Helvetas (www.helvetas.org) is piloting the EAWAG (Swiss research institute) behavior change model RANAS after adapting it to local program realities in four countries worldwide. First pilot results indicate feasibility as well as some challenges. Behavior change is a key future priority for Helvetas in the area of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). A different approach seems urgently necessary after in-depth evaluations of traditional hygiene education programs indicated that the water quality at the household level remained largely unchanged and contaminated.

1. Learning Expedition: Behaviour Change
UNC Water and Health
Conference, October 2015
Valérie Cavin
HELVETAS Swiss
Intercooperation
Valérie Cavin
Valerie.Cavin@helvetas.org

2. Background
 Water quality at point of use:
challenge
 ETH Nadel: impact study focusing on
the water quality at household level
in a successful WASH project in
Benin
 Result of the study: improved water
quality at the improved wells - no
change at household level
 Research study with Eawag in Nepal
had similar results: 91% of sample at
household level are contaminated)

3. Background
 In most of our WASH projects:
behaviour change in the field of
hygiene is a challenge
 The «classic» approach did not lead
to the expected results
Strategic shift
From hygiene promotion 
to behaviour change!
But how?
Start of a learning expedition
behaviour change in collaboration
with the research institut Eawag

4. Objective of the Learning Expedition
Objective:
EAWAG’s scientific behaviour change approach (RANAS) is adapted into
an applicable, simplified and less cost intensive tool for our project through
evidence based practice.
Questions:
• How far can we simplify the approach to improve the impact of our
project without losing RANAS’ essence?
• How much support do our local teams need to incluce the approach in
project activities?
• What is the cost/benefit ratio in introducing this more systematic
behavior change approach?
 Pilots: Haiti, Mali, Benin and Mozambique

5. Simplified Ranas approach
• Simplify the terminology
• Simplifiy and reduce
questionnaire
• Reduce sample size to 150
households
• Excel data analysis is the only
calculating tool
• Continuous adaptation of the
process after each pilot

6. Example: Results so far in Benin
 Capacity building of the team
 Choice of behaviour and
definition of environmental
factors
 Water Transport & Storage
and Hand washing
 Team elaborated questionnaire,
interviews with 180 households
 Data analysis with excel
 Defining new promotion
campaign based on behaviour
factors
 Intervention launch
 Planned evaluation: mid 2016

7. Benin: First results for handwashing
Main factors to
tackle in the new
promotion
campaign:
• Norm factors
• Self-regulation
factors
Attitude RiskNorm Ability Self-
regulation

8. New intervention in Benin
Behaviour
factor
Intervention
Norm
factor
Others‘
behaviour
Inform about
behaviour of
others
Theater dealing with norm issues,
visualisation of hand washing
families
Others
approve/dis
aprove
Inform about
approval of
others
Commitment of the head of family
with picture
Self-
Regulation
factor
Forgetting Prompt Prompt with villages chief in the
household

9. Mozambique: First results for Latrine Use
Main factors to
tackle in the new
promotion
campaign:
• Norm factors
• Self-regulation
factors
:
Riscos A-RegulaçãoAptidãoNormasAtitude

10. Information on latrine condition
Latrine with door
sim não
Latrine with cover
sim não
Latrine with brush
sim não
Cleanliness of the latrine
sim não
Non users
Users
Latrine condition = influencing factor

11. New intervention in Mozambique
Behaviour factor Intervention
Norm factor Others behaviour Inform about
others behaviour
Visualisation of
improved latrine
Self-
Regulation
factor
Committment Setting goal
Public
committment
Community
meeting with public
committment
combined with
motivation
Close coordination with local authority

12. Challenges
Capacity of local teams:
Wash teams are often technical persons  Psychological approach is hard to
understand
Questionnaire development:
The questionnaire is rather complex. Initially external support is needed  the
elaboration should be done with the local team
Data analysis and interpretation:
Involved and time intensive  local excel skills often limited
Use data to effectively design the right campaign:
Although we have clear results it is difficult to change our behaviour in designing
campaigns
Time factor:
Long-term process  It is important to have a focal point person driving the process

13. Lessons learnt
• Important to have an open-minded and motivated project team, a
supportive management and knowledge and learning department
• Regular exchange and compromise between research partner and
NGO to make it as practicable as possible in the field -> create a WIN-
WIN situation
• Sensitization and capacity building of the organization is needed ->
readiness for investment in time and money
• Regular exchange between the head office, project staff and partners to
allow continuous learning from each other
• Results not quickly visible. Risk-taking, openness for try and error and
longer time perspective = important
• Behaviour change has also to take place within the organization:
dare to ask the nasty questions (communication, dialogue with donors
etc.)!!

14. Outlook
• Evaluate new promotion activities beginning in 2016 in
Mali and mid-2016 in Benin and Mozambique
• Develop a two options approach for project:
1. Introduction of the Ranas model with analysis of
existing intervention
2. Full fledge simplified Ranas approach
• Finalize practical behaviour change draft manual for our
project teams