Preparing

Budget for the Integrated SBCC Program

Several budgeting and financial considerations are unique to integrated SBCC programs. Think through all of the cost implications of integrated SBCC programs, and be sure to budget for them appropriately from the beginning.

Bear the following in mind when preparing budgets, establishing financial systems and tracking expenditures:

Budgeting Considerations

"In integrated SBCC programs, underfunded activities often get a higher return on their investment. Under the Tanzania Capacity and Communication Project (TCCP), for example, our [MCH] funding was very little compared to our PEPFAR (U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), PMI (U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative) and Population funding. MCH, however, was the ‘link’ that tied all of these areas together. A campaign grounded in healthy pregnancy, safe delivery and the first year of a child’s life would also help us address PMTCT, the prevention of malaria in pregnancy and post-partum family planning, together with early and complete ANC attendance, individual birth planning, delivery at a health facility and several other aspects of MCH. We ended up developing Wazazi Nipendeni (Love me, parents) – a huge, integrated national campaign that had a sizeable focus on MCH – with very few actual MCH dollars."

– Robert Karam
Chief of Party, TCCP

Think through all of the cost implications of integrated SBCC programs, and be sure to budget for them appropriately from the beginning.