Sayara International

04/14/2023

Explore our methodology and materials used in our strategy aimed at countering disinformation across the Sahel region in Africa.

Collaborating with information experts, media professionals, and social media influencers, we produced TV and radio content and hosted workshops to increase the reach and resonance of truthful messaging on COVID-19.

At Sayara International, we regularly draw on our expertise in social behavior change communication (SBCC) to oppose harmful narratives.

Read more: https://sayarainternational.com/the-truth-about-covid-19/

04/07/2023

Sayara International’s provision of complex monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and social and behavior change communication (SBCC) helps to support health initiatives in the most challenging environments.

On immunization, we conducted studies on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding immunization in Afghanistan. We also evaluated immunization programs in Lebanon to inform UNICEF’s 2020-2025 immunization strategy in the country.

Read more: https://sayarainternational.com/lifesaving-vaccinations-in-lebanon/

In a recent health communications program in the Sahel region, we drew on our expertise in SBCC to increase the reach and resonance of truthful COVID-19-related messaging and to counter malign narratives.

Read more: https://sayarainternational.com/the-truth-about-covid-19/

Our research also helps to improve access to a variety of health services. In Sudan, we assess the provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and health services to support sustainable returnee reintegration activities.

In Afghanistan, we monitored the performance of nutrition counselors supporting pregnant women, mothers, and caregivers in hard-to-reach rural communities. We also completed an evaluation of the quality of and access to gender-based violence (GBV) response services in the country.

In Lebanon, we conducted a baseline assessment aimed at understanding and reducing economic barriers to accessing health services. The report highlighted the need for better awareness of free vaccinations and mental health assistance.

Read more about our work: https://sayarainternational.com/blog/

World Health Organization (WHO)

04/04/2023

Explore our methodology for studying social norms and tolerance of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

As part of our commitment to mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), we used a feminist ecological model and participatory research in our pioneering study in Honduras for the Spotlight Initiative – the largest global effort to end VAWG.

We identified the principal social norms that permit tolerance of epidemic levels of VAWG in the country. Drawing on our expertise in social behavior change communication (SBCC), our research helped to inform campaigns, policies, and programming aimed at preventing VAWG.

Sayara International's CEO, Nama Vanier, presented the study at the Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in December.

Read more: https://sayarainternational.com/sayara-methodology-for-studying-social-norms-and-tolerance-to-vawg/

The Spotlight Initiative is a global partnership between the European Union and the United Nations.

ONU Honduras UNICEF Honduras UNFPA Honduras PNUD en Honduras Unión Europea en Honduras Instituto Universitario en Democracia Paz y Seguridad

03/29/2023

Does Kenya’s new Refugee Act address gaps in refugees' access to justice and social inclusion?

Our recent research analyzed whether Kenya's new refugee laws meet international and regional obligations and normative standards. It also explored the key justice issues for Somalian refugees and Kenyan host communities.

We presented our results at the 3rd Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Scientific Conference on Migration and Displacement, organized by IGAD Secretariat in Eastern Africa, GIZ,German International Cooperation, the World Bank, and Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete.

For more information: https://sayarainternational.com/research-on-kenyas-new-refugee-act/

03/27/2023

Sayara International is proud to be working alongside Panagora Group and Weeyacom on this exciting collaboration.

Our work on the USAID Sudan Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity provides comprehensive operational and technical support to the USAID Mission and its implementing partners.

We’re to announce the launch of the 5-year USAID Sudan Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activity, which we will lead, supported by our partners Sayara International and Weeyacom .

Our talented team will work with USAID and other stakeholders to improve performance management at all levels, helping the Mission meet Agency requirements, make evidence-based decisions, and advance a culture of learning across USAID/Sudan and its partners.

Read our latest story to learn more about our work on this Activity in:
🗸MEL
🗸CLA & Program Design
🗸Adaptive Mgmt
🗸Development & outreach comms
🗸Private Sector Engagement + more!

➡️ http://ow.ly/xVXG50NsR9H

03/23/2023

We are proud to have worked on the Spotlight Initiative – the largest global effort to end violence against women and girls (VAWG). Our study in Honduras continues to inform campaigns, policies, and programming aimed at preventing VAWG.



