CAREER GUIDANCE FROM MOSES ODONGO, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN KAMPALA, UGANDA

Follow Moses on twitter [  @mosesodongo ]

1. What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?
I am a social person with a passion for intellectual debates so by default I find myself hanging out with individuals who are capable of sustaining an intellectual discussion. I also appreciate individuals with a good sense of humor.

2. What do you do?
I am P.O. Advocacy at Planned Parenthood Global – Uganda Country Office. I lead country advocacy initiatives, provide technical support to a host of Civil Society Organization partners in advocacy, Behaviour Change Communication, media, campaigns, and policy analysis.

3. Why do you do what you do?
I am passionate about transforming communities through communication. I find it interesting when what I do enables individuals and communities to realize how best they can address social and behavioral barriers to a better life.

4. Is this where you thought you would end up?
I have always been passionate about communication. Initially I envisioned being an international journalist. I am very happy that I did transition to Social and Behaviour Change Communication, I love what I do.

5. What values are you committed to?
Continuous learning, team work and respect.

6. How many hours do you work in a typical week?
I am supposed to work for 30 hours a week but this field knows no official work hours. I some times work 40 hours a week.

7. What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
Attention to detail, ability to learn new things within shortest time possible and first-class decision making and judgment capabilities.

8. Are there any negatives to your job?
Jobs do not have negatives but opportunities for improvements or what needs modification…….. laugh-out-loud if you may! We do not talk of negatives in the development sector.

9. What is the background of most senior-level executives in your SBCC circles?
Communication, social sciences and public health.

10. What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)
It takes time to grow in this field, what you know now is sufficient. Just keep the passion burning and stay FOCUSED.

11. What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?
“Moses, Focus, Focus and Focus” and that was it.

12. If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would work on the low hanging fruits.

13. What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?
Developing that message that will resonate with the target audience ----- it sometimes takes months!

14. What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?
Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) and Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU). I am a member of these associations.

15. What mistakes have you made?
Are there mistakes in communications? Let’s call it what I did not get right. I once ended one of the campaigns half-way when M&E data showed we were 100% off-track. We got feedback that made me rescind the decision and it turned out to be a success.

16. What one thing do you still struggle with?
Even with years of experience it’s still a challenge to develop a budget that is fit-for-purpose especially with limits on unforeseen lines.

17. What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?
Respect and ability and willingness to learn.

18. What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to horn?
I think one just needs to be focused and be willing to learn. A know-it-all attitude has no room in SBCC.

19. Considering all the people you have met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?
Ability to continuously learn new things.

20. What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?
Know what you want and stay focused.

21. What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
Lives of newborns and mothers saved through EVERYONE Campaign -- I played an instrumental role in its implementation in Uganda. EVERYONE is Save the Children’s biggest global campaign.

22. What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?
Technology – it changes how everything happens and affects every field.

23. Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential?
Theory at a Glance - A Guide for Health Promotion and Practice, authored by National Cancer Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH.

24. As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?
The power of engaging communities -- I have seen communities get empowered and utilizing the knowledge to address issues they are faced with.

25. Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?
Dr. Espilidion Tumukurate - Uganda Health Marketing Group
END//

MAULID MSHAHAME JOINS SBCCA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AS HEAD OF STRATEGIC GROWTH

This announcement is made by the founding members of Social and Behaviour Change Communication Strategies for Africa (SBCCA):

1. Segun Sangowawa
2. Ronnie Scott
3. Joseph Waninda
4. Mary-Sanyu Osire

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

We are very pleased to announce that MAULID HAMIS MSHAHAME joins Social and Behaviour Change Communication Strategies for Africa (SBCCA) as the Head of Strategic Growth. He was inducted on 1 November 2015.

Maulid is the project coordinator at Kishoka Youth Organization, and also a professional thespian. He is intrigued by the intersection between social and behaviour change communication and participatory interactive media. Maulid makes his home in Mombasa, Kenya and can be reached at [ mmushahame@gmail.com ] .

