Sabah Hosted the Region’s First Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Symposium

Kota Kinabalu, 18 October 2023 - More than 150 professionals, experts and thought leaders from around the world gathered at Sabah International Convention Centre, here today for the region’s first symposium on the social and behaviour change communication (SBCC).

The first Asia Pacific SBCC Regional Symposium 2023 is co-organised by UNICEF Malaysia and the country’s three leading universities - Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia.

“This Symposium gathers SBCC practitioners to share best practices, explore opportunities, and develop sustainable solutions together with communities. We look forward to deepen our partnership to achieve better results for every child in the region,” said Robert Gass, UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative Brunei Darussalam.

“The solution to many problems children face today have roots in social norms and behaviours. Guided by the mantra ‘Nothing about us, without us’, social and behaviour change strategies have the potential to empower individuals to make choices that protect their rights, develop communities, and promote resilience”, added Robert.

Themed “SBCC in Southeast Asia and South Pacific: Unlocking its Potential for Community Development and Resilience”, the inaugural event was officiated by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir, on behalf of the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Hajiji Hj Noor.  The symposium will end tomorrow.

Throughout the two days, the jam-packed symposium features 17 programmes which include a keynote address, plenary sessions, oral presentations, experiential zones, forums, a sandbox, parallel roundtable sessions and a closing reflection, and 35 esteemed speakers from 7 countries in the region, namely Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and New Zealand.

Among them are Axiata Foundation Chief Executive Officer Mohamad Kamal Nawawi, Institute for Development Studies Sabah Chief Executive Officer Associate Professor Datuk Ts. Dr. Ramzah Dambul and the award-winning TV Journalist and Astro Awani former Editor-in-Chief Kamarul Bahrin Haron.

These distinguished speakers are the panellists for the Plenary Session titled Diverse Voices, Shared Visions: Collaborative Strategies for SBCC, scheduled on the first day of the symposium.

The Asia Pacific SBCC Regional Symposium 2023 aims to unlock the potential for SBCC investment opportunities in the region, and to strengthen the SBCC network with various stakeholders, strategic partners, and key players in the region for sustainable development.

What is SBCC?

SBCC, which is sometimes referred to as “SBC” or Communication for Development (C4D), is an evidence-based strategic process promoting the adoption and maintenance of positive and measurable behaviours and social change in individuals, groups or communities.  Using strategic communication to promote positive social outcomes, SBCC employs a systematic process beginning with formative research and behaviour analysis, followed by communication planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.