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:

• Dipak Naker, Executive Director of the Coalition for Good Schools
• Gemma Wilson-Clark, Head of Secretariat, Safe to Learn Coalition
• Hope Wambi, Violence Against Children Prevention Coordinator at Raising Voices

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:

• Good Schools Toolkit
• Safe to Learn Coalition
• Coalition for Good Schools
• Raising Voices

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 is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Hidden in Plain Sight, a celebration of the everyday heroes on the frontlines of public health outbreaks, or the first publication, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.

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?

In this episode, we explore the emerging field of behavioural data science: how it reveals patterns, frictions, and hidden levers in datasets that weren’t necessarily collected with human behaviour in mind.

Recorded at the Behavioural Horizons Workshop at UNICEF’s Office of Strategy and Evidence (Innocenti) in Florence, we hear from behavioural scientists, data scientists, and humanitarian practitioners working at the frontier. They share why better data starts with better questions, why context and culture still matter in a world of algorithms, and how behavioural data science can narrow the gap between evidence, decisions, and people’s lived realities. It’s a candid look at the opportunities, risks, and human choices that determine whether behavioural data science can help drive meaningful behaviour change.

You’ll hear from:

• Benjamin Hickler, UNICEF Office of Strategy and Evidence, Innocenti
• Luke Montuori, Senior Psychometrician
• Rebecca Moreno Jimenez, Innovation Team, UNHCR
• Rafael Batista, Princeton University
• Chiara Cappellini, Behavioural Science Group, UAE
• Alexandra DeFilippo, Sistema Futura
• Patrick Forscher, Busara Center for Behavioural Science

Resources:

• Learn more about UNICEF Innocenti (https://www.unicef.org/innocenti/)
• Learn more about UNICEF BIRD Lab (https://www.unicefbirdlab.org/)

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 is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Hidden in Plain Sight, a celebration of the everyday heroes on the frontlines of public health outbreaks, or the first publication, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.

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:

• Sheikh Abdallah Sabila, Imam and advocate from Uganda
• Dr. Nassim Majidi, Director and Co-founder of Samuel Hall, Kenya
• Momat Jallow, SBC Specialist at UNICEF The Gambia
• Hadeer Albo Heae, SBC Manager at UNICEF Iraq

Resources:

• UNICEF Faith Engagement guide on Harmful Practices, developed in collaboration with Religious for Peace and Samuel Hall
• Do you want to learn more on how does Social and Behaviour Change supports interventions in Child Protection? Tune in to our ABCs of SBC podcast’s episode on SBC in Social Norms and Harmful Practices, SBC in Preventing Violence Against Girls, Boys and Women, and SBC in Online Child Protection.

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 is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Hidden in Plain Sight, a celebration of the everyday heroes on the frontlines of public health outbreaks, or the first publication, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.

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:

• Maha Abasher Khalid Osman, SBC Specialist at UNICEF Sudan
• Cristina Stratulat, SBC Officer at UNICEF Moldova
• Abdullah Alshehari, SBC Specialist at UNICEF Yemen

Resources:

• Harnessing community engagement and multisectoral SBC approaches to address vaccine hesitancy in Moldova | UNICEF Moldova
• Home | UNICEF SBC GUIDANCE

Related episodes:

• Episode 5 - SBC in Support of System Strengthening (Apple) (Spotify)
• Episode 11 - Community Delivery Platforms (Apple) (Spotify)

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 is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Hidden in Plain Sight, a celebration of the everyday heroes on the frontlines of public health outbreaks, or the first publication, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.

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:

• Afrooz Kaviani Johnson, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF Headquarters
• Mahwish Saeed Syed, SBC Officer at UNICEF Pakistan
• Saji Thomas, Chief of Child Protection at UNICEF Gulf Area Office

Resources:

• “Digitial Parenting” on the Parent Hub
• Explore how UNICEF is tackling violence and exploitation in the digital environment, including a range of actions for parents, governments and companies to keep children safe online.

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 is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Hidden in Plain Sight, a celebration of the everyday heroes on the frontlines of public health outbreaks, or the first publication, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.

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:

• Afrika Mukaneto, SBC Specialist, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia
• Waqas Shafi, SBC Specialist, UNICEF Pakistan
• Bridget Job Johnson, Chief of SBC, UNICEF Bangladesh

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:

• Community Health and Delivery Partnership website
• Aalo Clinic offsetting the burden of health care costs in the slums of Bangladesh | UNICEF Bangladesh
• Community leaders come forward to protect at-risk families against dengue | UNICEF Bangladesh

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 is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Hidden in Plain Sight, a celebration of the everyday heroes on the frontlines of public health outbreaks, or the first publication, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.

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)

• Vincent Petit, UNICEF SBC Global Lead
• Gaoussou Nabalom, SBC and Risk Communication and Community Engagement Coordinator, UNICEF Burundi
• Norman Muhwezi, former UNICEF OIC Chief of SBC in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Innovation Specialist

Resources

• Risk communication and community engagement for mpox vaccination in eastern DRC
• Mpox, mining, and vulnerabilities of women and children in eastern DRC
• Meeting report: Mpox and discrimination in African settings
• How to achieve and sustain high uptake of mpox vaccination in outbreak settings
• How to Address stigma during mpox response
• Guidance for RCCE practitioners on mpox (ENG and FRA)
• 5 Tips for CHW and Vaccinators (ENG and FRA)

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 is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Hidden in Plain Sight, a celebration of the everyday heroes on the frontlines of public health outbreaks, or the first publication, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.

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)

• Francine Ganter Restrepo, SBC Specialist, Immunisation and Health, UNICEF East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO)
• Heidi Larson, Founder and Director of The Vaccine Confidence Project
• Dr. Saad Omer, Dean, Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health

Resources (in order of mention)

• Global immunization efforts have saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years, UNICEF Armenia
• NYHQ ED Russell World Immunization Week 2024
• 50th Anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization
• Finding the missing link: Improving vaccination coverage in zero dose communities with human-centred design, UNICEF
  • Final Report
  • Executive Summary
• Humanly Possible: Immunization for all, UNICEF
• SBC in Support of System Strengthening

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 is hosted by Qali Id and produced and developed by Helena Ballester Bon in partnership with Common Thread.

Check out UNICEF’s latest publication on Social and Behaviour Change, Hidden in Plain Sight, a celebration of the everyday heroes on the frontlines of public health outbreaks, or the first publication, Why don’t you just behave! For more information about UNICEF SBC, check out the programme guidance.

We care about what you think — you can share your thoughts on the podcast using this feedback form. For all other inquiries, please contact sbc@unicef.org.