Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, June 10, 2025 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), with support from KOICA, hosted its first-ever workshop on social and behavior change communication (SBCC) in Vientiane Capital on June 6. The one-day training aimed to improve communication skills among the GGGI Lao PDR Circular Economy Unit team, government counterparts and consulting firms as part of the KOICA funded Scaling out Solid waste and wastewater management to Improve Public Health and Environment in the Lao PDR project.

The workshop focused on enhancing practical skills in strategic communication planning for waste-related issues, where participants learned to identify waste management challenges, how to analyze the problems and how to design effective campaigns to address key behavioral challenges.

The training brought together 19 participants representing GGGI, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), Department of Housing and Urban Planning (DHUP), Urban Development Administration Authority (UDAA) of Vang Vieng and Sangthong districts as well as consulting firms to engage in hands-on group work, including campaign planning simulations and quizzes.

With these new skills in hand, the teams will now apply what they have learned to real campaigns across project sites.

“Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) is not just about delivering messages—it’s about transforming mindsets and habits. When applied strategically to waste management, SBCC can bridge the gap between knowledge and action.” Said Namchaythip Souvannavong, GGGI Communications and Knowledge Sharing Officer. “By combining community engagement, behavioral nudges, and the influence of trusted local figures, we can create an enabling environment where responsible waste practices become the norm, not the exception. Ultimately, SBCC empowers communities to take ownership of their environment, reinforcing sustainable behaviors that benefit public health, local ecosystems, and future generations.” She added.

“In my community campaigns experience, I usually acted based on the problem at hand without following any specific framework. The ‘steps of change’ session helped me realize that we’ve often skipped important stages. Now I understand how structured planning can make our communication efforts more effective.’’ Said Bounxou Wungsakul from Lao Consulting Group Ltd.

Another participant, George Asiimwe, GGGI project manager, noted during the closing session that ” This workshop went beyond my expectations. It helped strengthen our partnership, gave our partners insight into how GGGI approaches communication, and ensured we are all speaking the same language when engaging with external stakeholders”.

This training supports GGGI’s broader work under the KOICA-funded Phase II of the Scaling Out Sustainable Solid Waste and Wastewater Management project, which centers on improving solid waste and wastewater management to promote green city development. The USD 10.5 million initiative targets over 227,000 residents and supports city-level waste and sanitation strategies across key sites.