About AfSMA
Who we are?
The AfSMA has a focused agenda of bringing together social marketing (SM), and social and behaviour change (SBM) practitioners, academics, researchers, and policy makers including macro stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, multilateral organisations, and donors. The association seeks to help build capacity and nurture the social marketing space in Africa creating an output which would be a sustainable cadre of expertise to support the scale of more effective social marketing programs and interventions on the continent.
What is Social Marketing?
Social marketing seeks to develop and integrate marketing concepts with other approaches to influence behaviours that benefit individuals and communities for the greater social good. Social marketing practice is guided by ethical principles. It seeks to integrate research, best practice, theory, audience, and partnership insight, to inform the delivery of competition sensitive and segmented social change programmes that are effective, efficient, equitable and sustainable. (Consensus definition by the boards of the International Social Marketing Association [iSMA], European Social Marketing Association [ESMA] and Australian Association of Social Marketing [AASM]).
According to the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), social marketing has become increasingly popular among governments and donors as a way of addressing serious health issues in developing countries. In Africa, social marketing techniques have been used in addressing a wide range of challenges from key health related issues such as family planning, HIV/AIDS, general pandemic prevention protocols and uptake of vaccines and nutrition to environmental and resource conservation, civil engagement, and gender-based violence.
More than information
Social marketing recognises that people do not always change their behaviour simply because
they know
the facts.
An alternative to penalties
It gives policymakers another option alongside education and fines: making positive choices easier, more relevant and
more appealing.
Better public outcomes
" We promote the use and development of African social marketing for the common good"
Who is the AfSMA for?
The association serves as a platform for exchange and mutual learning for every individual interested in, and committed to, promoting positive social change in Africa. These individuals include amongst others:
The association serves as a platform for exchange and mutual learning for every individual interested in, and committed to, promoting positive social change in Africa. These individuals include amongst others:
Students & emerging professionals
Build your skills. Grow your network.
Researchers & academics
Share your work. Shape the evidence.
Practitioners
Access tools. Find support. Moke greater impact
Policy & programme leaders
Inform policy. Strengthen programmes
NGOs & development partners
Build partnerships. Scale solutions.
Communications specialists
Use social marketing for real change
- Students of Social Marketing
- Policy Makers and Social Policy Advisors
- Researchers and Academics
- Social and Integrated Marketing Practitioners
- Behavioral Change Officers
- Social Intervention Program Managers and Bilateral Organization Officers
- Education and Health Officers
- Behavioral Change Communication Consultants
A connected African community
As an initial step in the process of registering the association, a Linkedin group has been set up which serves as an immediate social platform for association, knowledge exchange and networking amongst keen social marketing stakeholders. Members of this group will be invited to become formal members of the AfSMA once registered. The mobilization and operationalization of the AfSMA is being coordinated by a Board of Directors which has representatives from nine African countries, namely; Botswana, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia, and we hope to build a network of members that is fully inclusive of all countries in Africa.
AfSMA Affiliations
The AfSMA is affiliated with the International Social Marketing Association (iSMA) which provides AfSMA members with the benefits of a global network of stakeholders in the social marketing space. The AfSMA also offer its members webinars, seminars, conferences, social marketing resources and networking opportunities as well as provides a repository of social marketing expertise and success stories in Africa.
To find out more information about the African Social Marketing Association, please feel free to contact the President, Prof. Debbie Ellis (vigard@ukzn.ac.za) or our Coordinating secretary Dr. Lucy Nyundo (lnyundo@gmail.com).
