Communication for Development Strategic Framework 2018-2021

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works to realise human development goals through the strategic use of communication, community engagement, and social mobilisation to promote positive and measurable behaviour and social change. Communication for development (C4D) is defined as "an evidence-based process that utilizes a mix of communication tools, channels and approaches to facilitate participation and engagement with children, families, communities, networks for positive social and behaviour change in both development and humanitarian contexts." From UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), the evidence-based approach highlighted in this framework has been developed to provide countries with a blueprint for strengthening the integration of C4D into programme interventions and humanitarian work in all country offices across South Asia.

The framework is based on this C4D vision: "UNICEF, in keeping with the fundamental human rights principles of participation, equality, non-discrimination, indivisibility and interdependence, envisions a world in which through communication people come together as equals and dialogue so that every child, family and community have access to the information, skills, technologies, and processes they need to generate solutions and are empowered to make informed choices, reach their full potential, participate meaningfully and have their issues and recommendations adequately reflected in decisions affecting their lives towards the ultimate realisation of their children's and broader human rights."

The framework focuses on the behavioural and social norm change necessary to achieve regional and country office programme priorities, and aligned to the cross-cutting nature of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the inter-sectoral coordination required for achieving results. In the regional context, the C4D Framework is linked to accelerating 6 "Headline Results": Save Newborns, Stop Stunting, Educate all Girls and Boys, End Child Marriage, Stop Open Defecation, Eradicate Polio and Strengthen Routine Immunization, as well as equity, gender, social inclusion, disaster risk reduction and emergency, climate change, and urbanisation. For example, the framework looks at the Headline Result: Eradicate Polio and 3.3 million children fully immunised with focus on the most marginalised. It outlines potential C4D action that can complement what is currently being implemented, including:

• Strengthen communication for immunisation (C4I) programming and C4D inputs into the national polio preparedness and response plan.
• Continue to strengthen national government capacity and systems to respond to behavioural and social dimensions of the immunisation and polio eradication effort (e.g., health promotion unit and/or communication unit in relevant Health Ministry).
• Identify and reach boys and girls missed during immunisation and polio campaigns.

Designed as a "living" document, the framework can be updated as new evidence emerges on quality and effective C4D programming interventions. It provides a menu of options, lessons learned, and good practices that country offices can draw upon and apply according to their own priorities and programmatic context.

Following an introduction that lays out the rationale for a C4D regional strategic framework, the document includes 8 core chapters, broadly focusing on:

1. Understanding the Regional Context
2. Considerations for C4D Programming in South Asia
3. Focusing C4D Practice and Programming Priorities in South Asia
4. Focusing C4D Preparedness and Response to Emergency & Humanitarian Situations in South Asia
5. Strengthening Evidence Generation and C4D Knowledge Management
6. Strengthening C4D Partnerships and Building National Capacity in C4D
7. Investing in C4D
8. The Way Forward - Implementing the C4D Regional Framework

Annexes include:

• C4D Programming Principles, Shifts and Current Focus
• Summary of Global C4D Evaluation Findings (2016)
• Country Assessments: Summary of findings and Recommendations
• Emerging Global Trends and Implications for C4D Practice
• Applying SEM [the Socio-Ecological Model] to Early Childhood Development - A Programming Example
• Cross-Cutting C4D Interventions to Support Early Childhood Development across Sectors
• Compiled List of Global C4D Indicators
• Management Structures for C4D