Report on a Review of Social and Behavior Change Methods and Approaches within Food for Peace Development Food Security Activities

FANTA works at both the country and global levels, supporting the design and implementation of programs in focus countries and building on field experience to strengthen the evidence base, methods, and global standards for food security and nutrition programming. FANTA is a cooperative agreement funded by USAID, managed by FHI 360. The project's main objective is to provide technical support to USAID and its partners in developing and implementing effective social and behavior change (SBC) methods and approaches within Food for Peace Development Food Security Activities. The project aims to strengthen the capacity of USAID and its partners to design and implement SBC programs that are evidence-based, effective, and sustainable. The report on a review of SBC methods and approaches within Food for Peace Development Food Security Activities was conducted by FANTA in September 2018. The report provides an overview of the current state of SBC practices within Food for Peace Development Food Security Activities, highlighting common strengths and weaknesses, and providing recommendations for improvement. The report highlights the importance of formative research in understanding the situation and context of SBC programs. It also emphasizes the need for a systematic approach to SBC, which includes five steps: understanding the situation/context through formative research, strategic program design, creating tools, materials, and activities, implementing and monitoring, and evaluating and re-planning. The report also reviews the SBC strategies and approaches used by various Development Food Security Activities (DFSAs) reviewed, including formative research, SBC strategy, SBC approaches used and overlooked, materials and tools, quality of interpersonal communications, SBC capacity development systems, and sustainability. The report identifies common strengths and weaknesses among the DFSAs reviewed, including the need for more effective formative research, improved SBC strategies, and enhanced capacity development systems. Based on the review, the report provides recommendations for improvement, including the need for more effective RFAs, applications, and guidance, capacity development, SBC best practices, M&E and learning for SBC in FFP programming, and sustainability. The report also highlights the importance of sustainability in SBC programs, emphasizing the need for long-term support and resources to ensure the continued effectiveness of SBC programs. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of SBC in achieving food security and nutrition outcomes, and the need for continued technical support and capacity development to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of SBC programs.