Explore every episode of the podcast The ABCs of SBC
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Science and SBC | 22 Jan 2026 | 00:21:49 | |
How can behavioural data science improve social and behaviour change (SBC) programs? Where do machine learning and AI genuinely add value? And what can goat markets teach us about human behaviour?
You’ll hear from:
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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. | |||
| SBC in Faith Engagement to End Harmful Practices | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:25:46 | |
For generations, harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage have been justified as traditions of identity and belonging, and have, at times, been linked to misinterpretations of religious text – even as they cause life long harm. Today, faith leaders across Africa and the Middle East are reshaping these beliefs from within their own communities, using their moral authority and influence to redefine these traditions and protect the next generation. In this episode, Qali Id speaks with faith leaders and UNICEF specialists from Uganda, The Gambia, and Iraq to explore how faith engagement is helping end harmful practices, in particular FGM. From sermons that reinterpret religious teachings, to interfaith alliances confronting resistance, to tea-circle conversations that replace top-down campaigns, this discussion reveals how transformation takes root when it begins within communities themselves. You’ll hear from:
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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. | |||
| SBC in Support of System Strengthening | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:22:35 | |
Systems - you may not see them or feel them but they’re there. When vaccines feel out of reach or voting too arduous a task, it means our systems may need some TLC, R&D and perhaps, SBC? If you’ve ever wondered about the systems that get vaccines to your arm, mail to your door, and food on your plate - this episode is for you. Qali speaks with Vincent Petit, Global Lead of Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) at UNICEF on why SBC is key to strengthening our systems and preparing for the crises to come. Resources (in order of mention)
Keep an eye our for the launch of UNICEF SBC’s upcoming magazine on sbcguidance.org or follow Vincent on LinkedIn for updates. 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. | |||
| SBC in the Planetary Crisis | 07 Apr 2024 | 00:22:26 | |
Every year, world leaders convene at the UN Climate Change Conference to discuss the urgency of climate change and the need for equitable, people-centred solutions. Could Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) have the chops to tackle such a massive challenge? Can SBC shed some light on the age-old debate on individual change versus system change to reduce emissions? In this episode, Qali speaks with experts to understand what SBC can tell us about how to navigate an issue that affects us all, but certainly not in the same ways. Guests (in order of appearance)
Resources (in order of mention)
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. | |||
| SBC in Preventing Violence Against Girls, Boys and Women | 31 Mar 2024 | 00:25:09 | |
Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) strategies have a proven track record in influencing positive choices, from healthy eating to civic engagement. But what about a deeply entrenched and nuanced social issue like violence against girls, boys and women. In this episode, we delve into the complexities of this issue and explore existing SBC interventions working to dismantle these harmful norms. Join Qali on a journey from Honduras to South Africa, as she dives deep into the trenches with experts who are on the ground, working to address the root causes of domestic violence.
Resources (in order of mention)
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. | |||
| SBC in Emergency Settings | 24 Mar 2024 | 00:22:09 | |
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? Guests (in order of appearance)
Resources (in order of mention)
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 | 17 Mar 2024 | 00:25:30 | |
Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) brings together a variety of tools to shift the way people and societies behave. When applied to policy, it’s helped reduce traffic deaths. When brought into clinics, it’s helped tuberculosis patients complete their treatments. When brought to US college campuses, it can even help explain why students won’t stop binge drinking. In this episode, Qali speaks to SBC practitioners at UNICEF and beyond about behavioural theory and the power of social norms and how to leverage them for positive change.
Guests
Resources
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. | |||
| Trailer | 28 Feb 2024 | 00:00:54 | |
The ABCs of SBC is a new podcast from UNICEF that explores what Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) is and whether it can move the needle forward on some of the world's most complex challenges. Tune in weekly to uncover the limits and possibilities of SBC — without the complexity, while on your commute. 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. | |||
| SBC in Community System Strengthening | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:21:53 | |
Sudan is living through war and mass displacement. Yemen faces one of the world’s longest-running humanitarian crises. And in Moldova, far from active conflict but still grappling with inequality, Roma communities remain excluded from the very systems meant to serve them. Across these vastly different contexts, one question emerges: how do communities themselves step in to sustain and shape the systems around them? In this episode, host Qali Id speaks with UNICEF SBC specialists from Sudan, Yemen, and Moldova to explore the unexpected power of trust, local leadership, and cultural respect in strengthening systems. From youth-run resistance committees, to volunteer health networks, to trusted Roma leaders bridging gaps in access, this conversation highlights how Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) enables communities not just to survive—but to lead the way toward more inclusive and resilient futures. You'll hear from:
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Related episodes:
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. | |||
| SBC in Online Child Protection | 06 Aug 2025 | 00:23:03 | |
The internet is where kids learn, play, and connect, but it’s also where they can be bullied, exploited, surveilled, and manipulated. As digital threats evolve faster than the systems designed to protect children, how do we keep them safe in a world that’s always online? From outdated legal frameworks to overwhelmed parents and disconnected protection services, this episode highlights not just the risks children face online, but the opportunities to involve them and their caregivers as co-designers of safer digital spaces, and how SBC offers a way forward. You'll hear from:
