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Learn how we use evidence-based behaviour change campaigns to improve and save lives in low-income countries.
Learn about how DMI brings together two different worlds: demonstrable scientific practice and creative storytelling.
Location Early childhood development
The SUNRISE project stands for Scaling Up Nurturing care, a Radio Intervention to Stimulate Early child development. It is being evaluated by a randomised controlled trial to study the effects of mass media on early childhood development (ECD).
Burkina Faso
Early childhood development – responsive care-giving, play, child-directed language and praise.
60 x 1-minute radio spots and interactive phone-in programmes, all in seven languages.
This RCT study runs from January 2020 to December 2025. Our radio campaign began broadcasting on radio stations in Burkina Faso in October 2021 and will continue for 36 months.
Science
For our SUNRISE RCT, we are working with a group of local radio stations, half of which are broadcasting the campaign and half of which are acting as controls.
We are collecting quantitative data on children’s cognitive, language, and motor skills, as well as responsive parenting practices and the child’s immediate home environment.
Surveys will also be conducted to measure coverage of our campaign, message recall and knowledge, attitudes, and practice in relation to early childhood development (ECD).
Stories
We have conducted formative research that investigated barriers and facilitators to behaviour change relating to early childhood development. We used the results of this research to produce radio spots and 1-hour interactive call-in radio shows that address these barriers and promote cognitive development and positive parenting. We test all new spots with families within our target communities to assess their reaction and understanding.
Saturation
We broadcast our 1-minute radio spots 10 times per day, every day, all in seven languages.
We are also working with our radio station partners to create and broadcast interactive phone-in shows. This format presents listeners with stories they can relate to and invites them to discuss the key behaviours presented, allowing the community to engage with the content collectively and in depth.
Resources
Read our published papers to explore our evaluation plans and findings.
The RCT study is conducted in partnership with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University College London (UCL) and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA). We are grateful to the funders of this ambitious RCT: Wellcome and the Light Foundation.