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2024 UNITED NATIONS
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE WEEK
Coordinated by the UN Behavioural Science Group, the 2024 UN Behavioural Science Week brings together 38 UN Entities across 15 events.
ALL SESSIONS WILL BE RECORDED AND MADE AVAILABLE HERE
Join the
UN BeSci
Group
High-level Opening: Embedding BeSci into the Work of the UN
(EOSG and UNIN)
Cultivating a Data-driven Culture with BeSci
(IMF, UNEG, UNICEF and WIPO)
Foresight Meets BeSci
(UNDRR, UNFCCC, UN Futures Lab, UN Global Pulse and WMU)
Using Behavioural Science to Promote Information Integrity
(DPO, UNDP and UNHCR)
Behavioural Initiatives for a Sustainable Planet
(OHCHR, UNEP, UNU and World Bank)
Behavioural Approaches to Bridge the Informal/Formal Divide
(ILO and UNCDF)
The Future of Behavioural Science for Peace and Security
(DPPA and OCT)
Gender & Behavioural Science
(UNDP, UNODC and World Bank)
Getting Started with BeSci in the UN
(DCO, FAO, ICAO, IOM and UNESCO)
Behavioural Science & Organisational Behaviour
(DESA, DMSPC, DOS, IAEA and UNSSC)
Evidence that BeSci Can Meet Policy & Programming Challenges
(EOSG and UNIN)
Collaborating with Partners to Apply Behavioural Science
(FAO, UNICEF and WHO)
BeSci & Technology as Tools to Address Sexual Harassment
(IFAD, UNFPA and WFP)
Applying BeSci in Health
(UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO)
07:00
09:00 15:00
08:00 14:00
10:00 16:00
11:00 17:00
* Wednesday, May 29th at 9am EDT/3pm CEST: Introductory Session to Behavioural Science & UN 2.0
13:00
Monday, June 3
Tuesday, June 4
Wednesday, June 5
Thursday, June 6
Friday, June 7
EDT
CEST
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CHECK OUT THE
UN BESCI WEEK WEBSITE
JOIN THE UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP
UN Global Pulse UN Global Pulse
IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
IFAD International Fund for Agricultural
Development
ILO International Labour Organization
IMF International Monetary Fund
IOM International Organization for Migration
OCT United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism
OHCHR UN Human Rights Office
DCO Development Coordination Office
DESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social affairs
DMSPC Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance
DOS Department of Operational Support
DPO Department of Peace Operations
DPPA United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
EOSG Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General
FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation
UN Futures Lab UN Futures Lab
2024 UNITED NATIONS BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE WEEK PARTICIPANTS
UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP
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UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
UNIN United Nations Innovation Network
UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
UNSSC United Nations System Staff College
UNU United Nations University
WFP World Food Programme
WHO World Health Organization
WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization
WMU World Maritime University
World Bank World Bank
UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS
UN Behavioural Science
UNCDF United Nations Capital Development Fund
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNDRR United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction
UNEG United Nations Evaluation Group
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
2024 UNITED NATIONS BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE WEEK PARTICIPANTS
UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP
CHECK OUT THE
UN BESCI WEEK WEBSITE
JOIN THE UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP
ADD UN BESCI WEEK EVENTS TO YOUR CALENDAR
ADD TO CALENDAR
GO TO WEBSITE
JOIN NOW
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29
Behavioural Science & UN 2.0
Hosted by: EOSG & UNIN
What is behavioural science and how is the UN applying it? This session will provide an introduction to what behavioural science technically is, the value it is providing to the UN and Member States as well as what it means to be part of UN 2.0.
It will include remarks from Professor Cass Sunstein (Harvard University)and the EOSG in addition to behavioural scientists working in the UN speaking about how they apply BeSci.
This session aims to set up participants with an introductory understanding and relevant context about BeSci in the UN ahead of UN Behavioural Science Week.
High-level Opening: Embedding BeSci into the Work of the UN
Hosted by: EOSG & UNIN
The High-level Opening session of the 2024 UN Behavioural Science Week will discuss how UN Entities are and can further embed behavioural science into their work.
This event will feature remarks from Deputy-Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Volker Türk (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights), Jyotsna Puri (Assistant Vice-President, IFAD) and more! Stay tuned - the full line-up of speakers will be announced shortly.
