USAID invested in two separate but linked mechanisms as its flagship social and behavior change (SBC) programs: Breakthrough RESEARCH (BR) and Breakthrough ACTION (BA), with the shared strategic objective of increased integration of proven SBC interventions in health and development programs. Because BR and BA are closely related but have experienced distinct successes and challenges, USAID contracted a single evaluation team to conduct separate evaluations of the projects, thereby measuring individual performance while also exploring relational factors. This report focuses on the successes, challenges, and recommendations for BA.
An 11-person evaluation team, including members based in the United States, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Nigeria, conducted the mid-term evaluation between November 2020 and May 2021. The evaluation team interviewed 152 individuals using a semi-structured interview guide, reviewed program documents, and synthesized the data to answer the four evaluation questions.
Working in more than 35 countries, BA has expanded the reach and breadth of SBC work, both in terms of the approaches used and the health issues addressed. BA has helped USAID missions achieve their desired objectives in SBC across a wide range of health areas, including a rapid response to COVID-19, and implementation of integrated, cross-sector activities. Key informants spoke highly of human-centered design and behavioral economics as innovative approaches that lead to stronger program design as well as capacity building of partners, and that are worth the time they require for the results they achieve. The success of capacity strengthening efforts has varied, with key informants seeing the need for a more strategic approach. BA has greatly elevated the understanding and support for SBC programming at the USAID mission, host country government, and regional levels. Looking forward, it will be important for BA to share key lessons, work with BR to synthesize research findings and lessons into practical programmatic guidance, and support USAID in sharing these lessons among missions
