Common Thread

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Common Thread Behavioural design for public health.

🪢 Solving the world’s toughest humanitarian problems takes people from different organisations, sectors, and borders wor...
19/08/2026

🪢 Solving the world’s toughest humanitarian problems takes people from different organisations, sectors, and borders working as one. Easier said than done, especially when everyone has different priorities, mandates, and full plates.

We partnered with UN OCHA to find out how mutual accountability actually gets built in these hard contexts. Turns out it’s not SOPs or guidance notes, it’s five behaviours: investing in trust, creating shared expectations, making accountability visible, focusing on a shared mission, and leading with humility and courage.

We’re digging deeper into what makes organisational change stick. Have you tried building mutual accountability across teams? What worked (or didn’t)? Tell us below 👇

Have you ever rolled out a change initiative in your organization, explained it clearly, and watched people actively dig...
19/08/2026

Have you ever rolled out a change initiative in your organization, explained it clearly, and watched people actively dig in against it - or just default to the old way of doing things?

You’re not alone. Most organizational change efforts assume that if people understand what’s happening, they’ll act on it. But knowing and doing are two different things, and in that space is where change often falls apart.

The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) got ahead of this and asked us to bring behavioural science into their UNLOCK Lab – a programme that supports organisations navigating real change. We designed and facilitated a module helping change managers understand why people resist, revert, or disengage with change – and what to do about it.

Behavioural science tells us that engagement drives learning, and our session aimed to reflect that. Quizzes, videos, and hands-on application of the EAST framework kept things interactive and grounded.

One session won’t change behaviour on its own, but it can change how a practitioner sees their work and that’s often where sustainable change begins.

Working on a change initiative that isn’t landing? Get in touch.

Common Thread’s facilitation team was so proud to support this work for the Republic of Marshall Islands and UNICEF. Tha...
22/09/2025

Common Thread’s facilitation team was so proud to support this work for the Republic of Marshall Islands and UNICEF. Thanks to all the participants for their hard work across the whole week, and for making the team so welcome.

Introducing the “66 Elements of BehSci” Card Deck 🃏: The first-ever behavioural science card deck tailored for immunizat...
16/09/2025

Introducing the “66 Elements of BehSci” Card Deck 🃏: The first-ever behavioural science card deck tailored for immunization!

Changing behaviour means understanding the barriers, linking them to what works, and tailoring solutions for maximum impact. And yes, ‘there’s a card for that’!

🔎 Drawing from the most recent meta-analyses and evidence, the deck includes:
• Barriers to immunization
• Heuristics & biases
• Proven behavioural interventions
• Adaptable ideas from other sectors
• Popular BehSci frameworks

⚙️ How it works:
• Identify the barrier
• Match it with an intervention (or more)
• Layer in a heuristic to boost impact
• Link it all together into a draft behavioural approach for common immunization challenges

❓ Why? To make behavioural science simple, practical, and effective to increase immunization coverage in the real world.

🙏 Thanks to everyone who collaborated to this idea and its execution!

This is a beta version! Since we love feedback, please tell us what you think in the comments!

What does good health look like to you?To these Ghanaian girls, good health goes beyond a nutritious diet. To them, good...
08/03/2023

What does good health look like to you?

To these Ghanaian girls, good health goes beyond a nutritious diet. To them, good health goes hand in hand with financial stability, access to technology, personal space and books, and a strong support system of friends and family to lean on. To them, this is what paves a bright and successful future. To them, that is good health.

And we couldn't agree more.

We're working with to design adolescent health services that embrace and support what good health means for girls in Ghana, so that the next generation of women have the agency to take control of their futures.

12/10/2022

Help Kenya fight the next pandemic!

There's just 5 days left to submit your innovative idea for the opportunity to receive up to $350,000 USD in funding and implementation support.

What are you waiting for? Apply by Mon 17 Oct
www.callforchangekenya.com/apply

03/10/2022

Last week, we launched the with Gates Foundation and World Bank to support The Ministry of Health with innovative ideas that can help counties fight the next pandemic.

Maybe you have an idea that needs funding, or maybe you have funding that needs an idea. Maybe you're an expert in Kenya's health systems, or maybe you take a people-centered approach to public health.

And maybe you still have a lot of questions.

Thankfully, we have answers. We’re holding a virtual info session THIS Wednesday, 5 October at 3PM EAT/12PM GMT. Join the Zoom here ➡️ http://ow.ly/fbfp50KZzrB

28/09/2022

The is officially live!

We're working with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and World Bank to invest over $350,000 in solutions that can help Ministry of Health, Kenya respond to current and future pandemics at the county level.

We're currently looking for:

🌱 People with innovative ideas
☀️ People who can help bring these ideas to life

Whether you're a seed, or the sunshine, we'd love to hear from you!

Visit our website to submit your idea, or learn how you can support as a mentor or investor ➡️ callforchangekenya.com

28/09/2022

The is officially live!

We're working with Gates Foundation and World Bank to invest over $350,000 in solutions that can help The Ministry of Health respond to current and future pandemics at the county level.

We're currently looking for:

🌱 People with innovative ideas
☀️ People who can help bring these ideas to life

Visit our website to submit your idea, or learn how you can support as a mentor or investor ➡️ callforchangekenya.com

Whether you're a seed, or the sunshine, we'd love to hear from you!

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