Behaviour Change Specialist Congo Basin Forestry Action 442 views

Opportunity Summary

Abt Global is seeking a qualified Behaviour Change Specialist to support the anticipated Congo Basin Forestry Action Programme (CBFAP), funded by the FCDO. The CBFAP is a seven-year programme aimed at enhancing sustainable forest governance, promoting livelihoods for forest-dependent communities, and improving land use management. The Behaviour Change Specialist will be responsible for designing and implementing behaviour change strategies that encourage communities, governments, and private sector actors to adopt sustainable practices that support the long-term conservation of the Congo Basin’s forests.

The Behaviour Change Specialist will lead efforts to design and implement behaviour change interventions that promote sustainable forest management, conservation, and climate resilience across the Congo Basin Forestry Action Programme (CBFAP). The role involves applying behaviour change science to influence individual and collective actions related to deforestation, forest conservation, alternative livelihoods and sustainable land use.

The ideal candidate will have a background in behavioural science, psychology, social marketing or communications, with experience designing strategies that drive sustainable behaviours. The specialist will work closely with local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to foster lasting change in how natural resources are managed.

Key Responsibilities

Behaviour Change Strategy Development 

• Design and develop behaviour change strategies aimed at reducing deforestation, promoting sustainable forest practices, and improving the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
• Use evidence-based approaches such as social marketing, nudges, and community-based interventions to foster long-term behaviour change.
• Identify key behaviours that contribute to forest degradation and develop interventions that promote conservation, sustainable agriculture, and eco-friendly practices.

Community Engagement and Awareness 

• Lead community-based initiatives to increase awareness of sustainable forest management practices and the importance of conserving the Congo Basin.
• Collaborate with local communities to co-create culturally appropriate behaviour change campaigns for specific key audiences, ensuring that interventions are relevant and impactful.
• Facilitate participatory workshops, focus groups, and other engagement activities to assess local attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours related to natural resource use.

Capacity Building and Training 

• Provide training to project staff, local partners, and community leaders on behaviour change techniques and tools.
• Build the capacity of local stakeholders to implement behaviour change initiatives, ensuring that interventions are sustainable and locally supported.
• Develop training materials and toolkits that can be used by community leaders and partners to promote desired behaviours.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) 

• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to develop indicators to track the impact of behaviour change interventions.
• Collect and analyse data on behaviour change outcomes, providing regular feedback and recommendations to the project team.
• Ensure that lessons learned from behaviour change initiatives are documented and disseminated to inform future programming.

Collaboration and Partnerships 

• Collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, private sector actors, and civil society organisations to scale behaviour change interventions.
• Work with communications teams to design and implement media campaigns, including theater / in-person, radio, TV, social media, and print, to promote key messages related to forest conservation.
• Advocate for the inclusion of behaviour change strategies in national forest governance and conservation policies.

What We Value

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Behavioural Science, Psychology, Social Marketing, Communications, International Development, Environmental Sustainability, or a related field.
• At least 5-7 years of experience in designing and implementing behaviour change interventions, preferably in natural resource management, conservation, or international development.
• Proven experience working with rural communities to promote behaviour change, particularly in relation to environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
• Experience with social marketing campaigns, community engagement, and participatory approaches is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of behaviour change theories, models, and techniques, including nudges, social norms, and incentives.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, and private sector actors.
• Fluency in English and French (required); knowledge of local languages in the Congo Basin is an advantage.
• Proficiency in using data to inform behaviour change interventions and monitor progress.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to design, implement, and evaluate multiple interventions simultaneously.
• Passionate about environmental sustainability and improving community livelihoods.
• Collaborative and adaptable, with strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Innovative and creative, with the ability to think outside the box when developing behaviour change strategies.
• Culturally sensitive, with the ability to work in diverse and complex environments.