The Challenge

The introduction of behavioural change approaches to help mitigate environmental challenges in Lebanon is particularly important given the numerous chronic structural roadblocks that characterise the country’s recent multitude of environmental crises, particularly in solid waste disposal. With a difficult political climate frustrating attempts at both policy innovation and infrastructure renovation, behavioural solutions look increasingly promising as part of a patchwork of civil society-led initiatives to prevent further collapse.

The Objectives

• To ensure behavioural science approaches are incorporated in the activities, MAGENTA has been supporting AFD to deliver workshop to help partners better understand and address improper waste management behaviours.

• Through workshops, build the capacity of AFD’s consortium partners on behavioural science methodologies, share successful case studies, offer relevant resources, and support the consortium members in developing strategies that incorporate an SBC lens in waste management activities.

What We Did

Research

• MAGENTA completed a rapid desk review to assess existing resources, successful strategies, case studies, and best practices related to integrating behavioural sciences into waste management initiatives.

• MAGENTA also conducted a virtual roundtable with consortium members and relevant stakeholders, presenting the project’s objectives, activities, and timeline.

• The MAGENTA team also visited the affected river areas before the sessions begin with the support of programme stakeholders. The visit allowed us to gain first-hand insights into the real conditions on the ground, assess the situation, engage with local stakeholders, and tailor strategies based on direct observations.

Capacity Building

• MAGENTA tailored and built on our ready-to-use SBC curriculum in English from our MAGENTA Academy based on findings and insights obtained through the desk review, consultations, and field visit.

• This holistic process ensured that the training materials were highly relevant, engaging, and finely tailored to cater to the specific requirements and interests of the participants.

• The final product was a bespoke training programme that addressed their specific needs and aspirations and focused on building practical skills and knowledge that can be applied in their daily work.

• The workshop started with building a case for SBC and an overview of the 360 SBC approach. Over the course of two days, the workshop also covered SBC research, theories of change, target audience analysis, intervention design, testing and piloting, and monitoring and evaluation.

Review Sessions

• The review sessions facilitated by MAGENTA served as a pivotal platform for the consortium partners to enhance their problem statements by incorporating an apprehensive behavioural component. The action plan meticulously integrated behavioural target audience segmentations, employing the UNICEF Behavioural Drivers Model (BDM)vii as a comprehensive framework to systematically diagnose and analyse behavioural barriers associated with improper disposal of waste materials.

Main Findings

The below explores the main findings of the roundtable discussion, literature review, field visit, participatory workshop, and the review sessions. The conversations and discussions have proved that waste management is one of the most difficult issues to see through a behavioural lens, as the consensus is that it is primarily a structural problem, that can only be solved by structural solutions. Our diagnostic analysis has revealed the following behavioural barriers to adopting healthier waste management behaviours:

Recommendations

Holistic Integration of SBC

• Seamlessly integrating SBC throughout the entire programme lifecycle, fostering impactful and evidence based interventions from design to implementation, and through monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

Prioritising Capacity Building

• Empowering programme partners is a cornerstone for ensuring a robust diagnosis of determinants, drivers, and barriers, thereby enhancing their ability to efficiently design tailored and behavioural interventions.

Strategic Resource Allocation

• Recognising the pivotal role of adequate and targeted resources. Allocate sufficient funds, time, and personnel specifically towards capacity building, intervention design, and implementation. This strategic investment is essential for the streamlined integration of SBC across all programs, ensuring sustained positive outcomes.