Speakers

Integrated Behavioral Science and Local Knowledge

Sub-Theme	Abstract Strands	Description
Integrated Program Design	Multidisciplinary Approaches; Multisectoral Collaboration; Scalable Models	This sub-theme recognizes the importance of incorporating a variety of disciplines and sectors into SBC program design. Abstracts should discuss strategies that have successfully integrated behavioral science with other areas of expertise to address complex social issues. Case studies on multisectoral collaboration that demonstrate scalable and sustainable models of SBC are particularly welcome
Application in Diverse Contexts	Case Studies, Theory Adaptation Examples	This sub-theme focuses on how behavioral science is tested, adapted and applied within diverse African cultural, social, and economic contexts. It encourages abstracts that provide evidence or theoretical analysis on how behavioral theories and models are tailored to specific local conditions and cultural practices.
Narrative Analysis and Advocacy	Leveraging Narratives for Advocacy; Integrating Traditional and Digital Media; Institutional Change	While acknowledging the power of storytelling, this sub-theme seeks to explore how narratives and traditional media, when integrated with modern digital platforms, can catalyze community-driven advocacy and lead to institutional change. Abstracts should discuss the utilization of stories as tools for broader social and behavioral impact.

Community Engagement and Local Narratives

Sub-Theme	Abstract Strands	Description
Effective Community Programming	Community-Based Problem-Solving; Data-Driven Decision Making; Digital Data for Social Accountability	This sub-theme focuses on the application of practical, effective community engagement strategies for problem-solving. Abstracts should highlight programs that use local and digital data to inform decisions and promote social accountability. Case studies demonstrating the institutionalization of such engagement for systemic policy changes are encouraged.
Scaling and Impact of Grassroots Movements	Local Champions of Change; Scalable Solutions; Long-Term Community Impact	This sub-theme emphasizes the scalability and sustainability of grassroots initiatives. We invite submissions that showcase how local change agents have driven substantial behavioral changes and the methods employed to measure and maintain the impact over time

Innovative Financing and Sustainable Partnerships

Sub-Theme	Abstract Strands	Description
New Financial Models for SBC	Analysis of DIBs/SIGs, Case Studies on Financing Models	This sub-theme explores the use of innovative financing mechanisms such as Development Impact Bonds (DIBs) and Social Impact Guarantees (SIGs) in the context of SBC. It calls for abstracts that analyze these models, document their implementation, and evaluate their effectiveness and scalability in supporting SBC initiatives.
Cross-Sector Partnerships	Partnership Success Stories, Strategy Analysis	This area discusses the critical role of cross-sector partnerships in funding SBC projects. Abstracts should detail successful collaborations between the public sector, private entities, and non-profit organizations, analyzing strategies that led to effective SBC financing and sustainable outcomes.

Digital Transformation and Technological Innovation in SBC

Sub-Theme	Abstract Strands	Description
AI, NLP, and LLMs in SBC	Applications of AI in SBC; Case Studies on NLP and LLMs; Novel Research and Evaluation Techniques Using AI	This sub-theme explores how AI, including specific technologies like NLP and LLMs, not only enhances SBC strategies but also revolutionizes SBC research, monitoring, and evaluation. It focuses on the use of advanced language processing to improve understanding, foster tailored communication within SBC initiatives, and introduce innovative methods for measuring and evaluating in SBC.
Tech-Driven SBC Strategies	Digital Health Case Studies; Social Media Strategies; Mobile Technology in Research and Monitoring	Delving into the impact of digital technologies and innovations like mobile health and social media on SBC, this sub-theme seeks insights into how these tools are reshaping the landscape of SBC. It also invites contributions that highlight how mobile technology is being leveraged for real-time research, monitoring, and evaluation in SBC.
Data Analytics and Behavioral Insights	Data-Driven Strategy Examples; Analytical Tool Development; Innovative Monitoring and Evaluation Practices	This area explores the utilization of data analytics and the extraction of behavioral insights from big data, contributing to the development of more effective and targeted SBC strategies. It also encourages submissions that illustrate how new analytical tools and methods are transforming the monitoring and evaluation processes in the field of SBC.

