STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH KNOWLEDGE: SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE IN-SERVICE TRAINING

By Cuma Pantshwa.

• As the HIV epidemic continues to evolve, so too do the strategies needed to combat it.
• The Department of Social Development is holding a two-day intensive Social and Behaviour Change in-service training workshop to ensure non-profit organisations stay abreast of developments.
• The department recognises that NPOs, as the first point of contact for vulnerable communities, play a central role in implementing social and behavioural change programmes across South Africa.

The Department of Social Development has convened Gauteng-based non-profit organisations (NPOs) in Pretoria for an intensive two-day Social and Behaviour Change in-service training workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of organisations working at the heart of social challenges.

The session, facilitated under the department’s ongoing partnership with civil society, was designed as a space for knowledge sharing, skills refreshing, and revitalisation.

“As the Department of Social Development, we recognise that NPOs are often the first point of contact for vulnerable communities and thus play a central role in implementing social and behavioural change programmes across South Africa,” said Dr Luzile Nziyane, director of the HIV prevention directorate.

Opening the training session, she provided a compelling overview of the HIV epidemic in South Africa, grounding the discussion in the latest evidence from the Human Sciences Research Council’s HIV surveys.

She stressed that NPOs must be equipped with current knowledge to remain relevant and impactful in the communities they serve.

“All this is necessary to ensure that these organisations understand and have thorough knowledge to stay relevant to the communities they are serving,” Dr Nziyane emphasised.

The HIV context: Progress and ongoing challenges

The latest survey paints a nuanced picture of South Africa’s HIV response.

While significant progress has been made in expanding access to treatment and reducing deaths, challenges remain in reducing new infections, particularly among young people.
•⁠ ⁠In 2022, HIV prevalence stood at 12.7%, showing a decrease from 14% in 2017. This represents 107 000 fewer people living with HIV in 2022.
•⁠ ⁠The total number of people living with HIV is at 7.8 million, compared to 7.9 million in 2017.
•⁠ ⁠South Africa accounts for 42% of new HIV infections among young people on the African continent — underscoring the urgent need for youth-focused prevention efforts.
•⁠ ⁠Adolescent girls and young women remain disproportionately affected. Alarmingly, in South Africa, 12 young women are infected with HIV every hour.
•⁠ ⁠HIV prevalence varies across provinces, with the highest levels in KwaZulu-Natal, followed by Mpumalanga, the Free State, and the Eastern Cape. The Western Cape has the lowest prevalence. At a district level, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and eThekwini recorded the highest HIV prevalence rates.
•⁠ ⁠Prevalence is also consistently higher in rural areas than in urban centres, pointing to structural inequalities in health access and socio-economic conditions.

These statistics were not shared merely for information but as a call to action for NPOs to sharpen their programming and ensure interventions are tailored to the lived realities of communities.

The department has funded these NPOs to implement the following social and behaviour change programmes: YOLO; ChommY; Boys Championing Change; the Family’s Matter Programme; Men Championing Change; and Rock Leadership Programme for traditional leaders.

Supporting NPOs on the ground

This Social and Behaviour Change in-service training is targeted at NPOs that implement these programmes.

These organisations deliver critical services in communities, from HIV prevention and awareness campaigns to youth mentorship, substance abuse prevention, and gender-based violence interventions.

By convening this session, the Department of Social Development is not only strengthening the knowledge base of NPOs but also reinforcing the principle of collaboration and sustained support.

“The work done here today reflects the department’s recognition that meaningful change happens at community level, where NPOs are trusted, accessible, and able to mobilise people around healthier choices and behaviours, while also being equipped and refreshed on compliance and governance, financial management, and other strategies to grow and strengthen their interventions in service of communities,” said Dr Nziyane.

A shared responsibility

The HIV epidemic continues to evolve, and with it, the strategies needed to combat it.

South Africa’s progress in expanding treatment coverage and lowering mother-to-child transmission rates is a global success story. Yet, as the survey data confirms, prevention remains a key gap, especially among young people.

NPOs, backed by the Department of Social Development, are uniquely placed to respond to this challenge.

Their grassroots presence allows them to design interventions that speak directly to the realities of youth, women, and vulnerable households.

Whether through school-based programmes, peer support networks, or door-to-door community outreach, these organisations bring the fight against HIV and other social ills to where it matters most.

By equipping NPOs with evidence, tools, and peer support, the department is investing in solutions that transform lives at the community level.

Dr Nziyane concluded: “This training is not just a workshop, but a vital step in sustaining South Africa’s progress in building healthier, stronger, and more resilient community