CSJ Trains On Integrating Behavioural Insight Into Programme Planning

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has concluded a design workshop aimed at incorporating behavioural insight (BI) into programme policy design, planning and implementation.

The workshop was organised by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) on with the theme: ‘Behavioural Insights for Improving Transparency in Nigeria.’

Deputy director of the centre, Osasuyi Dirisu, who spoke at the meeting said the organisation hopes to improve the design and implementation of government policies and programmes in Nigeria through lessons from behavioural and social science as well as other policy tools.

She said “The design workshop was organised to introduce development sector stakeholders to behavioural insights. We are working with stakeholders to reflect on the design of effective solutions, support behaviourally informed policy decision-making and deepen the impact of social interventions in Nigeria.”

The executive director of the PIC, Faisal Naru, who joined the meeting through a web conferencing app said “Policy issues are increasingly more complex and dynamic. There are limited resources and capacities available. What we are trying to do is navigate those challenges with innovative policy tools that can help Nigeria take the best course of action, given the complexity and limited resources available.”

The design workshop series is expected to continue, as the PIC dialogues with stakeholders in government, NGOs and the international community to understand the policies they are working on, their specific needs and how it can help.

Behavioural insights is a term increasingly used within public institutions to refer to efforts made to gain accurate and evidence-based understanding of how people behave and make decisions. Planning, designing and implementing policies and programmes on the basis of this deeper understanding increase their impact.

Evidence has shown that behaviours are influenced by many external and internal factors and that simply providing information to people does not necessarily translate into behaviours that contribute to healthier lives.

Insights into people’s behaviours are obtained through the application of behavioural and social sciences, anthropology, cognitive sciences and psychology, among others. When seeking behavioural evidence, these disciplines work together to identify which factors and biases will increase the probability that a behaviour occurs or not. 

When used to improve policies and programmes, behavioural insights can inform the design of innovative processes and practises; help reframe and improve communications; identify the need for nudges to overcome biases and barriers; or ensure that products and services are designed keeping users’ need in mind.