-peer learning. 

In 2024, a dedicated UNICEF Technical Working Group developed an instrument to map existing SBC skills strengths and weaknesses to 1) Understand if the existing skills were those needed to deliver quality and innovative SBC at scale; 2) Inform the roles and responsibilities allocated to available human resources, 3) Co-create tailored capacity building plans and tools to enhance skills and support a flexible learning environment; and, 4) Engage with academic partners to inform their learning agenda. The mapping tool was tested, digitalized, translated into five languages and rolled out among the UNICEF SBC network and is now being promoted and tested among external partners. This one-year process provides valuable lessons that could support other organizations undertake similar initiatives.

The session also showcases new delivery platforms and products such as the SBC Capacity Development Repository, Agora Learning Channel and the ABCs of SBC that can be optimally combined and sequenced to advance learning. Most importantly, it provides a dialogic space needed to enhance learning across practitioners.