Debora B. Freitas López

Executive director, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Debora B. Freitas López, MS, is the executive director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. She is a global leader in social and behavior change communication with broad-based experience leading programs in health and non-health sectors across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Ms. Freitas López has more than 20 years’ experience establishing sound initiatives for specific social issues and strengthening the capacity of public and private sector and civil society actors so that they can develop local solutions for challenges they face. She has a demonstrated record of success in program design and implementation, strategic planning, partner engagement and communications.

Ms. Freitas López has served on various global boards and technical groups, including as the chair of the Global Alliance for Social and Behaviour Change. She also is part of FP2030’s Family Planning High Impact Practices Technical Expert Group and served two terms on the Steering Committee for the SBC Working Group of RBM Partnership to End Malaria. Additionally, she was part of the 2022 North American Cohort for WomenLift Health’s Leadership Journey, an initiative designed to support women through the challenges and opportunities of advancing to senior leadership positions in global health. Her leadership project focused on diversifying leadership through a behavior-led systems thinking approach. She has an MS in Health Evaluation Services/Epidemiology from the University of Virginia.

Belindar Kwamboka

Comms & Platform Associate, HCD Exchange (JSI)

Belindar is a communication professional with extensive expertise in the practical delivery of communication goals using the human-centered design approach (HCD), in the not-for-profit and government sectors. Belindar excels at strategic communication, digital communication, brand management, stakeholder engagement, social media, and website management.

Adebayo Fayoyin

Social and behavior change expert

Adebayo Fayoyin is a social and behavior change expert, a professor of development communication with Caleb University Lagos, Nigeria and an associate professor of social and behavior change (SBC) at Wits School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Prof. Fayoyin has over three decades of professional experience in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating social and behavior change communication interventions for major international development agencies – USAID, UNICEF and UNFPA. He is a certified trainer, proficient in training/facilitation techniques and an accomplished qualitative researcher, experienced in applying social research methods and practices in understanding health and development issues. He has developed and published up to 50 case studies on various health and development communication issues. His calling is equipping the next generation of SBC professionals to be fit for purpose!

James Lomotey

Senior Behavior Change Specialist, USAID Enhancing WASH Activity Ghana (JSI)

James is a result oriented senior SBC specialist with 15 years’ experience, implementing behavior integrated programming, including designing SBC strategies, demand and use plans and SBCC campaigns. James builds the capacity of government and other partners using hands-on training and mentoring, including for The Manoff Group (now JSI) signature Behavior Profiles framework, to ensure SBC strategies center people and their behaviors in every phase of design and implementation.

Dr. Tariku Nigatu

Deputy Chief of Party, USAID Digital Health Activity - speaker

Dr. Tariku has 20 years’ experience and served as an advisor to the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia on maternal and child health research. He initiated and led the development of Ethiopia’s national strategy for mainstreaming gender within digital health and health information systems; designed and conducted studies that informed strategic directions and investments, and made significant contributions in the revisions of Ethiopia’s national HMIS indicators in multiple rounds. He now serves as Deputy Chief of Party in a flagship USAID funded Digital Health Activity implemented by JSI.

Muthoni Wachira Kantai

Director, HCD Exchange - moderator

With 18 years of experience in the development sector, Muthoni oversees the strategic direction, operational delivery, and stakeholder engagement of HCDExchange, a Knowledge Hub and a market shaper for driving locally-led human-centered design in public health in Africa and Asia. She brings to this role extensive knowledge and skills in strategic management and program management experience, and a passion and commitment to improving the health and well-being of people in crisis and development contexts.

Nancy Njoki

Program Lead, Girl Effect - speaker

Ms. Njoki is a seasoned professional with over ten years of expertise in designing and managing health programs, particularly in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Malaria and Child Health (MCH). Her approach prioritizes placing users at the core of initiatives, aiming for meaningful and enduring impacts. Ms. Njoki actively collaborates with both National and County governments, contributing to policy agendas that shape implementation strategies, particularly benefiting girls and women.

