From intent to implementation : behavioral science for development / Stuart Davies, Santiago Goicoechea, Judith Beatrice Oduol, Soyeon Chae, Kenneth Iversen

From intent to implementation : behavioral science for development / Stuart Davies, Santiago Goicoechea, Judith Beatrice Oduol, Soyeon Chae, Kenneth Iversen

[New York]: UNEN, 2026

English

UNEN Working Paper; No. 2

Accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a polycrisis context of overlapping shocks and limited fiscal space increasingly depends on effective implementation—turning policy goals into equitable access, ongoing engagement, and dependable service delivery. Behavioral science (BeSci) provides a practical, evidence-based approach to enhance delivery by identifying behavioral biases and obstacles—such as low salience, complex procedures, burdensome compliance steps, weak handoffs, and low trust—and redesigning processes, communication, and service interactions to reduce friction and improve follow-through. This paper presents an operating model for integrating BeSci throughout the program cycle (diagnose, design, test, scale, monitor, and evaluate), supported by a methods toolkit and guidance for rapid learning using administrative and survey data (both digital and manual). It also outlines safeguards for responsible implementation, including a human rights-based approach, transparency and accountability, inclusion and accessibility by design, and evaluation standards proportionate to risk, scale, and potential harm.

English