Designing an SBCC strategy for UNICEF and the Italian Government

In response to the influx of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Italy following the outbreak of conflict in 2022, one of our lead consultants was engaged by UNICEF Italy as a Social and Behavioral Change Consultant to develop a comprehensive national SBC strategy focused on the protection and safeguarding of unaccompanied and separated children.

Working closely with UNHCR, government bodies, and civil society, she applied the social-ecological and behavioral drivers models to guide strategy design.

The work involved social listening, stakeholder consultations, and behavioral analysis across individual, service provider, and policy levels. Our expert designed a rights-based, multi-level SBC strategy combining communication, community engagement, and media advocacy, along with tailored messaging, a costed implementation plan, and a behavior-sensitive M&E system.

The SBCC strategy was formally adopted by UNICEF, IOM, UNHCR and the Italian Government, and helped shift emergency responses toward coordinated, protection-focused systems