Full title
Enabling People to Practice Positive Behaviors: Applying Science and Tools for Effective Social and Behavior Change

Session Overview
The goals of many agriculture, nutrition and health interventions can be achieved through effective social and behaviour change (SBC) programming. Programs fail, however, when they are based on incorrect assumptions about what motivates people to practice (or not) certain behaviors. Understanding the critical factors or drivers behind behaviors, and addressing these drivers can avoid wasting precious resources (time and money) on ineffective program activities. Program planners, researchers, and implementers need to recognize their own biases and challenge the myths associated with SBC. This learning lab will cover the science and theories of SBC and share tools for effective program design.

Learning Objectives/Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
1. Describe three or more complementary behavioral models that can be used to design behaviour change programs.
2. Describe the importance of investing in formative research, and in monitoring and evaluation of behavior change programming.
3. Conduct a behavioral analysis to apply a behavioral integration process to program design.

Target Audience
Nutrition, agriculture, food systems researchers, program leaders, policy actors, program practitioners

Format
Lecture, group work

Level & Prerequisites 
Basic. Participants with basic and intermediate levels of SBC expertise will find this session useful.