In a landmark initiative aimed at transforming child-focused development across Eastern and Southern Africa, UNICEF has partnered with 24 universities from 16 countries to establish the Academia for Social and Behavioural Change Network (ASBCN). The initiative, launched at a high-level signing ceremony in Nairobi, seeks to integrate social and behavioural sciences into academic systems and policymaking to drive meaningful change in the lives of children.
Described as a first-of-its-kind collaboration in the region, the ASBCN will empower African academic institutions to become engines of localised, evidence-driven development. The network will focus on shaping public health, education, and child protection responses by grounding them in contextual research and human behaviour insights.
“This is not just a partnership on paper,” said Alison Parker, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. “It is a movement rooted in evidence, powered by community engagement, and committed to transforming the lives of children.”
Key member institutions include the University of Nairobi, Makerere University, University of Zambia, and University of the Witwatersrand, among others. These universities will collaborate on:
-
Rigorous regional research
-
Development of academic curricula
-
Creation of professional certification programs
-
Establishment of Centres of Excellence in Social and Behavioural Change (SBC)
The initiative is structured around four strategic pillars: capacity building, evidence generation, policy influence, and network development. Plans include an annual symposium, flagship publications, and professional accreditation pathways.
Professor Ruksana Osman, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at WITS, emphasised the network’s importance: “This initiative creates a bridge between theory and the pressing needs of African children.”
Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, highlighted the impact potential: “This partnership allows us to translate academic knowledge into practical solutions tailored to our communities.”
Aligned with the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and Agenda 2063, the ASBCN strengthens UNICEF’s long-standing commitment to social and behavioural change by ensuring that African expertise and lived realities shape the policies and programs that impact the continent’s children.
“This is how we move from survival to thriving,” Parker concluded, “by building systems that are informed, inclusive, and locally led.”
Article by RB Reporter
Photo/Google
Comment