Behavior Change Communication and Champion Training Report

The training aimed to equip 42 champions and partners' field staff with knowledge on Marine Protected Areas (MPA), facilitation techniques, and Behavior Change Communication (BCC) concepts. The training employed a combination of class, individual or group exercise, simulation, and a site visit to Natsepa beach. The training focused on four key areas: facilitation techniques, MPA concepts, BCC techniques, and social media communication. The facilitation techniques covered roles and responsibilities of a facilitator, facilitating active learning, adult learning experience, and participative learning. The MPA concepts included ecosystem and MPA, fisheries and MPA, tourism and MPA, and law enforcement and MPA. The BCC session aimed to introduce the concept and its techniques to partners, primarily to reinforce their knowledge on the obligation fulfilling USAID SEA Project Performance Indicator Reporting Requirement. RARE shared a concrete practice on the use of BCC to influence community behavior, highlighting the importance of involving all community members, repeated messages to establish positioning, and building and facilitating community ownership. The training also included an advocacy simulation for all champions, which provided new learning for participants and trainers for future BCC interventions. The simulation involved creating advocacy materials and dissemination channels, including posters, events, media, symbols, colors, and taglines. The two taglines developed during the forum were "Lestari Lautku, Banyak Ikanku" (Sustainable our Sea, Abundant our Fish) and "Laut Sehat, Nelayan Kuat, Masyarakat Sejahtera" (Healthy Sea, Strong Fishers, Prosperous People). The training concluded with each champion preparing a six-month work plan focusing on disseminating conservation messages to increase awareness. The training was a collaborative effort between the USAID SEA Project and the Government of Indonesia, with the support of various partners, including WWF, CTC, MDPI, REEF CHECK, UKIP, UNIPA, AP2HI, and CI.