To help you recognize Maulid, we have placed his photo below:

END//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM JOSE MORIANO, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN QUITO, ECUADOR

Follow Jose on Twitter: [ @josemoriano_ ] 

1) What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?
Be a team player. Ready to accept new challenges and, of course, creative and funny.

2) What do you do?
I'm a senior communication officer devoted to design communication strategies for social protection programmes in developing countries (mainly Americas, Africa and Middle East).

3) Why do you do what you do?
Because I believe Communication is Aid. I think in communication as a weapon of change to achieve equality and end poverty.

4) Is this where you thought you would end up?
I began my career as a creative in advertising and mass media companies. After some years doing "black hat" communication" I decided to join the "good boys" side and work in non-profit organizations. I'm happy knowing that my work really helps people improve their lives.

5) What values are you committed to?
Equality. I think this is the most important for me. Education is also one of my priorities. I like developing communication strategies based on education goals.

6) How many hours do you work in a typical week?
About 40 hours. I spend 20% of my time on monitoring and assessment of running projects. Another 20% goes in following the implementation of projects and 60% is devoted on designing new ones. When i'm in the field, a typical work day has 12 or more hours.

7) What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?
I think my job is pretty multitask. You should be a good listener and be prepared to learn from everyone involved in the project, the beneficiaries, the client and of course, your local counterpart. You should be able to invest in researching and defining good strategy basis and to brief them for every stakeholder involved in the program. Being creative, choosing messages, channels and being rigorous on monitoring the results is a must. You should not afraid to change the way you formerly defined your strategy if it's necessary.

8) Are there any negatives to your job?
You have to deal with politicians. That can be tough sometimes.

9) What is the background of most senior-level executives in your SBCC circles?
Marketeers, journalists, advertising creatives, communication specialists. I think a good SBCC specialist is a mix of all of these profiles.

10) What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)
When starting you have to deal with new communication channels. It's frightening but very exciting. Your first Crisis Communication Plan can be so challenging. The first time you develop an SBCC strategy for a large programme keeps you awake at nights fighting with a lot of doubts. I believe in "controlled risks" in the way that if the roots of your strategy are well planned you can deal with little mistakes. When you're a newbie you have no experience so you have to commit the same mistakes that the seniors had made.

11) What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?
Two ears. One mouth. Be sure you have all available information from all possible sources before you design and communicate the message.

12) If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Who knows? You have to do what you love. I don't regret anything.

13) What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?Possibilities, Variations, Casuistics. What if they don't understand the message? What if this is not the right channel? What if they need a influencer person who can communicate the message in a better way? To Arrive the most in need has to be our main concern.

14) What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?
C4D Network and local Communication Associations from my birth country, Spain.

15) What mistakes have you made?
I make mistakes everyday. I try to avoid the big ones, but I always keep in mind that mistakes are opportunities to learn.

16) What one thing do you still struggle with?
Dealing with governments and politicians is sometimes hard. They approach the problems in a very different way as us do.

17) What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?
I like open-mind people who can drop off an established script if the situation changes. I definitely like to work with funny and creative people no matter their work field.

18) What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to horn?

i. Learn as much as you can of your targeted public: Eat with them, talk with them, sleep in their homes if you can.

ii. Listen to everybody and interpret correctly not what they're saying, but what they're thinking.

iii. Be creative choosing communication channels: Write songs, design puppet shows, create clown spectacles if necessary to let your message arrive to targeted public.

iv. Invest time in researching: Not only demographics, but cultural and popular data.

v. Be aware of the best moments to disseminate your message: Create an event calendar depending on the best moments to communicate.

vi. Be sure staff knows the message and they are correctly using it. Talk to them to know their feedback.

vii. Assessment is crucial. That's the way we learn new lessons from ended projects.

19) What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?
Love what you do. If you don't believe in it, nobody's gonna do it. Have fun. The rest is a matter of time and experience.

20) What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?
After a huge cyclone which devastated the city I was working in, seeing the children enrolling in school again because of our job. These smiles will be always in my heart.

21) What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?
Communication channels are always changing and so does the way we use them. Investing time in learning is mandatory for us. Big Data is changing communications as we knew it and I think we have to stay tuned to this new field of opportunities.

