Resources

This operational guidance outlines the critical role of social and behaviour change (SBC) in ensuring the success of insecticide-treated net (ITN) distribution, across both mass campaigns and continuous distribution channels, such as routine, school and community. If planned, budgeted and implemented at high quality, SBC can:
• Support resource mobilization to ensure that distribution activities are implemented as per guidelines and with strong commitment from all stakeholders
• Ensure that targeted communities and/or population groups understand how to access ITNs
• Mobilize communities and individuals to participate fully in ITN distribution
• Reinforce social norms to ensure that the ITNs received are used consistently and correctly  by households
SBC comprises a variety of strategies and activities, with key roles for community, sub-national, national and regional/international partners. The national malaria programme (NMP) should lead the coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring of all components of ITN distribution, including SBC, in collaboration with other government departments and stakeholders. Effective coordination and communication among partners to support Ministry of Health (MoH) objectives is vital to ensuring that SBC activities are clear, cohesive and focused on achieving targets defined in the National Malaria Strategic Plan.

It also details the three core components of SBC: advocacy to secure political, financial and non-financial support, social mobilization to drive community participation, and social and behaviour change communication to encourage proper and sustained ITN use and care.

Overall, the resource provides a structured framework for integrating SBC into ITN distribution efforts to maximize coverage, uptake and long-term impact.