Mokshada Jain

Director of Health, Surgo Health - speaker

Mokshada has over 10 years of experience in using innovative research and data science approaches to improve the performance of health programs and products. She has a keen passion for designing tools and solutions that are user-centric, simple to use, implement and scale, and catalytic to existing intervention efforts. Mokshada oversees Surgo’s international initiatives, ensuring they are leading edge and in sync with the policy and plans of partner organizations, country governments and communities.

Angela Chitsime

Senior Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Technical Advisor, Save the Children International, Malawi

She has over 14 years’ work experience in the SBC landscape. She is specialized in integrated health SBC programming and resilience food security activities with extensive experience in communication strategy development, SBC quality assurance and improvement systems, SBC capacity strengthening and community mobilization.

Michael Odong

Expert in social behaviour change, risk communication, and community engagement (RCCE)

With over two decades of experience. He has dedicated his career to applying social behaviour change across various sectors, from development to emergencies. Currently, he serves as a Technical Advisor at Sightsavers, leading the integration of social and behaviour change across all thematic areas within the organization, including eye health, education, social inclusion (disability, political participation, and gender), economic empowerment, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), climate action, and refractive error across Africa and Asia.

Jessica Phiri

SBCC specialist

With 8 years of experience designing and implementing communication programs to promote positive health and social behaviors. She has a master’s degree in Communication for Development and a Master’s in Development Studies and is skilled in formative research, strategy development, and impact evaluation. Jessica has worked with international NGOs in the WASH and public health sectors, using mass media, community engagement, and social marketing approaches. Currently, she is the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Program Officer for Breakthrough Action Zambia, leading SBCC initiatives to address priority health and social issues.

Massimiliano Sani

Social and Behaviour Change professional

Massimiliano Sani is a Social and Behaviour Change professional with over 15 years of experience in UNICEF who has joined the HQ team in June 2023 as Senior Adviser, SBC, outposted to Nairobi. He currently serves as the Deputy SBC global lead, connecting dots between SBC programmes and operations and advocating for the institutionalization of SBC in UNICEF. He is currently leading the UNICEF’s faith engagement approach and he serves as SBC focal point for several cross-cutting areas, such as Adolescent Girls programming, inclusion of people with disability, among others.

Previously, I have served mainly in Eastern and Southern Africa, the last 5 years with the Regional Office and previously in Mozambique and Angola. In his regional capacity, Max has advanced significantly the quality of the articulation of SBC in ESAR Country Programmes by collaborating with the Regional Adviser, Deputy Representatives and SBC managers to conduct SBC diagnostic assessments, annual performance analysis and designing checklists to enhance the visibility and articulation of SBC in our programmes. Max has also extensively contributed to the development of the new global SBC programme and operational guidelines to inform the new Strategic Plan 2022-2025. To respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, Max fostered several partnerships with faith and youth networks, established social listening and community feedback mechanisms, advanced SBC through digital engagement, while supporting countries to measure changes in attitudes and behaviours through time-series community rapid assessments. Max also brings extensive experience and expertise in designing and implementing innovative social and behaviour change strategies across all goal areas, to advance children and adolescents’ wellbeing. Max holds a master’s degree on Social and Cultural Anthropology from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain and a 5-years degree on Communication Sciences from the University of Bologna, Italy. He can provide technical assistance and guidance to ROs and COs in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Ms. SILUE Nonfara Aliatou

Doctor in Communication and development

Epse COULIBALY is a doctor in Communication and development, obtained at Alassane OUATTARA University in Bouaké. She has 10 years of experience in communication for social change and behavior. She is a specialist and consultant in the development and evaluation of strategies of communication. Previously head of communications department within the Program National fight against AIDS, she is the author of a book entitled communication and well-being HIV-positive people in Ivory Coast. She coordinated digital communication activities through the implementation of applications to raise awareness among adolescents and young people in Ivory Coast, the most recent of which is attacking AIDS. Dr SILUE is a teacher-researcher working at the African Higher School of ICT (ESATIC).

Olusina Olusegun OLULANA

Social and Behaviour Change professional

Holds a Masters in Education (Education for Primary Health Care) from The University of Manchester. He has extensive experience in health communication and education, having trained as a pioneer Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) consultant for the USAID-Nigeria supported Federal Ministry of Health’s Nigeria Family Health Services Project.

