Year 4 Semi-Annual Report October 1, 2015 – March 31, 2016

HC3 is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented by a consortium of organizations, including Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, FHI 360, and others. HC3's main purpose is to improve health outcomes by promoting social and behavior change communication (SBCC) in developing countries. The program focuses on a range of health issues, including family planning, reproductive health, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. HC3 works with local organizations, governments, and communities to develop and implement effective SBCC strategies that address the specific health needs of each country. One of HC3's key activities is the development and dissemination of SBCC tools and resources, including the Demand Generation Implementation Kit (DG I-Kit) and the SSFFC I-Kit. These tools are designed to help local organizations and governments develop effective SBCC strategies and promote the use of evidence-based health communication practices. HC3 also provides technical assistance and capacity strengthening to local organizations and governments to help them develop and implement effective SBCC programs. The program works with a range of stakeholders, including government officials, health workers, community leaders, and civil society organizations, to promote the use of SBCC in developing countries. In addition to its work in developing countries, HC3 also conducts research and evaluation to identify best practices in SBCC and to assess the impact of SBCC programs on health outcomes. The program has published a number of reports and articles on SBCC and has presented its findings at international conferences. HC3's work is guided by a number of key principles, including the importance of community engagement and participation, the need for evidence-based health communication practices, and the importance of building the capacity of local organizations and governments to develop and implement effective SBCC programs. In the context of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, HC3 played a key role in supporting the response efforts by providing technical assistance and capacity strengthening to local organizations and governments. The program worked with a range of stakeholders to develop and implement effective SBCC strategies to promote the use of Ebola prevention and treatment services. Overall, HC3's work is focused on promoting social and behavior change communication in developing countries to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of infectious diseases. The program's work is guided by a commitment to evidence-based health communication practices, community engagement and participation, and capacity strengthening for local organizations and governments.