SBCC Dhaara Webinar #4 on 13th October 2020: Reimagining RCCE…Evidence & Practice for HWWS Continuity…
In the run up to Global Handwashing Day being observed on 15 October 2020, development partners conducted a series of webinars to advance hand hygiene in India.
This was second up in the series, hosted by NCCDC, through SBCC Tarang Hub, in partnership with UNICEF, WaterAid, Aga Khan Foundation and IRC.
The webinar consisted of 2 panels.
Panel 1
The discussions under panel 1 “Evidence on informed programming on hand hygiene for all (HH4A)” was moderated by Arundati Muralidharan, Manager, Policy, WaterAid India. The panellists included: Nicolas Osbert, Chief, WASH, UNICEF, ICO – who set the context to the panel theme; Sh. Yugal Kishor Joshi, Director, SBM, Ministry of Jal Shakti; Liby T. Johnson, Executive Director and Dr Apurva Vijay Ghugey, Thematic Manager-Sanitation and Hygiene, Gram Vikas, Odisha; and V.R. Raman, Head of Policy, WaterAid India.
Click to view the presention for panel 1
Panel 2
Moderating the second panel on “Ensuring continuity in handwashing practice” was Shalini Prasad, C4D Specialist, UNICEF. The panellists included: Siddhartha Shrestha, Chief, C4D, UNICEF, ICO – who set the context; Akshay Rout, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Education; Priyanka Dutt, Country Director, BBC Media Action; and Neerja Chowdhury, Senior Journalist.
Highlights of the webinar
Ranging from the need to learn from past experiences and successes, especially from Swacch Bharat Mission phase 1 and Jan Andolan, to the importance of engaging the community and young people and involving media critically, the discussions were highly stimulating. There was agreement that handwashing has to be developed as a social norm. A continued drive is required for a proper roadmap for the days to come. Importantly, evidence is highly crucial, so community insights, cost effective systems, and data generation must be focused upon. The need of the hour is a bottom-up approach by eliciting participatory responses. All the panellists gave their thoughts on the call to action. These are captured below.
Nicolas Osbert: We have seen earlier drives from the Government having impact. Institutional anchoring for HHWS, we hope, can be placed in the Ministry of Jal Shaklti, coordinated with line departments, private sector and other players, along with a road map; we are then sure to see great results.
Sh. Yugal Kishore Joshi: In government, we communicate 2 things – awareness among people and behaviour change, be it using banking apps, toilets, and now wearing mask, and washing hands. In addition, we have to continue monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting our communication.
Sh. Akshay Rout: We must go for a hygiene revolution, in which the Big 3 need to be emphasised - handwashing with soap, social distancing and wearing of masks. We should have behaviour creation hubs in schools and colleges.
Neerja Chowdhury: Make handwashing into a movement, led by the young people of India. Messaging has to be very clear as it is a life and death issue, and add water conservation as an integral part of it.
V.R. Raman: All the actors need to come together and work with the government in tandem for planning, programming, monitoring, advocacy with sufficient financing. A stronger policy and action-based methodology are required to bridge the gaps in data regarding practices that affect behaviour change.
Liby T. Johnson: Even the last person has values and desires change, and our job is to ensure that that desire is met. It is required that the expectations are aligned with the constraints within social, cultural, economic contexts. The women’s groups is an important element to be considered in this process.
Dr. Apurva Ghugey: We should start working from bottom to up with community’s participation.
Priyanka Dutt: Keep in touch with the community by going back to understand and appreciate what they are thinking, what the new challenges and barriers are so that we are able to deliver a nuanced programme across demand and supply that is relevant and meets the needs of people.
Others who were called upon to speak on the Call to Action were: Anuragini Nagar, Programme Head, Sesame Workshop, India; Priya John, Country Manager, One Drop; Mikhael Pradhan, Head-Advocacy, World Vision India; Monica Shrivastav, Consultant, Roshni; and Santosh Kumar Dwivedi, Operations Head, Health and WASH, HCL Foundation.