Throughout his career, Mr. Olulana has participated in numerous international training programs. He is an alumnus of the Johns Hopkins University Advances in Family Health Communication Workshop, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) training program on HIV/AIDS and the world of work, and the Planning and Implementing Health Communication Strategies course for Social and Behavior Change at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Dr. Richard Kabanda

Commissioner Health Promotion, Education, and Communication at Uganda Ministry of Health

Dr. Richard Kabanda is a Public Health Specialist leading Uganda’s Health Promotion and Disease Prevention efforts as Head of the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Health Communication at the Ministry of Health. He also lectures at Uganda Martyrs University, mentors Master of Public Health students, and contributes extensively to peer-reviewed journals on topics including disease prevention, health education, and community health systems strengthening. His extensive experience includes roles with district governments, NGOs, and the private sector, alongside his leadership on multiple health policy boards.

Mrs. Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi

Public Health Practitioner, Nutrition Department, Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (ladiaiyegbusi@yahoo.com)

Ladidi Kuluwa Bako-Aiyegbusi,mni is a Public Health Practitioner and career Civil Servant. She is the pioneer Director and Head of the Nutrition Department at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Nigeria. With over 30 years in public service, Ladidi has worked in various Departments, including Food and Drugs, Public Health, Family Health, and Nutrition. Since August 2023, she has led efforts to enhance Health Sector Nutrition programming in Nigeria, including actualizing the upgrading of the Nutrition Division to a Department with dedicated budget lines. Ladidi’s notable achievements while she was Head, Health Promotion Division from 2018 to August 2023 include coordinating national communication campaigns for outbreaks like Ebola, Lassa Fever and COVID-19, reviving the National Health Promotion Forum, and rebranding the National Family Planning Logo.

Emelia Benyiwaa Ainooson (eabainooson@fhi360.org)

FHI 360 – Ghana

Emelia Ainooson (FHI 360 – Ghana) is a seasoned Communications Specialist with over 10 years of experience spanning industry and international development. She has a robust background in development communications, social marketing, and media and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM-UK). Emelia currently serves as the Media Development and Public-Private Sector Engagement Specialist on USAID/Ghana’s Accelerating Social and Behaviour Change Activity (ASBC), where she implements nationwide media initiatives and supports private-sector collaborations. She previously led communications on the EU-funded Enough! Project in Ghana, Liberia, and Mali and served as an Adjunct Faculty at Ashesi University teaching Design Thinking.

Nicola Christofides

University of Witwatersrand (nicola.chris@gmail.com)

Nicola Christofides co-led the development of the inaugural African-based postgraduate training for SBCC in 2009 at the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Public Health. She continues to coordinate courses in SBC. Nicola led the in-person component of the communication for development learning course for UNICEF staff which reached 250 participants over three years. She has facilitated courses and workshops with a broad range of participants in SBC for UNFPA, Malawi government and nongovernmental organisations, Centers for Disease Control in Mozambique.

Delilah Takawira, FHI 360 (dtakawira@fhi360.org)

Social and Behaviour Change Technical Advisor

Delilah Takawira is a Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Technical Advisor for Takunda Project in Zimbabwe. She has vast experience in SBC program design, formative research design and implementation, SBC strategy development, implementation and monitoring, and working with stakeholders across sectors. She’s also a Nutritionist with vast experience in Food Systems for Sustainable Healthy Diets, nutrition program design, implementation and monitoring. She has worked for the UN and international organizations. Delilah holds a Masters Degree in Nutrition from Stellenbosch University.

Ms. Emily Bockh

Social and Behaviour Change Professional, FHI 360 (ebockh@fhi360.org)

Emily Bockh is a Social and Behavior Change (SBC) professional with over 18 years of experience managing and implementing SBC and other public health programs. She has specialized experience with institutional and technical capacity strengthening of local institutions and actors to design, implement, and monitor SBC interventions, HIV product introduction, and other health areas. Emily leads and supports teams – international, regional, and country-based – in the design and delivery of capacity and institutional strengthening activities from assessment and implementation of capacity strengthening plans, to evaluating outcomes.

