Cover image: © UNICEF/UN

This Learning Pathway provides you with a comprehensive introduction to Social and Community Listening (SCL), equipping you with the skills and knowledge necessary to leverage SCL in support of UNICEF’s programmatic efforts including Social and Behaviour Change (SBC). You will learn how to apply SCL frameworks, design strategies, and turn insights into actionable interventions, ensuring alignment with SBC objectives.

By completing this pathway, you will gain the confidence to advise colleagues and partners on SCL, implement effective listening approaches, and contribute to the design and evaluation of SCL strategies. This pathway is designed to offer a balance of foundational knowledge, practical methodologies, and advanced case studies, providing you with a thorough understanding of SCL principles and applications.

Learning objectives

After completing this Learning Pathway, you should:

  • Understand the fundamentals of SCL and its role in SBC programming.
  • Be able to design and implement SCL strategies tailored to specific project needs.
  • Be capable of leveraging insights from social media and community feedback for informed decision-making.
  • Gain familiarity with monitoring and evaluation approaches within SCL, including infodemic management.
  • Be equipped to collaborate with external experts and evaluate their SCL outputs.

Audience

This pathway is designed for:

  • UNICEF staff (country offices, Regional Offices, and HQ) involved in SBC or digital engagement.
  • Implementing partners, LTA holders, and consultants working in social listening and SBC.
  • Professionals aiming to incorporate SCL approaches into their projects.

Length

Plan to spend approximately 4 weeks completing this pathway, dedicating up to 2 hours per week to course materials. 

Methodology

The pathway includes self-paced learning materials including recorded webinars, case studies, frameworks, and other resources designed to build foundational knowledge and practical skills.

Structure

This Learning Pathway is structured to guide learners progressively from foundational concepts to advanced applications:

Step 1: Fundamentals of Social and Community Listening

  • Resource: SCL Page on SBC Guidance (Webpage)
  • Learning Outcome: An easy-to-understand overview of social and community listening (SCL) in the broader context of SBC. Includes link to download the UNICEF SCL Framework.
  • Duration: 30 minutes

Step 2: Understanding the UNICEF SCL Framework

  • Resource: SCL Framework Webinar (Video)
  • Learning Outcome: Gain an understanding of UNICEF’s Social and Community Listening (SCL) Framework and how it can be applied within UNICEF projects.
  • Duration: 1 hour

Step 3: Practical SCL Skills and Methodologies

  • Resource: UNICEF South Asia Introduction to Social Listening (Video)
  • Learning Outcome: Learn basics, practical skills, and methodologies for effective Social and Community Listening
  • Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Step 4: Designing SCL Strategies and Action Plans

  • Resource: ESAR SCL Strategy (Strategy)
  • Learning Outcome: Read a regional SCL strategy and action plan to see how an SCL strategy can be developed and implemented.
  • Duration: 1 hour

Step 5: Creating Collaborative Research Briefs

  • Resource: SCL Research Brief Template (Template)
  • Learning Outcome: See a sample brief to understand how to develop briefs for collaboration and research outcomes.
  • Duration: 30 minutes

Step 6: Building Infodemic Insights Reports

  • Resource: How to Build an Infodemic Insights Report in 6 Steps (Webinar)
  • Learning Outcome: Gain step-by-step guidance on creating comprehensive reports.
  • Duration: 1 hour

Step 7: Leveraging Conversational Insights

  • Resource: UNICEF MENA Tackling the Infodemic Using Conversational Insights (Case Study)
  • Learning Outcome: See how social media and social listening insights were applied in a field intervention.
  • Duration: 30 minutes

Step 8: Turning Social Listening Data into Action

  • Resource: Turning Social Listening Data into Action (Case Study)
  • Learning Outcome: See how SCL data was converted into actionable strategies and interventions for COVID-19.
  • Duration: 1 hour

Contact details

For questions about the content of this course, please contact Hameed Kashan at hkashan@unicef.org.