They emphasised that gender lens and social norms have to be integrated with handwashing. Not just celebrities but also the children and youth of the country, self-help groups, women’s networks and PRIs need to be involved as they are at the heart of SBCC.
Siddhartha Shrestha concluded the session and highlighted the key takeaways of the webinar, as represented below.
The webinar consisted of 2 panels.
Panel 1
The discussions under panel 1 “Evidence on informed programming on hand hygiene for all (HH4A)” was moderated by Arundati Muralidharan, Manager, Policy, WaterAid India. The panellists included: Nicolas Osbert, Chief, WASH, UNICEF, ICO – who set the context to the panel theme; Sh. Yugal Kishor Joshi, Director, SBM, Ministry of Jal Shakti; Liby T. Johnson, Executive Director and Dr Apurva Vijay Ghugey, Thematic Manager-Sanitation and Hygiene, Gram Vikas, Odisha; and V.R. Raman, Head of Policy, WaterAid India.
Click to view the presention for panel 1
Panel 2
Moderating the second panel on “Ensuring continuity in handwashing practice” was Shalini Prasad, C4D Specialist, UNICEF. The panellists included: Siddhartha Shrestha, Chief, C4D, UNICEF, ICO – who set the context; Akshay Rout, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Education; Priyanka Dutt, Country Director, BBC Media Action; and Neerja Chowdhury, Senior Journalist.
Highlights of the webinar
Ranging from the need to learn from past experiences and successes, especially from Swacch Bharat Mission phase 1 and Jan Andolan, to the importance of engaging the community and young people and involving media critically, the discussions were highly stimulating. There was agreement that handwashing has to be developed as a social norm. A continued drive is required for a proper roadmap for the days to come. Importantly, evidence is highly crucial, so community insights, cost effective systems, and data generation must be focused upon. The need of the hour is a bottom-up approach by eliciting participatory responses. All the panellists gave their thoughts on the call to action. These are captured below.
Nicolas Osbert: We have seen earlier drives from the Government having impact. Institutional anchoring for HHWS, we hope, can be placed in the Ministry of Jal Shaklti, coordinated with line departments, private sector and other players, along with a road map; we are then sure to see great results.
Sh. Yugal Kishore Joshi: In government, we communicate 2 things – awareness among people and behaviour change, be it using banking apps, toilets, and now wearing mask, and washing hands. In addition, we have to continue monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting our communication.
Sh. Akshay Rout: We must go for a hygiene revolution, in which the Big 3 need to be emphasised - handwashing with soap, social distancing and wearing of masks. We should have behaviour creation hubs in schools and colleges.
Neerja Chowdhury: Make handwashing into a movement, led by the young people of India. Messaging has to be very clear as it is a life and death issue, and add water conservation as an integral part of it.
V.R. Raman: All the actors need to come together and work with the government in tandem for planning, programming, monitoring, advocacy with sufficient financing. A stronger policy and action-based methodology are required to bridge the gaps in data regarding practices that affect behaviour change.
Liby T. Johnson: Even the last person has values and desires change, and our job is to ensure that that desire is met. It is required that the expectations are aligned with the constraints within social, cultural, economic contexts. The women’s groups is an important element to be considered in this process.
Dr. Apurva Ghugey: We should start working from bottom to up with community’s participation.
Priyanka Dutt: Keep in touch with the community by going back to understand and appreciate what they are thinking, what the new challenges and barriers are so that we are able to deliver a nuanced programme across demand and supply that is relevant and meets the needs of people.
Others who were called upon to speak on the Call to Action were: Anuragini Nagar, Programme Head, Sesame Workshop, India; Priya John, Country Manager, One Drop; Mikhael Pradhan, Head-Advocacy, World Vision India; Monica Shrivastav, Consultant, Roshni; and Santosh Kumar Dwivedi, Operations Head, Health and WASH, HCL Foundation.
They emphasised that gender lens and social norms have to be integrated with handwashing. Not just celebrities but also the children and youth of the country, self-help groups, women’s networks and PRIs need to be involved as they are at the heart of SBCC.
Siddhartha Shrestha concluded the session and highlighted the key takeaways of the webinar, as represented below.