Building Competencies in Interpersonal Communication and Community Engagement for the Global Social Service Workforce

By
Maggie Barrows
Timothy Hunt
July 09, 2024

Launched regionally for Europe and Central Asia on June 21, 2024, the Building Social Service Workforce Competencies Model builds capacity in social work and the social services workforce by strengthening interpersonal communication and community engagement competencies. Developed by UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO) in partnership with the Social Intervention Group (SIG), Columbia School of Social Work, and the Global Health Research Center of Central Asia (GHRCCA), the comprehensive training package uses a training-of-trainer model to increase knowledge and strengthen skills, as well as establishing sustainability through a community of practice. SIG Associate Director Timothy Hunt, PhD, serves as project lead along with GHRCCA Deputy Regional Director Sholpan Primbetova and Dawn Gruss, Director of Training and Technical Assistance at SIG.

The curriculum was piloted in Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Albania in 2020 through an online training-of-trainer approach, following UNICEF’s 2019 identification of the need to develop social work competencies in the region. The initiative then broadened into 5 additional countries building cohorts of master trainers to scale up the skills in their workforce and students. The training and capacity-building curriculum for the region is guided by international standards in core competencies and cross-cultural education, prioritizing adaptation to local contexts. 

The 10-day training-of-trainer curriculum provides 60-62 training hours across two parts, each made up of five one-day models: Foundational and Advanced Interpersonal Communication, and Community Engagement Competencies. The training package lays a foundation for social work and social service educators and professionals to increase their knowledge and strengthen communication and community engagement skills while addressing social injustice, violence against children, interpersonal partner violence, forced migration and trauma, stigma, and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, disability, poverty, and other factors. Last year, this model was selected by UNICEF as one of six exemplar practice models for global dissemination. A technical guide from UNICEF SBC, co-authored by Timothy Hunt, includes guidance for developing expertise within government, community service organizations and academia.

Project lead Timothy Hunt said: “The call for a trained and skilled social service workforce is never more urgent as the world grapples with intersecting health, conflicts and economic challenges increasing the burden on those already vulnerable. Communication skills, whether between individuals, families, groups or communities, are central to a ready workforce to collaboratively define problems and build consensus and engagement. This training model brings together the core competencies for social workers and allied professions at all levels of expertise. We at Columbia School of Social Work, through the SIG and GHRCCA centers, are ready to work together with regions around the world.”

This training of trainer curriculum and collective learning model through communities of practice is now available publicly on the UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change Learning Channel through the Agora platform, and will be disseminated in 7 global regions this fall.

Below: A recording of the June 21 webinar, featuring Octavian Bivol, Deputy Regional Director for UNICEF ECARO; Mario Mosquera, Regional Advisor for UNICEF Social and Behavior Change; Aaron Greenberg, Regional Advisor for UNICEF Child Protection; and Sergiu Tomsa, Regional Social and Behavior Change Specialist (UNICEF), as well as Timothy Hunt, Sholpan Primbetova, and Dawn Gruss.

For additional information, contact Timothy Hunt and Sholpan Primbetova.