Ms. Kara Tureski

Social and Behaviour Change Professional, FHI 360 (ktureki@fhi360.org)

Kara Tureski, MPH, is a seasoned leader in social and behavior change (SBC) with nearly 25 years of global health experience. She has managed diverse SBC initiatives worldwide, collaborating closely with partners and donors to achieve high-quality outcomes aligned with funding and local priorities. Kara’s expertise includes leading large-scale projects, enhancing SBC capacity and institutional capacities, and designing innovative SBC strategies across a range of health and development sectors. She excels in program management, financial oversight, and building effective partnerships.

Dina Heikal

Social and Behavioral Change Specialist

Dina Heikal is a Social and Behavioral Change Specialist at UNICEF Egypt Country Office and lead on the
National Girls’ empowerment Initiative “Dawwie.’ She has over 19 years of diverse experience in the
field of advocacy, development, strategic communication and gender, inclusion and working previously
with a multitude of partners including development organizations, government and private sector. Dina
has worked on progressive communication strategies for social and behavioral change and was part of
technical teams working on several community based and high level initiatives as well as award-winning
and social campaigns.
Ms. Heikal holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Communication from the University of Leicester UK, and
a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Cairo University in Egypt.

Mwine Bob Wayne

Campaign and Media Management Associate, USAID SBCA, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Mwine Bob Wayne is a development communicator, IT graduate, and social and behavior change practitioner with over 4 years of experience crafting and developing national-level interventions. With a strong passion for storytelling, Mwine excels in innovating SBC strategies that resonate deeply with diverse audiences. Currently serving as the Campaign and Media Management Associate at the USAID Social and Behavior Change Activity Uganda, Mwine is actively involved in strategic planning, execution, and evaluation of multi-channel campaigns aimed at promoting health behaviors and societal change. His expertise in brand design and social marketing continues to inspire action, contributing to measurable impact in public health outcomes. Mwine’s dedication to advancing the field is underscored by his active participation in the African Society for Social and Behavior Change, where he collaborates on initiatives that drive positive change in communities across the continent.

Elizabeth Kemigisha

Knowledge Management Associate, WI-HER. Summit Co-Chair

Kemigisha is a seasoned Communications Expert with experience that spans over 11 years working in various sectors like health, agriculture and energy sectors. She possesses a comprehensive understanding of corporate and development communications and Social and Behavior Change. Through blending theory and practice in her work with communities across Africa, Kemigisha has developed a conviction that complex development challenges can be addressed by local solutions.

Currently, she works at WI-HER as a Knowledge Management Associate. Here, she has mastered the use of people-centered approaches and the Collaboration Learning and Adaptation (CLA) framework and these have worked well for her to advance the organization’s programs.

Previously, she managed PSIU’S key youth interventions in Uganda and had earlier served as a Communications Officer for CGIAR’s (Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centres) International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, where she contributed to climate-smart agricultural research and communications materials, such as the Stepwise Climate Smart Investment Pathways. Additionally, for the Goethe Zentrum, she led and organized over 50 local and national events, including festivals; developed communication and knowledge management products; and conducted numerous capacity-strengthening activities for media personalities, artists, and their managers in Uganda and East Africa.

Elizabeth is a member of the secretariat of the African Society of Social and Behavior Change and her experience is anchored on theoretical training in Public Health (Msc), Mass Communication (BA) and Communication for Behavioural Impact (Cert).

Robby Muhumuza

Board Chair AS-SBC

Robby Muhumuza, the pioneer board chairman of AS-SBC is a senior management and communications consultant based in Kampala. He has a Master of Science from Ohio University in USA and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Uganda Christian University, Mukono.

He has worked in the field of communication and project management with World Vision International. He has also in the past worked as a Communications Consultant with Unicef in Uganda supporting the designing and managing of some of Unicef’s social and behavior change communication projects.

Emmanuel Kayongo

Deputy Chief of Party USAID SBCA, Uganda, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Emmanuel brings 20 years of expertise in social behavior change, management, research, and health systems in Africa. His career is marked by significant contributions to integrated SBC and health systems programs, alongside initiatives in financial inclusion, livelihoods, and agricultural extension. Emmanuel serves as Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID Social Behavior Change Activity in Uganda with the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. He is a founding member of the African Society for Social and Behavior Change (AS-SBC), where he serves on the interim board and volunteers with the secretariat. Additionally, Emmanuel serves as the secretary of the Global Alliance for SBC.