Cultivating a Data Driven Culture with Behavioural Science
Hosted by: IMF, UNICEF, UNEG & WIPO
A strong culture of data is integral to successfully implementing behavioural science, but the relationship is bi-directional. Behavioural science can foster a culture of data-driven decision-making, in addition to improved understanding of causal inference in international organisations.
In this session, UNICEF will highlight initiatives to emphasise causal relationships in program evaluation. The IMF will share insights on overcoming behavioural barriers to adopting innovative data strategies. UNEG and WIPO will discuss their approach to enhancing the impact of evaluations by understanding and leveraging human behaviour. This session will feature opening remarks by Jim Tebrake (Deputy Director, IMF).
2024 UNITED NATIONS BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE WEEK
9 am EDT / 3pm CEST
9am EDT / 3pm CEST
11am EDT / 5pm CEST
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
MONDAY, JUNE 3
UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP
Featuring Deputy-Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed
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TUESDAY, JUNE 4
Foresight Meets Behavioural Science
Hosted by: UNDRR, UNFCCC, UN Futures Lab, UN Global Pulse & WMU
UN 2.0, the Secretary-General’s vision for a
forward-thinking and stronger UN, leverages "Quintet of Change" capabilities that include behavioural science and strategic foresight. Behavioural science helps us better understand human behaviours - strategic foresight enables us to anticipate different scenarios and behaviours that could play out in the future.
Presentations in this event will discuss the efforts of
UNDRR, UNFCCC, UN Futures Lab, UN Global Pulse and WMU in combining these capabilities to create
behaviourally-informed, resilient and anticipatory
futures.
Evidence that BeSci Can Meet Policy & Programming Challenges
Hosted by: EOSG & UNIN
How can behavioural science most successfully address pressing policy and programming challenges? What can we learn about what it takes to change behaviour for good from large field experiments and advanced analytics?
Join us for a session discussing these and other questions with Professor Katy Milkman (University of Pennsylvania). We will take a tour discussing behavioural science insights with policy and programming applications, covering a range of topics from megastudies to habit formation. Learn about different ways of applying behavioural science and how they relate to the work of the UN and the Sustainable Development Goals. Come with your questions for Professor Milkman!
Using Behavioural Science to Promote Information Integrity
Hosted by: DPO, UNDP & UNHCR
UN Entities are employing behaviourally-informed approaches to promote information integrity across their areas of operation.
In this session, DPO will speak about its use of data science to identify inauthentic behavioural patterns in digital media data, such as signatures of malicious actors spreading harmful narratives. UNDP will share their “Together We Talk” toolkit and outline how it helps to identify and counter the spread of harmful speech in digital spaces through a BeSci approach. UNHCR will present a response to online harms, including insights from ‘prebunking’ interventions to disinformation campaigns in a volatile humanitarian context.
2024 UNITED NATIONS BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE WEEK
7 am EDT / 1pm CEST
9am EDT / 3pm CEST
11am EDT / 5pm CEST
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5
Behavioural Approaches to Bridge the Informal/Formal Divide
Hosted by: ILO & UNCDF
For many people, having bank accounts and retirement benefits are a given. Most working people however have neither: 60% of the world’s employed population are in the informal economy, with no social security benefits, and only 40% of adults are banked. Although formalisation provides access to human rights, most institutions are designed to serve the formal sector, putting the onus on individuals to bridge the divide.
This session will showcase behavioural approaches from the ILO and UNCDF to bridge this divide including promoting social security registration of domestic workers and increasing savings through digital financial services.
Gender and Behavioural Science
Hosted by: UNDP, UNODC & World Bank
BeSci can reshape gender policy by uncovering how biases, mental models and social norms influence behaviours and social structures perpetuating gender inequality.
This event will highlight strategies to address unequal social and gender norms. The World Bank will provide guidance on how to apply a social norms lens to gender policy and interventions. UNDP will discuss their "Brave Schools" initiative, which changed perspectives and behaviours around gender issues through dialogue and reflection on social norms. UNODC will demonstrate how gendered norms shape experiences with organised crime and how behavioural science can inform gender-sensitive policies.
Behavioural Science and Organisational Behaviour
Hosted by: DESA, DMSPC, DOS, IAEA & UNSSC
Behavioural science is not only applied to external-facing policies and programmes – the UN is also exploring its application when it comes to organisational culture and behaviour.