 22) Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential?
I like the classics, If I have to choose only one, I will recommend Papakek's "Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change" http://www.amazon.com/Design-Real-World-Ecology-Social/dp/0897331532

23) As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?
I'm really interested in Human Centered Design for Development. They way we can use new technologies in developing countries to improve people's life is a very interesting subject.

24) Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?
I like the guys on "Marketing Del Bueno", a spanish Marketing for Change Studio (https://twitter.com/MarketingBueno)

25) What's the most valuable question we should ask the next SBCC maven who is interviewed on this blog?
Do you think your job will be necesary within 100 years?

 End//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM ROBYN KALDA, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN TORONTO, CANADA

Email Robyn at  r.kalda@healthnexus.ca
 

1. What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?

I’m an introvert so I look for people who like to talk but who also don’t mind being quiet.

 

2. What do you do?

I’m a technology specialist in health promotion, so I spend time looking at ways we can use, share, and store health promotion information and get it into the hands of the right people at the right time, and I also spend time following what’s happening in the world of technology and helping interpret that for health promoters. I do a fair bit of social network mapping and analysis, and I also coordinate our weekly news bulletin.

 

3. Why do you do what you do?

Health promotion looks at the causes of the causes – working at the level of the social determinants of health could accomplish such enormous changes in society, and I like to support that work.

 

4. Is this where you thought you would end up?

I had no idea where I’d end up! My undergraduate degree is in Zoology and Human Biology and my Master’s is in Environmental Studies, which sounds odd. But I learned algorhythmic thinking from my first degree and thinking from many perspectives from my second, so actually it all gets used.

 

5. How many hours do you work in a typical week?

35 hours. I try not to work overtime.

 

6. What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?

Communication, flexibility, various and fairly random technical bits and pieces.

 

7. What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)

How long behaviour change efforts can take. Sometimes it’s a slow process. On the other hand, after, say, 30 years of tobacco-control efforts, things seem to be snowballing, so perhaps it’s a matter of being patient until the tipping point is reached.

 

8. What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?

I’m a huge fan of “pilot projects” in which you go ahead and try something without dotting all the I’s and crossing all the t’s first. It lets you suss out quickly whether something is likely a “go” or “no-go” – then you can either abandon it easily or carry on with the i-dotting and t-crossing.

 

9. What one thing do you still struggle with?

My French! Anyone outside North America will laugh, I’m sure, at the thought of anyone only speaking one language decently. I’m working on improving my French.

 

10. What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?

An ability to stay calm and reprioritize things on the fly.

 

11. What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to horn?

1. Listening. So often we formulate an answer to someone while they’re still talking instead of deep listening.
2. Fearlessness about technology. You don’t have to know everything, but you have to be comfortable tinkering.
3. Along similar lines, a spirit of experimentation and of learning as you go. Try stuff! If it doesn’t work, figure out what you learned and try something else!
4. Basic HTML, of course, because it makes so many other things easier.
5. Development of a broad information scan, probably using a good RSS reader with a nice variety of sources on various technology issues and other issues of topical or local interest.
6. How to think from someone else’s perspective. 

12. What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?

Look for opportunities to do things that make you uncomfortable. You’ll learn things, you might be good at whatever it is, and you never know where it will lead!

 

13. Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential?

One quite recent read that I liked and reviewed:

 http://en.healthnexus.ca/news/book-review-connecting-change-world-harnessing-power-networks-social-impact-peter-plastrik

14. As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?
I’m an environmentalist at heart, so it would be on that. Without a healthy planet, we can’t be healthy either.

END/

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM MONICA CURCA, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN LOS ANGELES, USA

Follow Monica on Twitter: [ @MonicaCurcaPAX ]

1. What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?

 I look for someone with passion, curiosity and open mindedness. 

 

2. What do you do?

I am a peace-builder and communications specialist. I am currently working as the Communications Manager and Restorative Justice Community Organizer for a local community-based NGO, in addition I am a consultant for peace-building and social impact organizations helping them with strategic communications, experiential learning and peace-building.

