Breakthrough RESEARCH Nigeria Annual Workplan October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022

The project is a component of the USAID's Global Health Bureau flagship SBC research and evaluation project, Breakthrough RESEARCH (B-R). B-R brings together the expertise of five consortium partners, including Population Council (lead), Tulane University, Avenir Health, ideas42, Population Reference Bureau (PRB), and the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University. The project focuses on a subset of Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria (BA-N) focal states implementing integrated and malaria-only SBC programs, including Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, and will expand to Bauchi State for the Advocacy Core Group (ACG) Model study. The project's overarching objective is to increase the evidence for impact, feasibility, and cost-consequence of SBC interventions, and to promote the use of evidence-based SBC interventions by priority audiences, including BA-N and other implementing partners in Nigeria. To achieve this objective, Breakthrough RESEARCH-Nigeria has two intermediate results: 1) evidence of SBC impact, feasibility, and cost-benefit generated, and 2) evidence packaged and shared with priority audiences at country, regional, and global levels. The project will focus on delivering research products, including study protocols and instruments, data analysis, and research products, through remote preparation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project's research agendas will be developed and disseminated, with priority behavioral research designed and conducted, and rigorous assessments of BA-N integrated programs designed and conducted. The project will also leverage knowledge management and SBC community of practice platforms to disseminate evidence and data for application in programmatic decision making. Breakthrough RESEARCH-Nigeria's objectives directly align with the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy for Nigeria, and the project will continue to seek opportunities for working closely with stakeholders at the federal, state, and local government area levels to review evidence that will inform program and policy development. The targeted beneficiaries of both BA-N and Breakthrough RESEARCH-Nigeria include pregnant women and their partners, women within the first 1,000 days, and men/spouses around specific priority health behaviors. The project will focus on three states where BA-N implements integrated and malaria-only SBC programs, including Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara, and will expand to include Bauchi State for the ACG Model study. The project's research will focus on generating evidence on the impact, feasibility, and cost-consequence of SBC interventions, and promoting the use of evidence-based SBC interventions by priority audiences. The project will also leverage knowledge management and SBC community of practice platforms to disseminate evidence and data for application in programmatic decision making. Breakthrough RESEARCH-Nigeria will continue to monitor Nigeria's COVID-19 situation and work with USAID and Population Council leadership on decisions to advance planned fieldwork and dissemination activities. The project will also continue to seek opportunities for working closely with stakeholders at the federal, state, and local government area levels to review evidence that will inform program and policy development. The project's research will be conducted in collaboration with BA-N and other implementing partners in Nigeria, and will focus on generating evidence on the impact, feasibility, and cost-consequence of SBC interventions. The project will also leverage knowledge management and SBC community of practice platforms to disseminate evidence and data for application in programmatic decision making. Breakthrough RESEARCH-Nigeria's research will contribute to improving the health and development outcomes of women, children, and families in Nigeria, and will inform program and policy development related to the implementation of Nigeria's health sector strategy planning. The project's research will also contribute to the development of strategies to promote the use of evidence-based SBC interventions by priority audiences.