UNICEF launches BIRD-Lab Nigeria for child-centered research

UNICEF launches “BIRD-Lab Nigeria,” pioneering laboratory for designs of the future in Africa The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched BIRD-Lab Nigeria, a first-of-their-kind Behavioural Insights research and design lab in Nigeria with the aim of focusing on putting the children and the community at the heart of Development.

This program represents a new model of change that combines behavioural science and cross-sector expertise in an integrative process to better understand and respond to the realities of children and communities, with overall results that lead to the sustainable improvement of child welfare and development.

Through the binding at once of psychology, sociology, nutrition, communication, and all other related disciplines BIRD-Lab Nigeria has set an aspiration to reinvent UNICEF interventions toward children and invest in human capital development for the future of this most populous country in Africa where social challenges take diverse forms.

The vision and collaborative foundation of BIRD-Lab Nigeria

UNICEF Nigeria’s country representative, Wafaa Saeed, emphasized that BIRD-Lab Nigeria is beyond a physical space or research laboratory. It is a vibrant platform founded on the notion that for solutions to be effective, they have to emanate from an understanding of human behavior and experiences. The lab brings together experts from different fields working in an environment of cooperation which goes beyond the typical programmatic compartmentalization. 

This integrated model inspires innovative behavioral research and co-creation of sustainable solutions with children and communities, not for them. It does not impose alien interventions on the community.

Important to this is the laboratory’s function as a center for disseminating knowledge and building capacity, particularly among graduate students and young researchers. In addition to enhancing Nigeria’s academic and professional landscapes, this ensures the infusion of behavioral insights into real-time decisions that affect maternal, infant, and child health. The partnership with major Nigerian actors—the Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and University of Lagos (UNILAG) manifests Lab’s national scope plus investment. Already forming part of this consortium are nineteen Nigerian universities which embody an integrated network directed toward sustaining impact.

Behavioral science as a catalyst for innovative child development

The basic method used by BIRD-Lab is to apply behavioral science models and human-centered design in breaking down and changing the decision-making processes of individuals and communities. It discusses how cognitive, social, and environmental factors influence behaviors that result in health, educa­tional, and social outcomes. By collect­ing detailed behavioral evidence, the lab helps policymakers, imple­menters, and communities go beyond superficial assumptions to make inter­ventions more specific (UNICEF BIRD-Lab).

A trademark strength of the lab has been its participatory ethos involving children, caregivers, and local stakeholders in active research as well as solution design. Such inclusion ensures not only better cultural appropriateness and acceptability interventions but also transforms community empowerment from that of passive receivers to active agents for change. For example, efforts to increase immunization coverage understood barriers through behavioral surveillance and incentive structures or communication campaigns that take on a local flavor.

This approach enables UNICEF to tailor its programs to specific societal dynamics, improving efficacy and sustainability (UNICEF BIRD-Lab).

Furthermore, BIRD-Lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, combining expertise from fields such as psychology, nutrition, communications, and public health. This contributes to comprehensive strategies that address multiple determinants of childhood outcomes simultaneously, rather than isolated sectoral solutions. The lab also emphasizes real-time monitoring and iterative adaptation of interventions, critical in complex and rapidly changing environments like Nigeria.

Impact and measurable outcomes: From research to policy

Behavioral research outcomes generated by BIRD-Lab are designed to influence concrete policy formulation and programmatic reform in Nigeria. By providing data-driven evidence, the lab supports government agencies in aligning services and outreach programs more closely with community behaviors and needs. This evidence-to-policy translation mechanism is crucial for ensuring that interventions do not remain academic exercises but yield measurable improvements in child survival, nutrition, immunization rates, and related health indicators (NAN, 2025).

The Federal Ministry of Health’s commitment to dedicating space for integrating BIRD-Lab’s findings into national health policies marks a significant institutional endorsement, signaling a paradigm shift towards evidence-based governance. The adherence to impact metrics such as reductions in maternal and infant mortality, enhanced immunization coverage, and improved maternal nutrition reflects the lab’s alignment with Nigeria’s national health priorities and global development goals.

Moreover, the lab’s engagement with academic institutions and civil society organizations ensures that research capacity continues to grow sustainably within the Nigerian context. It creates career pathways for young scholars and professionals dedicated to applying behavioral science to pressing development challenges, thereby embedding this expertise locally and promoting long-term developmental resilience (Peoples Gazette, 2025).

Lessons from international behavioral insights labs and partnerships

BIRD-Lab Nigeria draws inspiration and methodological support from similar initiatives globally, including Ethiopia’s Behavioral Insights Research and Design Laboratory, which emphasizes integrating behavioral economics and human-centered design into public health and social protection programs (BIRD-Lab Ethiopia, 2023). Collaborative ties with centers like Busara Behavioral Economics in Kenya enable the exchange of best practices, co-development of tools, and joint implementation of interventions that leverage scientific insights into human behavior.

Such global collaboration frameworks exemplify how behavioral insights labs can serve as catalysts for innovative problem-solving in diverse contexts while maintaining adaptability to local culture and conditions. This international link also positions Nigeria at the forefront of a growing network of countries harnessing behavioral science for equitable, child-centered development.

The promise and challenge of sustainable behavioral change in Nigeria

The inauguration of BIRD-Lab Nigeria signifies a milestone in the integration of behavioral sciences into development programming within the country. However, the journey ahead entails ongoing challenges including sustaining multi-sectoral partnerships, securing consistent funding, and scaling effective interventions beyond pilot phases.

Ensuring robust government ownership alongside active civil society participation will be essential to keep behavioral insights central to national policy agendas. Likewise, embedding ethical standards in research and intervention design ensures respect for the rights and dignity of participating communities, addressing potential power imbalances inherent in external research initiatives.

The long-term success of BIRD-Lab hinges on maintaining focus on measurable impact, fostering continuous learning, and adapting to Nigeria’s evolving social, economic, and health landscapes. By doing so, it has the potential to not only transform UNICEF’s child development work but also contribute decisively to Nigeria’s broader goals of improved health equity, social inclusion, and sustainable prosperity.

A transformative step toward child-centered development

UNICEF’s establishment of BIRD-Lab Nigeria marks an innovative and strategic step toward radically improving child and community well-being through the rigorous application of behavioral science. By anchoring development efforts in deep, evidence-based understanding of human decisions and social dynamics, the lab redefines traditional approaches, placing children’s realities at the core of sustainable solutions.

This initiative exemplifies the potential of multidisciplinary collaboration, conscious integration of community voices, and data-driven program design to achieve meaningful and lasting improvements in child survival, health, and education outcomes across Nigeria. Moreover, it offers a replicable model for other nations seeking to harness behavioral insights for social good, contributing to the global advancement of children’s rights and development.

With the concerted commitment of government partners, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and UNICEF’s expertise, BIRD-Lab Nigeria is poised to be a beacon of innovation, equity, and hope—transforming lives by shaping behaviors and policies that build a better future for Nigeria’s children and communities.