3. Why do you do what you do?

I have a passion to help tell the story of those that have not been heard, I want to augment and amplify those voices. Mostly I do the work I do to shift the dominant narrative towards peace.  

4. Is this where you thought you would end up?

I take everyday as it comes - more recently I have been envisioning where I want to “end up” I think it's better to prepare yourself and make yourself available but always be ready for what might be.  

5. What values are you committed to?

I am committed to community, peace, justice, compassion

 

6. How many hours do you work in a typical week?

50-60 hours

 

7. What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?

Technical: Design, media strategy, writing, editing photography among others. 

8. Are there any negatives to your job?

If you want to go far ahead of the people you serve you might lose them. Innovation is great but not everyone is there yet. 

9. What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)

That you need to bring SBCC into every space. It's an organizing and strategic planning model as much as it is a communications strategy. It is useful in all areas. 

10. What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?

"If you wanted applause you should have joined the circus"… it keeps you grounded

 

11. If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Every experience makes us who we are.  I would however worked harder to remember that I have something valuable to contribute and advocate for myself even when it felt like the tide was against me. 

12. What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?

The big issues and problems that we can solve. 

13. What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?

I focus on SBCC for Peace and International Development and thus I am connected with peacebuilder organizations like the Alliance for Peacebuilding. However, I found WACC to have great information. I am also part of social marketing associations.

 

14. What mistakes have you made?

I let others define who I was.

 

15. What one thing do you still struggle with?

The saying “the first revolution is internal” is very relevant. We must first strive to transform ourselves and our outlook before and during this type of work … sometimes I fail at this. 

16. What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?

Humble leadership, I respect people who keep their eye on the prize and are not easily bought and sold. 

 

17. What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to horn?

•  Analysis,
• Asking the right questions,
• Research and understanding context,
• Strategic priority,
• Excavating positive deviance,
• Collaboration,
• Having a clear vision of the outcome and working to get there.

18. Considering all the people you have met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?
Kindness and perseverance -- as they say, people may not remember what you did for them, but they will remember how you made them feel.

 

19. What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?

Don't give up.

20. What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?

 I have rediscovered my calling and vision for my work … this positive energy has propelled me into some great successes. Myself along with coalition partners across California just won a bill that became a Law which requires police to document who they stop. This law will curb racial profiling. This sort of ecological model systems change required all sorts of behavioral change, attitude change and shifting of beliefs as knowledge increased. It was a great accomplishment for us as it will literally affect millions of people and curb racial profiling by law enforcement for communities of color in California. 

21. What developments in the horizon could affect future career opportunities in this field?

We need to find ways to include and enhance SBCC into every field. 

 

 END//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM MICHAEL D'ANTUONO, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN NEW YORK, USA

Follow Michael on Twitter: [ @ArtAndResponse ]

1. What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?
 
Integrity and a good sense of humor.

2. What do you do?

I make paintings that challenge people to think more objectively about socio-political issues.

3. Why do you do what you do?

As an ex-adman, I recognize how the masses have been manipulated to misplace blame and vote against their own best interests by being bombarded with a lot of misinformation. I use my artistic talents to spur discourse and inspire a people to question the messages they are sold.

4. Is this where you thought you would end up?

I had no idea, and that’s what makes it exciting.

5. What values are you committed to?

I’ve always been a bit obsessive about justice. I have zero tolerance for hypocrisy and excessive greed.

6. How many hours do you work in a typical week?

I never have the time to count them.

7. What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?

As an artist, my required skill is to visually communicate my message. The other skills are to be able to get my message seen by as many people as possible through promotion.

8. Are there any negatives to your job?

The pay is not very good.

9. If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I would have started a few years earlier. I began this career at 53.

10. What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?
Thinking about all the things they want to accomplish tomorrow.

11. What professional organizations are you associated with, and in what ways?

My work is controversial, so even though they privately praise me, large organizations are generally too afraid to associate themselves with me in fear of offending potential donors. The California Endowment’s Son’s & Brothers were brave enough to sponsor some stickers of one of my paintings.

12. What mistakes have you made?

Waiting too long for people to live up to their commitments. Although you can generally accomplish more with the help of others, in my experience, it’s been more expedient to take control myself rather than wait for help that doesn’t come.