Mrs. Norkor Akua Duah (Mullen Lowe Accra – Ghana)

FHI 360 – Ghana

Mrs. Norkor Akua Duah (Mullen Lowe Accra – Ghana) is a communication specialist with over three decades of experience in Brand Building which is reflected in her role of creating most of Ghana’s successful brands in the Marketing communication field. She is the Managing Director of Mullen Lowe Accra also known as Lintas Ghana Ltd. an Integrated Communications company affiliated to Mullen Lowe Worldwide and Partners. Norkor has developed exceptional qualities in Health Communications and Behavioural Change communications. Her expertise in this arena has seen her champion award-winning Public Sector Health campaigns supported by Development Partners as well as Private Sector initiatives over the years.

Ms. Saba Amdework

Zeleman Communications, Advertising and Production – Ethiopia

Ms. Saba Amdework (Zeleman Communications, Advertising and Production – Ethiopia). is a Public Health Specialist with over 15 years of expertise in designing and implementing community and facility-based public health programs. Her skills encompass program design, capacity building, quality improvement, system strengthening, health communication, and community engagement. She has a proven track record in developing tailored interventions across various areas, including sexual and reproductive health, non-communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS, and water and sanitation. Saba’s holistic approach focuses on empowering communities, enhancing health systems, and promoting sustainable solutions to address the root causes of health challenges, thereby making a meaningful impact on public health outcomes.

Ebenezer Kye-Mensah

FHI 360 – Ghana

Ebenezer Kye-Mensah (FHI 360 – Ghana) is a seasoned Organization Development (OD) and Public Health Practitioner. He has close to 20 years work experience with 12 years of Senior Management roles in the INGO, public and private sector environments. Eben currently works as Organisation Development and Capacity Building Advisor on the USAID Accelerating Social and Behavior Change Activity. He previously worked as a Senior Institutional and Technical Strengthening Advisor on PEPFAR/USAID flagship HIV projects. He leads the joint Capacity Strengthening and Partnership Engagement team of USAID Accelerating Social and Behavior Change Activity in Ghana. His team leads in implementing Ghana Health Service Health Promotion Divisions first-ever Private Sector Engagement Strategy. His expertise covers areas such as Strategy Development, Business Process Review, Business Planning, Organization Diagnosis, Curriculum and Manual Development, ICT4D, Local Economic Development, Performance Management and Participatory Action Media.

Mr. Fekadu Demelash

Fana Broadcasting Corporation – Ethiopia

Mr. Fekadu Demelash (Fana Broadcasting Corporation – Ethiopia) is an experienced professional with over a decade of work experience in economics, marketing, and project management. He holds a Master of Science in Environmental and Natural Resources Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Gondar. Fekadu’s extensive career includes roles in both government and private sectors. He currently serves as a Senior Marketing Expert at Fana Broadcasting Corporate S.C. Previously, he held various positions at Walta Media and Communication Corporate, including Senior Marketing Expert, Head of Procurement and Supply, and Senior Researcher. His key skills include developing marketing and sales strategies, coordinating marketing teams, conducting project proposals, and maintaining client relationships.

Mabel Asafo

Ghana Health Service

Mrs Mabel Kissiwah Asafo is the Acting Director Health Promotion Division. Mabel is a product of Kumasi Nurses Training College (1991, 1995), University of Ghana (2004), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (2008) and more recently, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives where she pursued a specialisation programme in Women’s Health (2018). She was a Midwife clinician, academician and a researcher in women’s health at the Shai-Osudoku District Hospital in the greater Accra region of Ghana from October 2019 to October 2020. Mabel began her career as a Staff Nurse and a Staff Midwife at Bekwai Government Hospital in Ashanti-Ghana and later Tafo Government hospital respectively. In 2004 she joined the National Health Learning Materials Centre of the Human Resources for Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Services situated in Kumasi where she served as a Programmes Officer in charge of health education and promotion, development of the health learning materials. Through this position she developed her skills in writing, proof reading and technical review. Due to her enormous contributions to health promotion, she was assigned the Regional Health Promotion Officer of the Ghana Health Service in Ashanti-Region; a position she occupied from August 2010 to 2015. In the period, she conducted a number of micro and mass media educational programmes through radio, television and faith-based engagements on health problems affecting the populace

