Landscape Analysis of Social and Behavior Change in Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Programs

OBJECTIVES: Nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSeA) aims to improve consumption via improved production of and/or access to nutritious foods. Social and behavior change (SBC) has potential to maximize NSeA impacts on diet behaviors, but the design and implementation of SBC within NSeA is heterogeneous and often not documented. The objective of this research is to conduct a landscape analysis of SBC in NSeA programs. METHODS: Thirteen ongoing NSeA programs were enrolled in this landscape analysis. Data were collected in two phases: a desk review of program documents and remote interviews with program staff and stakeholders; and in-person site visits to conduct additional interviews, observe activities, and conduct focus group discussions with community members. Data collection is designed to understand program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of SBC in addition to overall implementation successes, challenges, and learnings. RESULTS: After considerable delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, three of thirteen site visits have been completed. Initial learnings indicate variability both in SBC approaches employed by NSeA programs, and in alignment with SBC best practices. Interpersonal communication is a common approach in NSeA, often in concert with community engagement. Advocacy, while common, is infrequently identified as an SBC approach. We observed audience-focused, participatory participant engagement. Integration within existing systems and structures, often governmental, is common. We have less commonly observed programs that conduct formative research or utilize behavioral theory in intervention design; rather, programs rely heavily on local staff's knowledge of communities and social norms. While many programs aim to engage multiple audiences, there are noted barriers to meaningful engagement with secondary audiences. Lastly, we observe that programs tend to rely on a primary platform or communication channel; additional channels may be present but not emphasized. CONCLUSIONS: Interpersonal communication and community engagement are cornerstones of SBC in NSeA. Alignment with best SBC practices is mixed, with limited strategic SBC design and implementation. A key challenge to this research is the lack of documentation of SBC design and implementation. FUNDING SOURCES: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.