13. What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?

Integrity. It doesn’t matter how intelligent or talented a person is if their heart isn’t in the right place.

14. Considering all the people you have met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?

Perseverance. There is no substitute.

15. What's the best advice you can give to help plan a career rather than simply work to keep a job?

Envision a long term plan with specific goals and then be flexible enough to deviate from that plan.

16. What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?

I am fortunate that some of my paintings have received enough attention to direct the conversation on institutional racism and other issues. Art can’t change the world, but it can spark discourse, and that can be the start of positive change.

17. As a communicator, if you could write a book on a social issue; what would it be and why?

I’m currently writing a children’s book based on my video, “Dear Mr. 1%” about corporate greed. [ Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYtJW0J7rNM ] Whatever the issue, it’s best to instill information to the young in an entertaining way if possible, for that will be engrained in their hearts and minds for years to come.

18. Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?

If you had contacted me a couple of years earlier, I would have referred you to my old friend, Pete Seeger. Short of Nelson Mandela, there never was a more dedicated SBCC maven in our lifetime. I recommend you research him.

19. What's the most valuable question we should ask the next SBCC maven who is interviewed on this blog?

Maybe, “What has your experience in SBCC taught you?”

 END//

CAREER GUIDANCE FROM TOSIN AKIBU, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE COMMUNICATION PRACTITIONER BASED IN ABUJA, NIGERIA



Follow Toskin on Twitter: [ @2weta ]

 
1. What qualities do you look for in the people you hang out with?

I realised over time that I am the average of the five people I hang out with. So outside of my colleagues at work (when time permits) I hang out with people who push me to be a better me, who challenge me to my elastic limit while expanding my capabilities.

2. What do you do?

I communicate behaviour change while mainstreaming gender. I am a social and behaviour change communication specialist who picked up gender programming along the way and merged both together.

3. Why do you do what you do?

Communication is life. Equity makes life easy. So working to achieve both gives me boundless joy and satisfaction.

4. Is this where you thought you would end up?

Ending up sounds fatalistic to me. I chose this path because it translates to being paid for loving your job.

5. What values are you committed to?

Resilience, determination, impossible does not exist.

6. How many hours do you work in a typical week?

None! Except when I am not working which amounts to the rest of the week. Ok on a serious note, 40 hours a week minus overtime.

7. What skills are required in your position on a day-to-day basis?

Deftness, open mindedness, positivity, probing mind, keen eyes, wicked sense of humour.

8. Are there any negatives to your job?

Communication being interpreted as information dissemination only.

9. What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: Entry-level SBCC practitioners)

The tipping point of change is the most critical point of behaviour change and is the fulcrum of your work. Never overlook or ignore it.

10. What is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received -- and used or implemented?

When you get your participants right and you involve them every step of the way, everything else is settled.

11. If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?

Nothing… everything that happened were ingredients required to make this broth called “experience”.

12. What should keep entry-level SBCC enthusiasts up at night?

How do I use communication to make smokers stop smoking!

13. What one thing do you still struggle with?
To see people adopt the desired change in behaviour now…as in now.

14. What traits impress you the most in a working professional, irrespective of their area of expertise?
Dedication.

 

15. What are the top 7 technical skills that entry-level SBCC enthusiasts should strive to horn?

1. Be sensitive to the dynamics of your context.
2. Never assume you know the situation, nothing is ever as it seems.
3. Be open minded… non –verbal communication is also communication and might be used as a BCC material someday.
4. Audience segmentation is everything. 
5. Don’t stop asking ‘why’, ‘why’, ‘why’.
6. Listen to the participants, listen, listen.
7. A communication strategy only becomes one when you understand the situation, segment your audience, focus and design, create, monitor and evaluate.

16. Considering all the people you have met in your line of work, what personal attributes are essential for success?

 

Passion!

 

17. What has been your most rewarding accomplishment?

 

 That moment when you get feedback from the participants on how your intervention helped them make informed and sustainable decisions.

 

18. Which other SBCC maven would you recommend for this interview?

 

Auwal Kawu

 

END//