Mr. Lesly Marange

Glytime Foods – Zimbabwe

Combine innovation, strategy, and passion for young disruptive entrepreneurship, then you have Lesly Marange. Hailing from the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, a descendant of the Marange chieftainship, Lesly is a 35-year-old Pan-Africanist entrepreneur and an industry thought leader. Established by Lesley in 2018, Glytime Foods is relevant in its time and fast becoming a leader in the food sector through creating non-GMO high-fibre, low-sugar and low-salt products for the international markets. It is brand built to achieve health and wellness in its customers. Lesly holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Strategic Management from the National University of Science and Technology, and a Bachelor of Science Honors Degree in Food Science and Technology from the Chinhoyi University of Technology. Lesly is currently pursuing executive leadership development through the Stanford Graduate School of Business for the Seed Transformation Programme.

Yasmina Zongo

Senior Advocacy Officer

Yasmina Zongo is a 35-year-old Burkinabe living in Burkina Faso. A professional in the field of “Advocacy”, she has almost 9 years of experience in the communication sector for behavior change, influence communication and advocacy. She worked in Burkina Faso and Senegal in the education, maternal health, and sanitation sectors. Also capitalizing on experience in the development of organizational development strategies, the development and conduct of strategies for the adoption of desired practices within communities or the change of policies aimed at improving their well-being constitute his leitmotif.

Currently, she is working as a Senior Advocacy Officer in an international campaigns and advocacy agency.

Francis Mutekanga

Group Head of Strategy, WEKOnnect Group

In his broad role as Group Head of Strategy at WEKOnnect Group, specifically for SBC Francis has led the evolution of WEKOnnect into a specialized SBC Agency. Leveraging over 12 years of multi-disciplinary experience and a background from renowned research and advertising agencies (Kantar, Scanad, MetropolitanRepublic), he leads strategy development and integration of behavioral sciences and other disciplines for effective SBC solutions. He provides technical oversight and capacity building to strengthen WEKOnnect’s SBC pillars: Social Behavior Change Communication, Human Centered Design, Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning, User Experience Research, SBC Needs Diagnosis, and Solutions Implementation. At his core, Francis strives to be an inspiration for people to do the right things and succeed.

Thomas Ofemi

Co-Chair, Evidence2impact Cluster, Global Alliance

Thomas has over 20 years of experience working on SBC projects that have improved health outcomes related to malaria, HIV/AIDS, sexual, reproductive health and family planning (SRH/FP), maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) prevention. He brings expertise in applying user-centred design and behavioural economics approaches to promote the adoption of healthy behaviours and generate the demand for improved service delivery. Thomas also has over five years of experience in strategic and technical program leadership and engagement with government, multilateral agencies, and community/faith-based organisations. He serves as West and Central Africa Lead for the South-South Learning Network for HIV Prevention for Genesis Analytics and leads their behavioral science
and SBC unit.

Thomas has a PhD in Health Education and Promotion, an MPH in Health Promotion, an MSc in Mass Communication, and a BSc in Medical Physiology. Thomas is currently the Co-Chair of the Evidence2impact cluster at the Global Alliance for SBC.

Stephanie Tholand

Treasurer, Global Alliance SBC

Stephanie has served as the Treasurer of the Global Alliance for SBC since 2022. For 12 years, Stephanie led the new business development and strategic expansion efforts for Population Media Center (PMC). PMC is an international SBCC organization specializing in entertainment-education and rigorous impact measurement. Stephanie’s thematic areas of focus include gender equality and norm change, including masculinities. Stephanie holds an MPA from San Francisco State University and is certified in Development Project Management from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

Daudi Ochieng

Founding Member and Board Member African Society for SBC (AS-SBC)

