In Niger: Ownership rather than “buy-in.”
Adapting resources for local context is a strength of the UNICEF Niger Social and Behavior Change team. The secret? Contributions from government colleagues and community members. It may seem obvious that development and humanitarian organizations should always ask for input from communities and government counterparts when developing tools, plans and initiatives. However, sometimes we seek only “buy-in” rather than ownership, a deeper form of engagement and contribution. Some organizations come with tools and plans that are “pre-cooked” and therefore difficult to challenge or change. Buy this bread! Do you see how delicious it is? Feel free to add some butter or jam, but it’s still going to be bread.
Fostering ownership is a respectful alternative to seeking post-decision “buy-in.” Ownership is aligned with the human rights principles, including the right to community participation, which UN agencies have committed to uphold. [Click here if interested in a great essay about ownership.]
One example of fostering ownership can be seen in the adaptation and improvement of a set of International Standards for Community Engagement, adapted for local context and brought to life, both visually and poetically, through a range of proverbs from across Niger. In addition to adding proverbs in Hausa, Djerma and Kanuri to showcase how local values are aligned with principles like participation, collaboration and two-way communication, the UNICEF Niger team created shorter versions of existing resources, as requested by government colleagues. The adaptation of the community engagement standards and co-creation of a set of practical tools and exercises (see link below), culminated in a 3-day forum in the capital city Niamey in October 2022 with 100+ leaders, government officials and community representatives (see local press coverage here).
Niger is the second country in the West and Central Africa Region to adapt the International Standards for Community Engagement, building on the example of a shortened and “Congolized” French-language version, adapted for context during the 2019–2021 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We are grateful to now be able to share multiple examples of Social and Behavior Change resources that are adapted for context and improved with inputs from national, regional and local leaders and community members.
Please find here a set of Niger-specific resources, developed with inputs from community members and government counterparts, which was shared by the Social and Behavior Change team, UNICEF Niger.
Do you have suggestions for this essay or ideas for a new essay? Please share in our “Basket of feedback and good ideas.” Social and Behavior Change Team, UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office/WCARO)
For more short essays: See Exchange №1, Exchange №2, and Exchange №3