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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. | |||
| SBC in Community Delivery Platforms | 16 Jun 2025 | 00:23:32 | |
What if healthcare systems weren't just centralized services but dynamic partnerships rooted in trust, relevance, and equity? That’s the driving vision behind Community Delivery Platforms. In this episode we talk about collaborations among governments, local communities, UNICEF, and partner organizations to make essential health and nutrition services accessible to every mother, child, and household, no matter where they live. Join host Qali Id as we unpack the strategies, struggles, and successes of community delivery platforms, with insights from:
Want to learn more about how SBC can be used to strengthen systems? Check out episode 5, on SBC in Support of Systems Strengthening. We’ll also have another episode coming out soon on Community System Strengthening - stay tuned. Resources:
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. | |||
| SBC in the Mpox Response | 13 May 2025 | 00:23:39 | |
In this episode, Qali dives into the unfolding mpox outbreaks in Central and West Africa. With new patterns of transmission, rising child mortality, and deep-rooted stigma, frontline responders in DRC and Burundi are rewriting the old playbooks in real time. Join UNICEF SBC experts as they unpack what worked, what fell short, and how communities, digital tools, and gender-aware strategies are shaping the response. This episode unpacks the opportunities taken, missed, and what must be done to prepare better for the next outbreak. Guests (in order of appearance)
Resources
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. | |||
| SBC in Immunisation | 16 Dec 2024 | 00:26:09 | |
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI), a global initiative to get vaccines to every child, everywhere. While much progress has been made over the last 50 years, there is still much more work to be done to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all. In this episode, Qali speaks with immunisation experts to understand what Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) can bring to the challenge of reaching everyone and navigating vaccination in a world still recovering from the impacts of COVID-19. Guests (in order of appearance)
Resources (in order of mention)
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. | |||
| SBC in Mental Health | 09 Dec 2024 | 00:25:52 | |
It is estimated that globally, 1 in 7 young people between 10 and 19-year-old experience mental health conditions that remain largely unrecognized and untreated. How can something so prevalent often remain invisible? What can SBC do to bring mental health forward and connect those struggling with the support they need? In this episode, Qali speaks with experts working to improve Mental Health and Psychosocial Support across Africa. Listen in to see what methods, interventions and priorities are driving mental health programmes in societies where challenges such as stigma take precedent. Guests (in order of appearance)
Resources (in order of mention)
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. | |||
| Localization in Action | 02 Dec 2024 | 00:21:46 | |
How can we adapt SBC approaches to speak to the different cultures and languages of the people we serve? For example, what does human-centred design look like in Indigenous communities, where writing and drawing are uncommon modes of communication? In this episode we dig into one of SBC’s superpowers—to connect with communities, unearth local insights and drive solutions rooted in what people value and how they operate. In this episode, Qali speaks with SBC practitioners in South Sudan, Nicaragua and Afghanistan to explore what localization looks like in action.
Resources (in order of mention)
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. | |||
| SBC in Social Norms and Harmful Practices | 25 Nov 2024 | 00:25:13 | |
How do you say hello? Do you shake hands? Do you give a kiss on either cheek? Do you bend at the waist to give a bow? These gestures are automatic. We may not even notice we do them at all. Guests (in order of appearance)
Resources (in order of mention + more!)
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. | |||
| SBC in Behavioural Insight Units in Government | 28 May 2026 | 00:20:47 | |
For decades, governments have tackled public health challenges with clear policies and well-funded campaigns, only to find that the outcomes don't always follow. Information alone rarely changes what people do. Across the world, behavioural insights units have quietly taken root inside governments, helping policymakers understand why people behave as they do, and what it actually takes to shift decisions in everyday life. In this episode, Qali follows the setup of a new Behavioural Insights Hub in Sri Lanka, a partnership between the Ministry of Health and UNICEF. From the first week-long workshop with senior health officials, to early interest from the President's office, to the disruption of Cyclone Ditwah just as the work was getting underway, this discussion explores what it takes to build behavioural science capacity inside government, and why the slower work of testing, learning, and embedding new ways of thinking is where real change happens. You'll hear from:
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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. | |||
| SBC in Ending Violence in Schools | 09 Feb 2026 | 00:22:20 | |
A good school is a place where a child learns one powerful belief: I matter. When children feel safe, heard, and valued at school, it can change everything - how they see themselves, how they learn, and how they imagine their future. Yet for millions of children around the world, violence remains a routine part of school life, shaping childhoods in ways that are both harmful and deeply normalized. In this episode of The ABCs of SBC, we explore how social and behavior change approaches are helping to transform schools - and why ending violence in education systems is both possible and essential. Drawing on powerful stories and evidence from Uganda and beyond, we unpack what it truly takes to build a “good school.” Qali is joined by three leaders working at the forefront of education and child protection:
Together, they examine why laws alone are not enough, how deeply held beliefs about discipline and power shape school culture, and what it means to take a whole-school, system-wide approach to change. You’ll hear how shifting social norms, redistributing power, and giving children real voice and agency can dramatically reduce violence — including evidence from the Good School Toolkit, which reduced corporal punishment by over 40% in participating schools. From classrooms to communities to national policy, this episode shows that when schools change, childhoods change. Resources: 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. | |||