OUR STORY
The African Society for Social and Behavior Change
Why we do, what we do
The African Society for Social and Behaviour Change (AS-SBC) was launched in 2022, as a regional organisation dedicated to strengthening the effectiveness of SBC programming in Africa. The society was formed from an informal network of SBC professionals in Uganda who met periodically for breakfast presentations on SBC practice and participated in a WhatsApp group called the Next Big Thing. By 2022, the group included 168 members from nine African countries and the United States.
AS-SBC wants to help strengthen SBC practice in Africa by providing learning opportunities, networking African SBC professionals, sharing SBC learning and resources, mentoring professionals just entering the SBC field, and influencing the international SBC agenda.
AS-SBC has offered a series of seminars for members in Uganda and has moderated online discussions of SBC issues through the Next Big Thing WhatsApp group. In 2020, AS-SBC members volunteered to assist the Ugandan Government develop a COVID-19 risk communication campaign. In 2022, AS-SBC members have been assisting the Rotary Club International to design a climate change campaign.
With headquarters in Kampala, Uganda, the society is managed by an Interim Secretariat composed of five SBC professionals guided by an Interim Advisory Board. The Society supports its activities with modest membership fees and contributions. Currently, the Society’s members include two paid Ugandan organizations; 17 paid individuals; and 102 pending applications for individual memberships.
OUR VISION
A respected community of social and behavior change (SBC) professionals in Africa that inspires excellence in SBC for development and advances the field globally.
OUR MISSION
To improve the lives of people in Africa by setting priorities for and strengthening the quality of SBC practice in Africa. We will accomplish this through capacity strengthening, networking, knowledge sharing, and recognition of excellence among individuals and organisations working in Africa.
OUR CORE VALUES
Excellence
We perform to the best of our abilities, paying attention to detail, and serving as an example to SBC practitioners.
Professionalism
We are an association of SBC professionals and commit to upholding the ethics, principles, and processes of SBC practice. We behave with honesty, and do what we set out to do, keeping members and stakeholders reliably informed.
Collaboration
We engage members and stakeholders, form partnerships, and work together with colleagues from around the world to achieve our goals.
Learning
We esteem learning, recognizing that the field of SBC is constantly growing, evolving, and drawing upon advances in related sciences. Our commitment is to create, collect and share what is new and proven in order to advance and improve our field.
Member-focused
AS-SBC is deeply committed to its members and relies upon members to make this plan a reality. We recognize that the society’s strength and success are due, in large part, to the inclusivity and diversity of its members—both female and male--who represent a variety of countries, cultures, educational paths, languages, and contexts.
Creativity
We innovate new solutions to SBC challenges, and inspire SBC professionals to think beyond what is considered usual, traditional or conventional to develop effective SBC interventions
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Join AS-SBC, Africa’s leading social and behavior change community. With members working and/or living in over 40 countries.
We have advanced our chapters to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Egypt, Algeria, Malawi, Ethiopia, South Africa and Niger. You will be in good company!
Our 5-Year Goals, Objectives and Strategies
To strengthen the organisational capacity of AS-SBC.
AS-SBC is a new organisation with very limited financial and material resources. It has a structure with an interim Advisory Board and Secretariat composed of volunteers who are all from Uganda.... READ MORE
To shape SBC priorities and standards of practice for Africa.
In collaboration with the Global Alliance for SBC, selected universities, and other stakeholders, develop SBC ethics, standards and guidelines for SBC and share ...READ MORE
To enhance the competence, skills, and technical capacity of SBC practitioners in Africa.
Establish and offer a professional SBC course online and through other platforms. AS-SBC will collaborate with academic institutions....READ MORE
To establish systems for sharing knowledge, tools, and resources for SBC in Africa.
Create a central repository for evidence of SBC impact, research, tools, and resources in Africa. AS-SBC will document and share best practices in SBC in Africa, READ MORE....
