Faith-based – Page 2

New UNICEF ‘Faith for Social and Behaviour Change’ Initiative

August 14, 2018

The Communication for Development Section of Programme and Civil Society Partnerships section of UNICEF’s Division of Communication have agreed to collaborate on a Faith for Social and Behaviour Change initiative around a set of strategic activities over the two year period 2018-2019, towards strengthening UNICEF’s partnership with Faith Based Organizations in support of results for children globally.

The purpose of the initiative is to support more focused, systematic and at-scale engagement with Faith-Based communities and actors to influence positive social and behaviour change towards improving lives of children, youth, women and families, particularly the most marginalized.

Background: In 2017, along with the Child Protection Section, C4DHQ collaborated with the African Union in producing an “Introductory Guide for Faith Based Organizations on Addressing Harmful Social Norms” which was used as part of training workshop material for a continent-wide FBO workshop for religious leaders across Africa in combatting Child Marriage. This initiative was a preliminary response to the identified need that greater technical guidance needs to be provided to FBOs if they are to facilitate dialogue in support of social and behaviour change related to the priority areas of UNICEF’s work.

To date, the depth of the potential for working with FBOs has for the most part not been fully tapped as strategies of engagement have generally not taken a systems approach to working with FBOs. Partnerships have largely been developed by single sectors around specific activities in project mode versus a more overarching programming framework tied to country programme priorities. UNICEF’s C4D Section has acknowledged that as the leading development organization on children, addressing a full range of multi-sectoral issues across both development and humanitarian agendas, a more comprehensive national and community engagement framework with FBOs is required to advance this work.

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SBCC I-Kit to support faith-based organisation led breastfeeding interventions (The Health Communication Capacity Collaborative 2014)

July 31, 2016

The Supporting Breastfeeding Interventions for Faith-Based Organizations Implementation Kit (I-Kit) provides SBCC practitioners with straightforward guidance and interactive tools to assist in developing breastfeeding SBCC programs. While this I-Kit was designed with FBOs in mind, any type of organization seeking to improve breastfeeding practices can use it.

Click here for full kit.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and early initiation: target groups and influential messages (ORIE Research Summary 2016)

July 31, 2016

This briefing outlines findings from operations research on exclusive breastfeeding and early initiation – such as engaging with senior religious leaders, and identify Qu’ranic teachings that support EBF. The study supports refinement of the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) strategy implemented by the Working to Improve Nutrition in Northern Nigeria (WINNN) programme.

Summary of key recommendations:

Strengthen messages on the water content in breastmilk.
Integrate the showcasing of healthy EBF babies into IYCF advocacy.
Increase the targeting of men and develop specific IEC materials for this.
Engage with senior religious leaders, and identify Qu’ranic teachings that support EBF.
Develop an advocacy approach for older women, including songs and participatory approaches
Provide practical support on breastfeeding within mothers’ support groups.
Further research to develop a Hausa term for EBF that better encapsulates the full meaning.
Consider the need to develop a Hausa term for ‘late EBF’
Clarify that EBF is not dependent on the mother’s consumption of the recommended foods.

Click here to view briefing.

Instaurer la confiance en la vaccination : Créer un partenariat avec les autorités et associations religieuses (UNICEF 2004)

October 28, 2015

Les autorités religieuses, très influentes au niveau des communautés, ont un rôle capital à jouer dans la couverture vaccinale, en particulier parce qu’elles peuvent apporter leur appui aux programmes de vaccination. Conçu à l’intention des chargés de communication, des responsables des programmes et de leurs partenaires dans le secteur de la vaccination, cet ouvrage présente les grands principes directeurs de la création d’alliances avec les chefs et groupes religieux sur les questions de vaccination. Il donne également des conseils sur les mesures à prendre lorsque les programmes de vaccination se heurtent à une certaine résistance et il présente des succès enregistrés dans trois pays (Sierra Leone, Angola et Inde)

Building Trust in Immunization: Partnering with Religious Leaders and Groups (UNICEF 2004)

October 28, 2015

The guidelines presented in this workbook were created for communication and programme officers and their immunization partners seeking to develop and maintain strong working relationships with religious leaders and groups. They also suggest what actions might be taken when a religious leader or group organizes resistance to immunization. While the guidelines provide an overall framework, they do not offer specific health messages based on religious texts.

The guidelines also suggest ways to reinforce a group’s own organizational structure so that leaders and their followers stay actively engaged in supporting immunization and other health programmes. Three case studies illustrate how alliances were built in Sierra Leone, Angola and India to overcome resistance against routine immunization and polio eradication. The studies are intended to illustrate processes that have worked, rather than models to follow when working with religious groups.

Instaurer la confiance en la vaccination : Créer un partenariat avec les autorités et associations religieuses (UNICEF 2004)

Building Trust in Immunization: Partnering with Religious Leaders and Groups (UNICEF 2004)

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