Handwashing with soap is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases, but behavior change to increase handwashing remains a challenge. On September 12, 2017, the Global Handwashing Partnership and USAID hosted a webinar that focused on behavior change approaches for handwashing with soap. The webinar gave participants ideas and perspectives to use on Global Handwashing Day and throughout the year.

During this webinar, Dr. Reshmaan Hussam, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, presented key takeaways from an experiment in India exploring the role of habit formation in increasing handwashing rates, as well as a novel technology to measure handwashing behavior. Then, Prof. Dr. Hans Mosler, a Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Zurich and the Group Leader for Environmental and Health Psychology at EAWAG, discussed the RANAS model and how it was used to change handwashing behavior among schoolchildren and caregivers in Zimbabwe. Nga Kim Nguyen, Senior WASH and Social Behavior Change Adviser at USAID, moderated the webinar and facilitated an active discussion to help participants apply these results and ideas for formative research, program design, and more.

Visit the Global Handwashing Partnership website , to learn more about the outcomes of these case studies and to access a recording of the webinar.

On September 12th at 9:30 am EDT, join the Global Handwashing Partnership and USAID for an engaging discussion on behavior change strategies for handwashing with soap.

Just in time for your Global Handwashing Day preparations, experts will present updates on recent research and key implications of two frameworks for handwashing behavior change; answer your questions on how to apply these approaches; and share new learning and advocacy resources.

• Dr. Reshmaan Hussam, Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, will present an experiment exploring the role of habit formation in increasing handwashing rates in India as well as a novel technology to measure handwashing behavior.
• Prof. Dr. Hans Mosler, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Zurich and Group Leader for Environmental and Health Psychology at EAWAG, will present on the use of the RANAS (risks, attitudes, norms, abilities, and self‐regulation) model to change handwashing determinants and behavior among school children and care givers in rural and urban Zimbabwe.
• A discussion moderated by Nga Kim Nguyen, Senior Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and Social Behavior Change Adviser at USAID, will help participants apply these results and ideas for formative research, program design and more.

Visit the GHP website to register and please share this announcement with your networks.