SBCC Training in Francophone West Africa: Overview, Lessons Learned, Challenges and Future Directions

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Abstract

The study explores the SBCC training experience in Francophone West Africa and how training programs have been impacted by major pandemics that this region has experienced, COVID-19 particularly. To stay focused, we have selected Côte d’Ivoire as a case study because it is representative of Francophone African countries which faced political instability, pandemics and epidemics in the past two decades. Data were collected through desk review and interviews with key informants. Taking stock of the past to recent experience, both in long-term and academic training, and on-the-job and short-term training on one hand, and examining the influence of COVID-19 crisis on SBCC training in the country and sub-region on the other hand, lessons learned, and challenges ahead are identified. The paper focuses on multidisciplinary, multisectoral and sub-regional responses, e-learning, and professionalizing SBCC, as future directions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

¹ The 2022 International SBCC Summit (Marrakech, 3–9 December 2022) has raised some questions in this respect: e.g. -What lessons can we draw from the successes and failures in SBCC responses to COVID-19 about what does and doesn’t work in sparking large-scale behavior change? (Source: Themes - International SBCC Summit).

² Until 2002–2003 (beginning of the 8-year military and political crisis) several organizations of regional coverage were based in Abidjan such as: West and Central Africa Regional offices (UNICEFand UNAIDS), and projects (UNFPA IEC training programme, USAID « SFPS » (Family Health and Aids Prevention).

³ Sample of reviewed SBCC training-related documents.

- Mockups/curricula/brochures of four public and private universities and the National health personnel training institute.

- SFPS (1999), Guide du facilitateur: Atelier de développement de stratégie de communication pour un changement de comportement. Côte d’Ivoire. 7–12é June.

- UNFPA/PREFICEP (2003): 5 curricula :(BCC Strategy Development; Planning and management of BCC Projects; Research and Evaluation; Development of Messages and Materials; Interpersonal Communication and Counselling; Population Advocacy.

- SWEDD Project workshops: (i) Contextualizing and aligning national strategies with the SBCC regional strategy; (i) C4D Strategies and techniques.

- JHU/CCP (The Johns Hopkins University Center for Communications Programs). Abidjan. Formation en CCC et en mobilization communautaire contre le VIH/Sida - Emploi du temps.

- JHU/CCP, Relevons le Défi du VIH/SIDA :Leadership et Approches Innovatrices en Communication Stratégique, 19–30 October 2009, Abidjan.

- JHU/CCP and UFHB, Enjeux et Défis en matière de santé publique: Leadership et Approches Innovatrices en Communication Stratégique, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 17–28 October 2016, 6^th edition.

- Ministère de la santé (2007). Guide du formateur sur les « Compétences en communication interpersonnelle dans le domaine de la prise en charge des personnes affectées et infectées par le VIH/sida en Côte d’Ivoire ». Côte d’Ivoire

- Ministère de la Santé et de l’Hygiène Publique, PNPEC et CCP (funded by PEPFAR). Competences en communication interpersonnelle dans le domaine de la prise en charge des personnes affectees et infectees par le VIH/SIDA en Côte d’Ivoire : Guide du formateur. October 2007.

- WHO, Rapport biennal 2020–2021 OMS Côte d’Ivoire. Proncipaus =x résultats. UN biennum marqué par la pandémie d=à la Covid-19, OMS Côte d’Ivoire.

- Google documents 1997–2022, keywords cf. abstract.

⁴ ICPD stands for International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 1994.

⁵ A similar program was based in Nairobi: Regional Population IEC Training Programme for Anglophone Africa countries (1992–1999).

⁶ The Ministry of Health (MoH) provides a significant insight at this level.

(i) IEC was one of the 7 pillars of the first HIV/AIDS Mid-term Plan developed 1989–1993, with a strong component of IEC training (Koné, Agness, 1995: 316–325).

(ii) In 2005, a National HIV/AIDS BCC Strategy, 2005–2008 was developed (Stratégie nationale de communication pour le changement de comportement (CCC) face au VIH/sida). Strengthening CCC skills of service providers (both traditional and modern), community-based organizations and leaders, media professionals and members of the BCC Technical Group (GTCCC, etc).

(iii) In 2014, was developed a National SBCC Strategy for Nutrition (Stratégie Nationale de Communication pour le Changement des Normes Sociales et des Comportements (CCNSC) pour la Promotion de Pratiques Optimales de Nutrition en Côte d’Ivoire)), with also a significant training component (e.g. p 53).

⁷ These institutions are: AED (Academy for Educational Development), Washington, D.C., CEFA/CAFS (Centre for African Family Study), Lomé and four other African academic or professional training institutions in West and Central Africa: the School of Information and Communication Techniques (ESSTIC) of the University of Yaoundé II (Cameroon), CESAG (Dakar); CESPA (Bamako); ENSEA and ISTC (Abidjan).

⁸ The higher education system in Francophone Africa and France (post-secondary school) is structured as follows: Licence (3 years) ; Master (2 years) ; and Doctorat unique (3–4 years). The acronym is « LMD ».

⁹ Examples include training courses organized on behalf of USAID (PEPFAR, AED, JHU/CCP, John Snow, SFPS Project, EngenderHealth/AgirPF, Abt Associates, etc.), WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, etc. National institutions partner as co-trainers or beneficiaries: CERCOM (University of Cocody, Abidjan), AIBEF (Ivorian Family Planning association) and AIMAS (Ivorian social marketing association), the sectoral ministries of health and its numerous programs, women, family and children’s protection, social affairs, youth, agriculture, etc.

The SWEDD Project (Sahel Women Empowerment and Demographic Dividend), supported by UNFPA and the World Bank in nine Francophone West and Central Africa countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger), provides training since 2016 on demographic dividend-related topics and SBCC to various targets.: e.g., SBCC capacity of 40 national institutions of Côte d’Ivoire built in May 2019/

WA BiCC (West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change), in collaboration with two partner organizations, hold (Abidjan, 9–12 July, 2019) a regional training on BCC, advocacy and social media attended by the project directors from 11 countries, 11 countries.

¹⁰ As an example, crisis communication was not included in the first edition of the course titled “Leadership et Approches Innovatrices en Communication Stratégique” (2009), but it was in the 7^th edition one (2018).

¹¹ It should be noted that the master’s in health communication at UFHB (2021) includes a module on crisis communication while the National School of Administration (ENA) offers since 2021 a module addressing crisis communication in hospital or community settings.

¹² Decreasing funding is common to the development sector at the global level. A recent report by IMF (International Monetary Fund) is self-explanatory: IMF. 2023. Regional Economic Outlook. Sub-Saharan Africa The Big Funding Squeeze.

¹³ Local trainers (long-term and short-term) should attend trainings workshop like the one run by the WH0 in November 2020: « 1st WHO Infodemic Manager Training » (1st WHO Infodemic Manager training).

See the Communication for Change (C-Change, 2012) initiative which included partnerships with universities in West and Southern Africa for its valuable contribution to SBCC training in Francophone Africa (e.g. DR Congo: Communication for Change | Globalwaters.org).

¹⁴ It is worth to recall that the design of the degree programs has not been based on the results of a training needs assessment study, except for the Only the Health communication professional program (UFHB).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.