Deadline: 09-Feb-2026
UNICEF is inviting applications to strengthen community resilience in Mali by improving equitable, inclusive, and gender-sensitive access to basic social services through Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBC). The initiative targets crisis-affected regions and focuses on removing social and gender barriers, promoting positive behaviors, and reinforcing community engagement to improve health, nutrition, education, child protection, and social cohesion.
UNICEF Initiative to Strengthen Community Resilience in Mali
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is implementing an initiative to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations in Mali amid persistent climatic, food, nutritional, security, and socio-economic crises. The program uses Social and Behavior Change Communication as a core strategy to improve access to essential social services.
The initiative prioritizes inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches that enable communities to overcome barriers preventing the effective use of health, nutrition, education, and protection services.
Context and Geographic Focus
The project focuses on the Gao, Timbuktu, and Mopti regions, where overlapping humanitarian and development crises have severely limited access to basic social services. Deeply rooted social norms, gender inequalities, insecurity, and displacement disproportionately affect women, girls, adolescents, young people, and persons with disabilities.
These challenges reduce the ability of households and communities to adopt behaviors that support well-being, protection, and social cohesion.
Role of Social and Behavior Change Communication
Social and Behavior Change Communication is applied as a cross-sectoral approach to address both demand-side and normative barriers to social service utilization. SBC interventions aim to influence knowledge, attitudes, and practices at individual, household, and community levels.
Key SBC focus areas include:
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Removal of social, cultural, normative, and gender barriers
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Promotion of positive behaviors related to health, nutrition, education, and child protection
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Strengthening social cohesion and community dialogue
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Risk communication and crisis preparedness
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Accountability to affected populations
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Documentation and scaling of effective SBC practices
Link to the Sahel Partnership for Resilience
This initiative operates within the Sahel Partnership for Resilience program, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ, UNICEF, and WFP. It contributes to Outcome 3 of the program, which focuses on strengthening community resilience.
SBC plays a central role by addressing barriers that limit both access to and effective use of essential social services through participatory and community-driven approaches.
Community Engagement and Accountability
The project emphasizes strong community engagement through listening, dialogue, and accountability mechanisms. These approaches ensure that affected populations actively participate in shaping, owning, and sustaining social services.
Core engagement mechanisms include:
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Community consultations and dialogue platforms
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Feedback and accountability systems
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Inclusive participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups
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Social mobilization through trusted community actors
Support to Households and Local Structures
Households benefiting from cash transfers and social protection programs are supported through tailored SBC activities. These interventions enhance their capacity to adopt behaviors that improve child well-being, nutrition, health, and protection outcomes.
At the same time, community platforms and local governance structures receive:
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Technical and operational support
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Mentoring for multi-sectoral engagement
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Capacity building for inclusive and sustainable service delivery
Who Is Eligible to Participate
Eligible implementing partners typically include:
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National and local civil society organizations
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Community-based organizations
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NGOs with experience in SBC, resilience, or social services
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Organizations operating in Gao, Timbuktu, or Mopti regions
Applicants must demonstrate experience in community engagement, gender-sensitive programming, and multi-sectoral coordination.
Why This Initiative Matters
This initiative matters because it:
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Addresses root causes of vulnerability beyond service availability
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Reduces gender and social inequalities in access to services
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Strengthens resilience in crisis-affected communities
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Promotes community ownership and sustainability
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Improves outcomes for children, women, and marginalized groups
How the Initiative Works
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Identify social, cultural, and gender barriers to service access
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Design inclusive SBC strategies tailored to local contexts
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Mobilize communities through dialogue and social engagement
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Support households with behavior-focused SBC interventions
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Strengthen local platforms and governance structures
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Monitor behavior change and scale effective practices
Common Implementation Tips
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Ground SBC strategies in local norms and evidence
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Prioritize participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities
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Integrate SBC across health, nutrition, education, and protection sectors
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Use feedback mechanisms to adapt interventions
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Align messaging with crisis preparedness and resilience goals
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main objective of this UNICEF initiative?
The objective is to strengthen community resilience by improving equitable and inclusive access to basic social services through Social and Behavior Change Communication.
Which regions of Mali are targeted?
The initiative focuses on Gao, Timbuktu, and Mopti regions.
What is Social and Behavior Change Communication?
SBC is an approach that addresses social norms, attitudes, and behaviors to improve the uptake and effective use of essential services.
Who are the primary beneficiaries?
Women, girls, adolescents, young people, persons with disabilities, and crisis-affected households are the main beneficiaries.
How does the project address gender inequalities?
The initiative removes gender barriers, promotes inclusive participation, and applies gender-sensitive SBC strategies.
How is this initiative linked to broader resilience efforts?
It contributes to the Sahel Partnership for Resilience by strengthening community-level capacities and social cohesion.
Conclusion
UNICEF’s Social and Behavior Change Communication initiative in Mali provides a structured, community-driven approach to strengthening resilience in crisis-affected regions. By addressing social and gender barriers, promoting positive behaviors, and reinforcing community engagement, the program supports sustainable access to essential social services and improves long-term outcomes for vulnerable populations.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.