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Social & Behaviour Change

"Social and Behaviour Change is about understanding how people actually make decisions and designing programmes that support better choices."

Ankita Kumari is a Social & Behaviour Change (SBC) professional and researcher with over six years of experience working across public health and development systems. Her work focuses on applying behavioural science, qualitative research, and strategic communication to strengthen programmes, policies, and service delivery.

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A certified trainer on Human-Centered Design from Johns Hopkins CCP, Ankita holds two master degrees -
M.Sc. Development Communication & Extension and
Masters in Business Administration (Human Resource Management)

Road so far

Worked on high-impact SBC initiatives across tobacco control, non-communicable diseases, early childhood development, menstrual hygiene, family planning and reproductive health, comprehensive sexuality education, lead and other heavy metal contamination, and RMNCAH+N.

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Her work spans strategy design, behavioural research, technical assistance, capacity strengthening, and knowledge practice, in collaboration with government systems, donor-funded programmes, and civil society organisations. Ankita has worked with institutions including the Center for Communication and Change–India (sister affiliate of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs), ROSHNI-CWCSA (Technical Support Unit to UNICEF India), UNICEF, USAID, WHO, World Bank, Global Development Network, Van Leer Foundation, as well as government ministries and organisations such as the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, VIVA Social Communications, Women Power Connect, and Menstrupedia to name a few.

Notable projects

  • Research, communications and capacity strengthening for Swabhimaan Project by UNICEF India

  • Research Lead and Project Manager for pre-test of Pictorial Health Warning messages in tobacco products, World Health Organization (2022 and 2024)

  • Proposal Reviewer for the 2025 Global Development Awards Competition- Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development

  • Project Manager for Tamil Nadu Health Systems Reform Project (TNHSRP) documentation and dissemination, World Bank (2024)

  • Research Associate for ‘Thotraa Noyi Illaa Thamizhagam’ or ‘NCD-free Tamil Nadu’, World Bank (2021-2023)

  • Project Manager for National First Thousand Days initiative- Paalan 1000 and Integration of Social and Behaviour Change in Early Childhood Development projects, Van Leer Foundation (2021-2024)

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  • Project Manager for Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategy development for heavy metal and lead contamination, funded by Jhpiego under the USAID-funded NISHTHA initiative (2024)

  • Co-facilitator for USAID funded Knowledge Management Project, Knowledge SUCCESS

  • MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetric Care project, EngenderHealth
    (2021-2023)

  • Workshop Manager for Leadership in Strategic Communication workshop- Asia Region

  • Collaborations on integration of Behavioural Science for art-based well being and mental health discourse

Networks & Collaborations

  • Co-Chair, Youth Champions Subcommittee, International SBCC Summit (Panama, 2026)

  • Abstract Reviewer & International Steering Committee Member, ICFP (Colombia, 2025)

  • International Steering Committee Member, SBCC Summit (Panama, 2026)

  • Examiner/Guest Speaker, University of Delhi

  • Member, Indian Association of Dance Movement Therapists

Publications & Presentations ●Co-authored a session titled ‘Reframing Comprehensive Sexuality Education using an empathetic lens: Listening before teaching’ for the International Conference on Family Planning 2025, Colombia ●Abstract titled ‘Beyond the Pack: Integrating Behavioural Science to Strengthen Pictorial Health Warnings in India’ presented at The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2025, Copenhagen ●Co-facilitated sessions on behavioural sciences for NHM, state government PMUs, NIHFW ●Co-course writer for module on ‘holistic health of adolescents’ under the flagship of Jamia Milia Islamia (funded by UNFPA) ●Kumari, A. & Upadhyay, R. (2021). Padyali system: A traditional agricultural practice in Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand. International Journal of All Research Education & Scientific Methods, 9(9), 1838-1845. ISSN:2455-6211 ●Anand, S., & Kumari, A. (2021). Women lead the Process: Understanding how women are making local communities sensitive to Nutrition needs of women and Adolescent girls. In Gupta, K. (Ed.). Community Science and Sustainable Community Development. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing._ ISBN: 978-620-4-19757-9. ●Kumoji, E., Bharath Kumar, U., Piccinini Black, D., of Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs (CCP); Khera, A., Porwal, A., Alam, D., of EngenderHealth; Agnihotri, S., Jana, S., Kumari, A., of Center for Communication and Change-India (CCC-I). (2022). Field Test of Prototypes. Design Thinking Process. Final Report. India Delhi: USAID MOMENTUM. ●Dissertation on ‘Empowerment of Farm Women through Agricultural Practices: A Study in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India’

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