Measuring Social and Behavior Change in Nutrition Programs: A Guide for Evaluators

Published By: USAID Advancing Nutrition

Publication Date: August 2023

Program evaluations play a critical role in improving the quality and determining the effectiveness of the social and behavior change (SBC) strategies and approaches needed to reach nutrition program outcomes. This guide supports implementing partners who are involved with conducting an evaluation of an activity that uses SBC to improve multi-sectoral nutrition outcomes. The document focuses on enhancing skills by incorporating the nuances of evaluating SBC approaches for improving nutrition outcomes. Links to helpful general evaluation guidance are incorporated for reference.

This resource and the description above were developed by the amazing communications and knowledge management team of USAID Advancing Nutrition, and are provided here with thanks to the Internet Archive project's Wayback Machine.

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About this Resource

This resource is focused on formative research to inform social and behavior change (SBC) programming and discusses methods such as behavioral analysis and processes for SBC.

In this Technical Note you will find:

• Guidance for Program Evaluations, including

  • Guidance for how to develop evaluation questions and select appropriate methods

  • Suggestions for reviewing programmatic documentation

  • Guidance for selecting an appropriate sample

  • Advice for creating an evaluation team

  • Suggestions for how to synthesize actionable recommendations from your findings

• A decision tree for USAID Missions

• A list of factors that influence multi-sectoral nutrition behaviors

• A list of recommended behaviors to improve nutrition outcomes

• A list of illustrative nutrition indicators

Riley's Contribution

Riley supported this deliverable of USAID Advancing Nutrition as a technical writer, drafting sections of the guide. She collaborated with a team of experts in evaluation design to review and finalize the guide.

Project Information & Citation

About USAID Advancing Nutrition

USAID Advancing Nutrition is the Agency’s flagship multi-sectoral nutrition project, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), and a diverse group of experienced partners. Launched in September 2018, USAID Advancing Nutrition implements nutrition interventions across sectors and disciplines for USAID and its partners. The project’s multi-sectoral approach draws together global nutrition experience to design, implement, and evaluate programs that address the root causes of malnutrition. Committed to using a systems approach, USAID Advancing Nutrition strives to sustain positive outcomes by building local capacity, supporting behavior change, and strengthening the enabling environment to save lives, improve health, build resilience, increase economic productivity, and advance development.

Recommended Citation

USAID Advancing Nutrition. 2023. Measuring Social and Behavior

Change in Nutrition Programs.A Guide for Evaluators.Arlington, VA:

USAID Advancing Nutrition.