Service 03
SBCC Training: Capacity Building & Workshops
Practical SBCC training for teams who design and deliver behavior change programs. We train client teams on SBCC methodology, audience persona building and behavioral messaging, in Nairobi, in-country or online.
At a glance
- What it is
- Training client teams on SBCC methodology, audience persona building, and behavioral messaging.
- How we do it
- Hands-on workshops built around your real programs, not textbook examples. Your team practices on its own challenges, in person or online, as a short session or a longer learning series.
- The client value
- Your people keep the skills after we leave, so every future campaign starts from the audience, not assumptions.
Why invest in SBCC training
Consultants come and go. The behavior change your organization needs usually lasts longer than any single contract. That is why we believe strong SBCC training is one of the best investments a team can make.
When your own staff understand how to diagnose barriers, build audience personas and write behavioral messages, every future campaign starts in a better place. Briefs get sharper. Materials get tested earlier. Results improve.
SBCC capacity building also helps teams speak the same language as donors, government partners and creative agencies, which makes collaboration faster and easier.
What our SBCC training covers
The core of our SBCC training is training client teams on SBCC methodology, audience persona building, and behavioral messaging. Each workshop is tailored, and typically draws on these modules:
SBCC methodology
How to move from a problem to a behavior goal, analyze barriers and drivers, and plan activities using Discover, Design, Deploy, Measure.
Audience persona building
How to turn research into clear audience segments and personas that guide decisions, not just decorate reports.
Behavioral messaging
How to write messages people notice, trust and act on, using EAST and other proven behavioral principles.
Pretesting and feedback
Simple ways to test concepts and materials with real audiences before money is spent on production.
Behavior-based indicators
How to set measures that show whether behavior changed, linking to SBCC monitoring and evaluation.
Facilitation skills
For trainers and supervisors who will cascade the learning to community teams and partners.
How we run SBCC workshops
Hands-on workshops built around your real programs, not textbook examples. Participants bring a live challenge, and we use it throughout the workshop so the learning sticks.
- Short inputs, lots of practice. Brief explanations followed by group work on your own material.
- Local examples. Cases and language that reflect the contexts your team works in, across Africa and beyond.
- Flexible formats. In person or online, as a short session or a longer learning series.
- Take-home tools. Templates, checklists and worksheets your team can reuse.
Many organizations build on free resources such as the SBCC Implementation Kits from Johns Hopkins CCP. Our workshops help teams put that kind of guidance into practice on their own projects.
Who should attend
The best workshops mix roles. When planners, implementers and evaluators learn together, they leave with a shared plan instead of separate to-do lists.
Program managers
Who decide priorities, budgets and partner roles.
Communication teams
Who write messages, brief agencies and manage channels.
M&E staff
Who need indicators that track behavior, not just activity.
Frontline supervisors
Who coach community workers, agents or extension officers.
Government counterparts
Who lead national or county programs and policies.
Business teams
Who want more customers to adopt a product or service.
Group size, language and level are agreed in advance. For larger teams we can run several cohorts or train internal facilitators to cascade the content.
How an SBCC training engagement works
- 01
Learning needs check
We talk to managers and a few participants to understand skills, gaps and goals.
- 02
Tailored design
We shape the agenda around your sector, audience and live programs.
- 03
Delivery
We run the workshop or learning series, in person or online.
- 04
Apply and coach
Optional follow-up coaching helps teams apply new skills on real work.
- 05
Review
We check what participants learned and agree next steps for continued capacity building.
The client value
Your people keep the skills after we leave. Every future campaign starts from the audience, not assumptions, and your organization depends less on outside support over time.
SBCC training also works well alongside our other services. Teams often pair a workshop with a new SBCC strategy or a behavioral audit, so they learn by doing.
Teams also tell us the shared language matters. After a workshop, managers, writers and evaluators can discuss barriers, personas and indicators in the same terms, which makes planning meetings shorter and decisions clearer.
Planning a team workshop? Tell us what your team needs and we'll suggest a format.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who is SBCC training for?
Our SBCC training is designed for program managers, communication officers, M&E staff, frontline supervisors, government teams and business teams who plan or deliver behavior change work. We adjust the depth for beginners or experienced practitioners.
Can SBCC training be delivered online?
Yes. We run SBCC training in person in Nairobi, in-country anywhere we are needed, or online for teams spread across countries and time zones. Online sessions are shorter and more interactive to keep energy up.
How long is a typical workshop?
Formats range from a half-day introduction to a multi-day intensive, or a learning series spread over several weeks with practice between sessions. We recommend a format after understanding your goals and your team's availability.
Do participants work on real projects?
Yes. That is the core of our approach. Participants bring a live program or campaign, and every exercise is applied to it, so the team leaves with practical outputs as well as new skills.
Do you provide certificates?
We can provide certificates of participation for SBCC training workshops. If you need accredited training for a specific body, tell us early and we will discuss what is possible.