With Cássia Ayres, PhD
The dynamic landscapes of Latin America and the Caribbean present both immense challenges and incredible opportunities for social and behavioral change (SBC). From public health to climate resilience, fostering positive shifts requires more than just good intentions; it demands a deep commitment to capacity strengthening. This isn’t about a one-off training session, but an ongoing journey of learning, liberation, and dialogue that echoes the profound insights of regional thought like Paulo Freire, Augusto Boal, and Orlando Fals Borda.
At its core, SBC, as championed by organizations like UNICEF, recognizes that sustainable change is rooted in understanding and influencing human behavior. However, truly impactful SBC goes beyond technical skill acquisition. As Paulo Freire eloquently articulated, learning is a process of liberation of forms of power imbalances. For communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, this means empowering individuals and groups not just with tools, but with the critical thinking necessary to analyze their own realities, gather and interpret data, and design interventions that truly resonate. Capacity strengthening, in this light, becomes an act of collective emancipation, allowing communities to become active architects of their own destinies rather than passive recipients of external solutions.
Furthermore, authentic capacity strengthening is inherently a process of dialogue and knowledge sharing. It’s about dismantling hierarchical approaches and embracing the rich tapestry of perspectives that define the region. This means actively listening to and integrating Southern perspectives, valuing the ancestral wisdom of indigenous groups, prioritizing gender equality, and respecting the diverse sociocultural nuances and religious beliefs that shape communities. As Fals Borda’s participatory action research demonstrates, true knowledge creation emerges from a collaborative engagement between researchers and communities, where local expertise is valued and integrated. This co-creation of knowledge is vital for crafting SBC strategies that are not only effective but also culturally sensitive and sustainable. Some experiences seem to be inspired by Boal’s “Theatre of the Oppressed,” where audiences become actors and protagonists of their lives, transforming learning into a dynamic, experiential process.
In our experience, these capacity-building processes are also fertile ground for social innovation, leading to the identification of unforeseen opportunities for collaboration and the forging of powerful alliances for SBC. The integration of diverse social actors – from academia to faith-based organizations and governments – within an environment of mutual learning and respect unlocks new possibilities for cooperation. When contextualized and deeply respectful of the myriad of perspectives present, these interactions move beyond mere information exchange; they become catalysts for social change.
In an era of unprecedented social and environmental challenges, resilient communities are those that are well-informed and adaptable. Climate change, pandemics, and social inequalities demand a collective capacity for rapid learning and behavioral adaptation. This is where the synergy between academia, government, and civil society becomes paramount. Strong academic institutions have a crucial role to play in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and social reality. Universities must become vibrant hubs for experimentation, prototyping SBC interventions, and learning in real-time with communities. This shift from insular research to engaged collaboration.
Nicaragua serves as a compelling example of effective collaboration with academic institutions to drive social and behavioral change. The National University of Managua (UNAM), with technical support from UNICEF’s Latin America Regional and Country Offices, adopted the Human-Centered Design methodology to conduct an in-depth assessment of the barriers to full immunization coverage. This initiative enabled the identification of key challenges and led to the provision of more systematic and comprehensive technical support to communities along the Caribbean Coast.
Similarly, governments must evolve into more dynamic and responsive institutions. This necessitates a fundamental shift from top-down directives to genuine listening and adaptive policy-making. Only by truly understanding the needs and aspirations of communities can public policies and strategies effectively guarantee equitable access to essential services like education and healthcare. This collaborative governance, where communities are seen as partners in problem-solving, is central to fostering lasting social and behavioral change.
Peru stands out as another successful example of institutionalizing social and behavior change strategies. The national government, through the Ministries of Public Health, Education, and Development and Social Inclusion, adopted the country’s first institutionalized Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Strategy to combat corporal punishment. This strategy included the integration of SBC indicators into monitoring systems and the allocation of dedicated resources to support its implementation. The initiative was driven by a coordinated effort between UNICEF’s Regional and Country Offices, showcasing the power of joint action in capacity strengthening advancing child protection at the national level.
Therefore, capacity strengthening for SBC in Latin America and the Caribbean it has to be an ongoing, multisectoral endeavor. It’s a continuous commitment to learning, improving partners’ abilities, and dialogue, fostering social innovation and change. By embracing critical thinking, valuing diverse perspectives, facilitating deep cooperation between all social actors through strategic alliances, and ensuring that knowledge leads to action, societies can build more resilient, informed, and empowered, capable of navigating the complexities of our time and shaping a more equitable and sustainable future. Latin America and the Caribbean are a lively prove of it and it is leading the way.
Igniting SOCIAL INNOVATION 