This session will highlight experiences from DESA, DOS, DMSPC, IAEA and UNSSC applying behavioural science to change the way organisations work. It will include discussion about the application of BeSci in operations, changing mindsets in public institutions, fostering UN values and behaviours, and organisational culture in the area of atomic energy.
2024 UNITED NATIONS BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE WEEK
7 am EDT / 1pm CEST
9am EDT / 3pm CEST
11am EDT / 5pm CEST
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP
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THURSDAY, JUNE 6
Getting Started with Behavioural Science in the UN
Hosted by: DCO, FAO, ICAO, IOM & UNESCO
Many UN colleagues are thinking about how to get started with behavioural science. What are some of the lessons learned from UN colleagues who have progressed along their BeSci journey?
This session will feature discussions with DCO, FAO, ICAO, IOM and UNESCO who will share their experiences starting with and progressing behavioural science application. The discussion will cover topics including scoping projects, how behavioural science can leverage lessons from other areas of innovation, and how to garner organisational support.
Behavioural Initiatives for a Sustainable Planet
Hosted by: OHCHR, UNEP, UNU & World Bank
The Earth's temperature has risen by around 1.1°C in the past 200 years, and projections indicate continued increase. Heightened human activity is straining natural resources, exacerbating environmental degradation, and impacting global well-being.
This session will examine sustainability initiatives by OHCHR, UNEP, UNU, and the World Bank, utilising BeSci. UNU will present research on sustainable consumption. OHCHR will showcase a behaviour change pilot for organisational sustainability. The World Bank will share outcomes from clean energy interventions and a toolkit for energy access programs. UNEP will discuss insights from its flagship Global Environment Outlook report, integrating BeSci.
The Future of BeSci for Peace and Security
Hosted by: DPPA & OCT
The future of behavioural science in peace and security heralds a nuanced approach to tackling global conflicts and threats, leveraging deep insights into human psychology and behaviour. With advancements in technology, these insights enable more precise, culturally sensitive strategies for conflict prevention and resolution. This approach promises a shift towards interventions that address the root causes of conflict, emphasising human-centric solutions and ethical considerations.
In this session, DPPA and OCT will discuss behavioural science applications in the context of peace and security with Professor Mina Cikara (Harvard University) and Andrés Casas (Neuropaz).
2024 UNITED NATIONS BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE WEEK
7 am EDT / 1pm CEST
9am EDT / 3pm CEST
11am EDT / 5pm CEST
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP
8
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
Collaborating with Partners to Apply Behavioural Science
Hosted by: FAO, UNICEF & WHO
Applying behavioural science is a team effort – it involves collaboration amongst various partners.
This session will discuss how partnerships can enhance the impact of behavioural science applications, from local to global levels. FAO, UNICEF, WHO and their partners will speak about work across a range of objectives, including working with local government officials to understand the merits of BeSci, collaborating with a country to set up a BeSci team and lessons learned from forming global and regional BeSci agreements.
Applying Behavioural Science in Health
Hosted by: UNAIDS, UNICEF & WHO
Behaviour plays a central role in preventing and responding to many health issues, such as nutrition, cancer screening, vaccine uptake and HIV prevention. Using case studies leveraging behavioural science from project conception to impact evaluation, this session offers a ‘peek behind the scenes’ of practical insights from applying behavioural science in the domain of health.
UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO will present concrete examples of methods, tools, frameworks and lessons learnt, providing a view to how behavioural science can effectively address pressing health challenges.
BeSci & Technology as Tools to Address Sexual Harassment
Hosted by: IFAD, UNFPA & WFP
Technology can help to overcome some of the barriers people face in reporting sexual harassment, such as through facilitating interaction between victims and support institutions. However, the manner in which this is done can impact effectiveness.
In this session, IFAD will share the results of a behavioural audit and how it is being used to address behavioural barriers to report sexual harassment. A panel of IFAD, WFP and UNFPA will then discuss the applicability of BeSci to their work on sexual harassment and relevant behaviours that could be addressed using BeSci.
REGISTER HERE
2024 UNITED NATIONS BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE WEEK
REGISTER HERE
REGISTER HERE
7 am EDT / 1pm CEST
9am EDT / 3pm CEST
11am EDT / 5pm CEST
UN BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE GROUP