Community Leaders

A global youth-led initiative founded by Kofi Annan empowering young people to prevent violent extremism through peer-to-peer approaches. Operating across South/Southeast Asia, East Africa, and the Sahel, the program has trained 10,000+ young people in PVE and engaged 15,000 in dialogue activities. Young leaders develop local chapters and lead community initiatives including intergenerational dialogues, artistic performances, and awareness campaigns promoting 'togetherness' as counter-narrative to extremist ideologies.

A data-driven approach to enrolling and retaining out-of-school girls using predictive analytics and community volunteers. Educate Girls identifies 'hotspot' villages (5% of villages containing 40% of out-of-school girls) and deploys local women volunteers called 'Team Balika' to counsel families door-to-door. The program has enrolled 2+ million girls and improved learning for 2.4 million children across 30,000 villages. Combines parental counseling, School Management Committee strengthening, girls' leadership councils (Bal Sabhas), and remedial learning curriculum.

Mercy Corps implements youth-focused programs across Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq to build resilience and social cohesion among conflict-affected communities. Uses sports, arts, and dialogue to bring together diverse groups and address drivers of conflict and extremism.

UNDP's flagship research and programming initiative understanding why young Africans join violent extremist groups. The 'Journey to Extremism' study interviewed 718 former voluntary recruits across Africa, revealing that 71% cited a government action (often killing or arrest of family member) as the tipping point for joining. This evidence informs UNDP's prevention work in 40+ countries, addressing 'push factors' (poverty, marginalization, governance failures) and 'pull factors' (belonging, purpose, financial incentives) through development interventions.

Egypt's national campaign to eliminate Hepatitis C, one of the world's most successful mass screening and treatment programs. Combined mass media awareness with community screening drives, treating over 4 million people. Used behavior change communication to reduce stigma and encourage testing.

UNHCR Jordan implements comprehensive health communication programs for Syrian refugees and host communities. Uses community health volunteers, mobile clinics, and digital platforms to promote vaccination, maternal health, and mental health services. Reaches over 650,000 registered refugees across camps and urban settings.

The Global Fund invests in behavior change communication as part of comprehensive HIV, TB, and malaria programs. Supports national campaigns for prevention, testing, and treatment adherence across more than 100 countries, with particular focus on key populations and vulnerable groups.

BBC Media Action uses media and communication to reduce conflict and build peace in fragile states. Programs include radio dramas addressing ethnic tension, TV debates promoting dialogue, and digital platforms for citizen engagement. Active in countries including Nigeria, Myanmar, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Interpeace works with local partners to design and implement inclusive peacebuilding processes. Their approach combines research, dialogue facilitation, and media to help societies build lasting peace. Active in Central America, Africa, Middle East, and Asia with a focus on addressing root causes of conflict through sustained community engagement.

The world's largest peacebuilding organization using media and communications to prevent violent extremism. Since 1982, SFCG has used TV dramas, radio soap operas, and digital campaigns to transform conflict across 30+ countries. Signature programs include Studio Ijambo (Burundi, credited with helping avert genocide through Hutu-Tutsi dialogue) and The Team (soccer drama series promoting peace). Their 'Common Ground Approach' builds bridges across divides through collaborative storytelling and community-led counternarratives to extremism.

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) implements community dialogue and media-based peacebuilding programs across 35+ countries. Their approach uses participatory media production, community radio, and facilitated dialogue to transform conflict, build trust between divided groups, and promote social cohesion in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

The largest public health initiative in history, GPEI uses comprehensive communication strategies including community mobilization, interpersonal communication through health workers, and mass media to achieve polio vaccination coverage. The initiative has reduced polio cases by 99.9% since 1988 through sustained behavior change communication.

Population Services International's comprehensive malaria program uses social marketing and behavior change communication to increase use of insecticide-treated nets, improve care-seeking behavior, and promote preventive treatment. Active across sub-Saharan Africa with proven impact on malaria mortality reduction.

A comprehensive online resource and community of practice for social and behavior change practitioners. Provides evidence-based tools, how-to guides, and resources for designing effective SBC programs across health, environment, and development sectors. Managed by USAID's Breakthrough ACTION project.

SASA! (Stimulating Activism, Supporting Action!) is an evidence-based community mobilization program developed by Raising Voices in Uganda to prevent gender-based violence and reduce HIV risk. The program operates through four phases—Start, Awareness, Support, Action—using the transtheoretical model of change. A cluster-randomized controlled trial (2007-2012) found women in intervention communities were 52% less likely to experience physical intimate partner violence. Other outcomes: reduced social acceptance of IPV among men and women; increased joint decision-making; men more likely to participate in household tasks; increased HIV-protective behaviors including condom use. The program has been adapted in 30+ countries by 75+ organizations. SASA! Together (2020) is an updated version incorporating a decade of learning.