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Introduction to AI for Social & Behaviour Change: Virtual Training

Master theoretical and practical foundations on responsible use of AI in Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) programming.

The MERL Tech Initiative and iMedia Associates, with support from the Gates Foundation, are excited to announce this virtual training opportunity to be delivered on August 27 and 28, 2025, led by SBC and tech for impact experts Sarah Osman and Isabelle Amazon-Brown. 

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for professionals working in the social impact, international development and humanitarian space interested in how AI (especially GenAI) can be used to design, deliver, and evaluate Social and Behaviour Change programmes, with an emphasis on ethical, participatory values.

This is a beginner’s course: you don’t need prior AI experience, but familiarity with tech in social impact work will be helpful.

What you’ll learn

  • Decode common AI terminology.
  • Map how AI could be used across the entire SBC programme cycle.
  • Explore real-world case studies of what others are doing with AI for SBC.
  • Understand the ethical risks vs practical benefits of AI use in SBC, and how you can mitigate them.
  • Get introduced to the most useful AI tools for SBC.
  • Practice using selected AI tools for programme design and evaluation.
  • Come away with curated resources for further learning.

Format & requirements

  • 8-hour course delivered across 2 virtual sessions on consecutive days.
  • Sessions held via Zoom, with breaks, discussion time, and guided hands-on practice.
  • Attendance at Session 1 is required to join Session 2.
  • Participants will need:
    • A stable internet connection
    • Laptop with Zoom access and camera-on capability
    • Internet-enabled mobile phone
  • You will have the opportunity to flag any accessibility requirements on the application form.

Dates & fees

Session 1: August 27, 1-5pm GMT+1
Session 2: August 28, 1-5pm GMT+1

There are no pre-reading or assignments; just show up, engage, and learn.

Thanks to Gates Foundation support, we’re offering subsidised rates:

  • Participants from High-Income Countries (HICs): $250 → $150
  • Participants from Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): $100 → $30

Instructors

Isabelle Amazon-Brown is a digital service designer and UX researcher with 15+ years designing and evaluating chatbots, mobile websites and SMS interventions within SBC programmes in Africa, Asia, and Europe. She has provided organisations including the Gates Foundation, WHO, UNICEF and Save the Children with technical advisory support and capacity building across responsible use of technology and AI in LMICs. She is the co-lead of the SBC & AI and ethics & governance Working Groups at the NLP Community of Practice and an experienced facilitator at the intersection of design, technology, content and social impact.

Sarah Osman is an applied social and behavioural science expert and global development specialist with two decades of experience working in Africa, Asia and Europe. As the founder of Osman Advisory Services, she supports governments, NGOs and multilateral agencies to design, evaluate and implement evidence-based social and behaviour change (SBC) initiatives. She is an early adopter of AI for SBC, and has worked extensively with AI since 2023 and is co-lead of the SBC & AI Working Group at the NLP Community of Practice.

This course is sold out!

Interested in other training opportunities at the intersection of AI, development & humanitarian work, and MERL? Check out MTI’s offering here.