COVID-19 Webinars for SBCC Practitioners

"Communities must be at the heart of any public health intervention, especially in emergencies." - Kathryn Bertram

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 International SBCC Summit (Marrakech, Morocco) was postponed. In light of that development, the Summit Secretariat invited social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) practitioners to gather online for two webinars focused on the role they could play in addressing COVID-19.

• During Part I (March 31 2020), the speakers reflected on issues of social distancing, isolation, and quarantine in different global contexts. The conversation also explored the need for preparedness planning and capacity building in risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), with an emphasis on the importance of relevant and consistent messaging on this topic. Presenters included:
  • Kathryn Bertram, Senior Program Officer, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP), SBC/RCCE Advisor, READY - Based on her experience providing SBC and advocacy support to public health emergencies (e.g., Ebola), malaria, child survival, and nutrition programmes over a span of past 9 years, Ms. Bertram looked at RCCE and community engagement in disease outbreaks. Grounding her discussion in theories such as social cognitive learning theory, the extended parallel process model, and diffusion of innovation, she offered suggestions such as: "Consider emphasizing severity and susceptibility of the disease with role models, testimonials about dangers and effectiveness of solutions. Demonstrate positive behaviors. Do not incite fear!" A key message:
  • Ketan Chitnis, Chief of Communication for Development, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)/Mozambique, examined implications and considerations for RCCE on physical distancing, quarantine, and isolation during COVID-19 - including some lessons learned from past outbreaks. For instance, "RCCE/SBCC implementation requires nimbleness as the outbreak evolves - multiple strategies within a country/region and new behaviours and engagement approaches."
  See above and/or click here to access Part I. (1:13:40)
• Part II of the webinar series (April 2 2020) featured a discussion of several questions on COVID-19 and RCCE that the community of SBCC practitioners are facing in response to this pandemic.
  • Panelists included Kathryn Bertram and Ketan Chitnis, referenced above, as well as: Elizabeth Serlemitsos (Project Director Breakthrough ACTION, CCP) and Sue Goldstein (Deputy Director at the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand).
  • Some of the major themes explored in the conversation included: coordination for better harmonisation; formative research; and the reality of physical distancing in different contexts (and working with community leaders/outreach workers).
  • To facilitate further dialogue, additional questions are being posted on relevant platforms such as Springboard for Social and Behavior Change and The Communication Initiative (The CI's) Drum Beat Networks.
  Click here to access Part II. (1:14:06)
• Click here to access a document with a list of, with links to, the resources that were mentioned in the webinars.