Training course on Behavioral Change Communications on Payment of Forest Environment Services

From February, 25^th to 27^th, 2015, SRD in collaboration with the Provincial Management Unit of Vietnam Forests and Deltas Program (VFD) in Thanh Hoa held a Training of Trainers (ToT) course on Behavioral Change Communication on Payment of Forest Environment Services (PFES). The course was participated by staff of the Forest Protection and Development Fund, Protection Forest Management Board, Project Management Unit, district-level ranger stations and agriculture extension centers of Thanh Hoa province. The training course aimed at providing basic knowledge on behavioral change communication as well as improving communication skills for local officials who are directly involved in PFES implementation and will conduct community communication activities in the future. 

( Picture: students doing group discucssion) 

Behavioral change communication (BCC) is an interactive process of any intervention with individuals, communities and/or societies (as integrated with an overall program) to develop communication strategies to promote positive behaviors which are appropriate to their settings. This in turn provides a supportive environment which will enable people to initiate, sustain and maintain positive and desirable behaviour outcomes. During the three-day training course, students were introduced to the concept of behavior change communication and identified target populations. Students also participated in group discussion and exercises about communication product design development and communication event about PFES at community level celebration. With the support from trainers, they also developed  creative briefs for PFES communication products and implementation plan of PFES communication events in their district. 

( (Picture: student doing presentation)

VFD program, coordinated by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with funding from USAID, is implemented by Winrock International and its implementing partners, including  the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), American Red Cross, Vietnam Red Cross and SRD in the provinces of Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Long An. One of the three main component of program is Sustainable Landscape which focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in forestry sector. In Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, the program aims at creating an enabling environment for PFES implementation through communication events to promote the local participation in PFES and the efficient use of PFES money for livelihood improvement and sustainable forests protection and management.

-SRD-