Daudi Ochieng is a visionary marketing and communications expert with over 26 years of pioneering experience across health, governance, environment, education, equality, economic growth, and emergencies. As a founding member and vice president of the African Social Marketing Association, a founding member and board member of the African Society for SBC (AS-SBC), he has significantly shaped social marketing and
behavior change across Africa. He has creatively and collaboratively worked to help communities address issues affecting their well-being. His leadership in launching influential radio stations in Uganda and Rwanda, and his innovative strategies at the Uganda Health Marketing Group and Malaria Consortium Uganda, demonstrate his commitment to impactful communication. With numerous accolades and roles as an SBC Consultant for WHO Afro, the UN, and Roll Back Malaria, Daudi continues to inspire excellence and innovation in SBC practices. Join us at the AS-SBC Summit to learn from his transformative work and collaborative spirit.

Charlotte Lapsansky

SBC Professional

Charlotte Lapsansky is an SBC professional with 20 years’ experience in social and behavior change communication research, design, implementation, and capacity building. She is a Lead Advisor in Save the Children’s Behavior Change and Community Health team and is currently serving as Director for SBC for USAID’s Agency for All project. Before joining SCUS, Charlotte was an SBC specialist for UNICEF HQ, where she led global SBC capacity development strategy and supported SBC initiatives for child protection, with a focus on violence against children, FGM and child marriage. Prior to UNICEF, Charlotte was a Development Communication Specialist at the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines, supporting the integration of social and behavior change in national development projects across Asia. She also lived in India, working and conducting research with local organizations on entertainment education, youth engagement and community empowerment for
prevention of violence against women. Charlotte has a PhD in communication, with a focus on communication for social change.

Debora B. Freitas López

Belinda Kwamboka

Adebayo Fayoyin, PhD

James Lomotey

Dr. Tariku Nigatu

Muthoni Wachira Kantai

Nancy Njoki

Mokshada Jain

Angela Chitsime

Michael Odong

Jessica Phiri

Massimiliano Sani

Ms. SILUE Nonfara Aliatou

Olusina Olusegun OLULANA

Kojo Lokko

Dr. Richard Kabanda

Mrs. Ladidi K. Bako-Aiyegbusi

Emelia Benyiwaa Ainooson

Nicola Christofides

Ms Delilah Takawira

Ms. Emily Bockh

Ms. Kara Tureski

Cecilia (Ukwin) Afo

Dina Heikal

Derrick Gakuu

Dr. Priscilla Madzinga Kusena

Maurice Ocquaye

Valdermiro Bila

Mwine Bob Wayne

Elizabeth Kemigisha

Robby Muhumuza

Emmanuel Kayongo

Brian Mdawida

Deo Agaba

Ismael Nouhou Ousmane

Antje Benton Becker

Gayatri Jayal

Sarah Osman

Oluwaseun Nifemi

Mehdi Snene

Pacifique Liyana Ishimwe

Chris Mahony

Mrs. Norkor Akua Duah

Ms. Saba Amberwork

Ebenezer Kye-Mensah

Fekadu Demelash

Mabel Asafo

Mr. Lesly Marange

Yasmina Zongo

Francis Mutekanga

Thomas Ofemi

Stephanie Tholand

Daudi Ochieng

Charlotte Lapsansky

CONTACT US

Integrated Behavioral Science and Local Knowledge

Community Engagement and Local Narratives

Innovative Financing and Sustainable Partnerships

Digital Transformation and Technological Innovation in SBC

Debora B. Freitas López

Executive director, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Belindar Kwamboka

Comms & Platform Associate, HCD Exchange (JSI)

Adebayo Fayoyin

Social and behavior change expert

James Lomotey

Senior Behavior Change Specialist, USAID Enhancing WASH Activity Ghana (JSI)

Dr. Tariku Nigatu

Deputy Chief of Party, USAID Digital Health Activity - speaker

Muthoni Wachira Kantai

Director, HCD Exchange - moderator

Nancy Njoki

Program Lead, Girl Effect - speaker

Mokshada Jain

Director of Health, Surgo Health - speaker

Angela Chitsime

Senior Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Technical Advisor, Save the Children International, Malawi

Michael Odong

Expert in social behaviour change, risk communication, and community engagement (RCCE)