ONU Honduras UNICEF Honduras UNFPA Honduras PNUD en Honduras Unión Europea en Honduras Instituto Universitario en Democracia Paz y Seguridad

03/22/2023

On World Water Day, we join with others worldwide to highlight the importance of clean, managed water for safe sanitation facilities and effective irrigation systems that are vital to our health, livelihoods, and the environment.

At Sayara International, we have conducted water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) household knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) studies and mapped sanitation services to inform the design of WASH management plans across schools, hospitals, and public spaces in Sudan.

For UNICEF, we conducted third-party monitoring of services aiming to improve the knowledge transfer of nutrition, health, and WASH best practices in Afghanistan. We presented solutions leveraging key principles of social and behavioral change communications to complement existing measures.

In Lebanon, we utilized remote sensing and in-depth interviews to track the results of United Nations Development Programme - UNDP investment in irrigation systems aimed at improving livelihoods and reducing social tensions between host communities and Syrian refugees.

Read more about our work: https://sayarainternational.com/blog/

Find out more about World Water Day: https://www.worldwaterday.org/

03/21/2023

Sayara sends best wishes to everyone celebrating Nowruz – from all our teams worldwide.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. Promoting values of peace and solidarity, as well as the affirmation of life in harmony with nature, Nowruz is celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide.

Find out more: https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-nowruz-day

03/17/2023

Explore our methodology and materials used in our strategy aimed at countering disinformation across the Sahel region in Africa.

Collaborating with information experts, media professionals, and social media influencers, we produced TV and radio content and hosted workshops to increase the reach and resonance of truthful messaging on COVID-19.

At Sayara International, we regularly draw on our expertise in social behavior change communication (SBCC) to oppose harmful narratives.

For more information: https://sayarainternational.com/the-truth-about-covid-19/

03/16/2023

Throughout the past year, Sayara International's research has provided insights into the humanitarian crisis ongoing in Dadaab. Our findings analyze the social, political, and economic inclusion of refugees from the perspective of Kenyan host communities and refugees, as well as within the Kenyan legal frameworks.

This research yielded findings on Kenyan host community attitudes on the return of Somali refugees from Dadaab refugee complex to Somalia. In June, we presented these at the Research & Evidence Facility (REF) international conference in Nairobi, funded by the European Union Trust Fund for Africa.

Read more: https://sayarainternational.com/refugee-return-research-in-dadaab-kenya/

We also assessed whether Kenya's new Refugee Act meets international and regional obligations and normative standards. In November, we presented our research at the 3rd Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD Secretariat) Scientific Conference on Migration and Displacement. This conference was organized by IGAD in Eastern Africa, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the World Bank, and Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete.

Read more: https://sayarainternational.com/research-on-kenyas-new-refugee-act/

03/11/2023

Best wishes to everyone celebrating the restoration of the independence of Lithuania today – from Sayara’s team in Lithuania and all our teams around the world.

03/08/2023

On International Women’s Day, we join with others to work towards a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. We are committed to mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) as a fundamental cross-cutting theme across our policies, practices, and programs.

We recognize that inequalities stem from unequal power dynamics and manifest across diverse social identities, including gender. Our programs and internal practices, therefore, aim to offset social disadvantages and discrimination – promoting a more equitable world.

Recently, we engaged with over 600 Gender and Youth Activity (GAYA) project partner staff across 40 countries – including Sudan – as part of a USAID - US Agency for International Development Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance initiative that aimed to better integrate gender and youth perspectives in their program delivery.

As part of our commitment to tackling gender inequality, we have worked on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Girls’ Education Challenge – the largest global fund dedicated to girls’ education – in Kenya, Afghanistan, and Somalia. In Honduras, we worked on the Spotlight Initiative, the largest global effort to end violence against women and girls.

Read more: https://sayarainternational.com/sayaras-methodology-for-studying-social-norms-and-tolerance-to-vawg/

In Tanzania, we conducted a participatory gender analysis on barriers and opportunities for women and marginalized smallholder farmers to inform the design of a program aimed at tackling harmful gender norms and creating economic opportunities for women.

In a project aimed at countering COVID-19-related disinformation in the Sahel, we integrated GESI into our target audience analysis. We identified new channels to reach women and marginalized groups and tailored campaign content to their needs and interests.

Read more: https://sayarainternational.com/the-truth-about-covid-19/