Proposals and abstracts are now being accepted for the 2020 International Social and Behavior Change Communication Summit to be held March 30 to April 3 in Marrakech, Morocco.
The 2020 Summit builds on the spectacular success of the 2018 event held in Nusa Dua, Indonesia last April, which drew 1,200 participants from 93 countries spanning a range of disciplines and representing a diversity of institutions. As in 2018, the 2020 event will be organized by a Secretariat chaired by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.
“We are eager to build on the momentum from the 2018 Summit as we tackle some of the most pressing concerns on the planet, from the climate crisis to the HIV epidemic to emerging infectious diseases,” says Susan Krenn, CCP’s executive director. “We look forward to bringing together practitioners to learn from one another and to collectively explore the future of the SBCC field, particularly in the context of the SDGs.”
Guidelines for proposal and abstract submission can be found here. The deadline is Oct. 31. Early bird registration rates are also available now. Be among the first to register and receive $50 off the registration fee. Registration is open until Feb. 21.
The vision for the 2020 Summit is “Strength in Diversity.” Three main themes will be “Catalyzing Transformational Change on Agendas of Urgency,” which considers such topics as climate crisis, health access and equity and humanitarian efforts; “Future Forward,” a look at what we have learned from the past and what to take going forward; and “Connecting the Dots,” which explores ways to further increase collaboration, learning, skills sharing and capacity building, creative collective action and sharing within the field.
Past attendees of SBCC Summits have had effusive praise for the events, with 94 percent of those surveyed in 2018 saying they saw innovative tools, insights or approaches presented in Indonesia and 93 percent reporting they found the experience at the Summit “inspiring.”
“It was a resounding success in every way,” said one 2018 participant.
Said another: “Hearty congratulations to the organizers. It was the best conference of that size that I’ve ever attended. And a luxury to spend a week with fellow SBC travelers.”
More information on the 2020 Summit can be found here, including how to join the mailing list. The final report from the 2018 Summit, which includes highlights of lessons learned can be found here.
The Secretariat is made up of representatives from CCP, Soul City Institute for Social Justice, UNICEF, American University of Beirut, Digital Green, Puntos de Encuentro and Social Change Factory.
