Behavioral Science Champions 7

Cohort 7 of Behavioral Science at the Frontiers of Public Health brought together an exceptional group of public health, social and behavior change, research, communications, and development professionals from across Africa, Asia, and beyond.

Participants brought diverse experiences spanning social and behavior change, global health, health communication, community engagement, monitoring and evaluation, program design, research, and international development. The cohort included both seasoned global experts and emerging leaders, creating a rich environment for peer learning and the exchange of perspectives across countries, disciplines, and professional experiences.

Over six weeks, participants moved beyond behavioral science theory to explore its practical application to real-world challenges. They learned to generate and interpret behavioral insights, apply the Fogg Behavior Model, segment audiences based on motivation and ability, develop behavioral personas, design targeted interventions and prompts, and consider how behavioral interventions can be measured, tested, and continuously improved.

More than completing a course, Cohort 7 became a community of Behavioral Science Champions. They leave the program equipped to ask deeper questions about why people behave as they do and to use evidence, behavioral insights, and human-centered approaches to design more effective public health and development interventions.

The Africa Behavioral Science Network is proud to welcome Cohort 7 into its growing community and looks forward to seeing how they apply behavioral science to improve programs, influence systems, and create meaningful change in the communities they serve.

COHORT 7 PRESENTATIONS

Working in two teams, The Spirited Five and The MAP Masters, participants applied these skills to practical challenges. The Spirited Five explored behavioral approaches to the uptake of long-acting HIV prevention and treatment options among young people, while the MAP Masters applied behavioral science to household plastic waste sorting and recycling in Dzemeni, Ghana.