Project Details.

UNICEF initiated a qualitative Social Behaviour Change (SBC) Assessment for Health 2024 across twelve districts in Pakistan—three each in KP, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan—to better understand behavioural drivers affecting polio vaccination outcomes. 

The assessment focuses on identifying social, cultural, and operational barriers contributing to missed children, refusals, “zero-dose” households, programme fatigue, and community resistance. The evaluation combines desk review, national and provincial consultations, a collaborative problem-solving workshop, and multi-level FGDs and KIIs to generate actionable insights. 

The project aimed to provide a detailed understanding of how community-level behaviour, influencer dynamics, service delivery practices, and programme communication shape vaccination uptake and acceptance. The assessment further sought to inform immediate and medium-term SBC strategies to strengthen polio eradication efforts nationwide. 

HIMAT Consulting provided the full suite of technical and operational support required for the Social Behaviour Change Assessment. The firm deployed experienced qualitative researchers to participate in planning meetings, refine tools, and support the design of FGDs and KIIs at national, provincial, and district levels. HIMAT worked closely with the core assessment team to finalize provincial visit plans, identify stakeholder groups, and prepare logistical arrangements in all selected districts. 

During implementation, HIMAT’s technical experts accompanied the assessment team to each province, coordinating provincial and district-level engagements, organizing KIIs with government officials, polio programme staff, influencers, religious leaders, and partner institutions, and facilitating FGDs with community members, caregivers, teachers, youth, frontline polio workers, and groups resistant or opposed to the programme. In locations where the international assessment team could not travel—such as parts of southern KP and Balochistan—HIMAT independently led FGDs and KIIs, moderated discussions, ensured gender-segregated sessions when required, translated as needed, and documented high-quality field notes. 

HIMAT supported the national workshop, contributed to analytical discussions, and assisted in finalizing provincial adjustments. The firm ensured smooth coordination with local authorities, accurate documentation of findings, and clear submission of qualitative outputs to the assessment team. Throughout the assignment, HIMAT maintained high standards of organization, facilitation, translation, and field execution, enabling UNICEF to obtain reliable multi-level insights for strengthening SBC strategies and reducing missed children in the national polio programme.