Religious and Traditional Leaders as Champions for Social and Behavior Change in Nigeria

Hajiya Ige Muhammed, SBC-Advocacy Core Group member, speaking with women in Kebbi State about health. Credit: Breakthrough ACTION

Religious and traditional leaders are widely recognized as highly influential in all aspects of people’s lives in Nigeria. These leaders guide social normative perceptions and practices and can create positive and sustainable change within communities. Many projects and programs have sought to engage them over the years. Breakthrough ACTION’s work in Nigeria differed in several important ways that led to high levels of active engagement and sustainability.

The following resources describe the project’s work and impact:

• Religious Leaders Championing Social and Behavior Change for Improved Maternal and Child Health: This document describes Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria’s approach to advocacy among religious and traditional leaders using the Social and Behavior Change Advocacy Core Group model. It includes tools that were used and lessons learned during implementation. The document guides organizations and projects planning to engage and work with religious and traditional leaders to implement health and other development programs. The approach is especially useful for programs aiming to shift social and gender norms.
• Transformative Stories of Religious and Traditional Leaders Inspiring Healthy Communities: This document shares the impact of Breakthrough ACTION’s work with religious and traditional leaders in Nigeria.