LONDON 09 FEBRUARY 2022 – The Behavioural Insights Team, innovators in the application of behavioural science to public policy around the world, is today announcing the expansion of its operations to Latin America and The Caribbean.
Since its launch by the UK Government in 2010 and acquisition by innovation charity Nesta in 2021, The Behavioural Insights Team, also known as ‘The Nudge Unit’, has grown to become a world-leading social impact company, working with governments and change-makers in over 75 countries to tackle major and impactful social issues using behavioural science, rigorous analysis, testing and evaluation.
Today’s announcement builds on a wide-ranging body of work conducted in the region over the last 8 years. During this time BIT has capitalised on a growing appetite for evaluation and evidence-based policy solutions in Latin America and the Caribbean by partnering with influential government bodies and NGOs such as Mexico’s President Office and the Inter-American Development Bank. To date, BIT has conducted more than 40 projects across the region, including 24 randomised controlled trials spanning 14 countries.
Project highlights from this diverse portfolio include using reciprocity messaging to encourage COVID vaccine-uptake in Colombia, reducing staff absenteeism in Peruvian schools by harnessing social norms and increasing help-seeking behaviours among Honduran survivors of gender-based violence through social media campaigns.
With this new dedicated Latin America and Caribbean team, BIT will be able to draw on expanded resources and expertise to partner with public and private organisations to develop, test and implement policies and interventions that improve lives and deliver social impact at scale.
A key focus of the new unit will be challenging generalisations made about human behaviour and decision-making built on the existing evidence-base which has to date overwhelmingly been conducted in and focused on so called WEIRD countries and societies (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic). BIT’s new Latin America and Caribbean team will instead be conducting culturally-sensitive and context-specific work outside of these traditional research geographies.
Marta Garnelo, Principal Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean is leading a core team of advisors in the US and new hires in Mexico, with plans to recruit staff in other countries in the region in the near future. They will continue to collaborate and build on the work led by colleagues in London and other BIT offices across the world.
Marta Garnelo, Principal Advisor, Latin America and Caribbean, said:
Since launching our first trial in Guatemala eight years ago, my colleagues and I have worked on many projects with governments and civil society partners across Latin America and the Caribbean. Behavioural science and evaluation can bring innovative solutions to some of the region’s most pressing challenges, from mitigating the effects of climate change to reducing violence. I am thrilled about growing our team on the ground and the social impact we can deliver.”
The Latin America and Caribbean team can be reached at:
Email: bitlac@bi.team
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About The Behavioural Insights Team
The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) is one of the world’s leading behavioural science consultancies, working around the world to improve people’s lives.
Through its teams in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and France, BIT works in partnership with governments, local authorities, businesses and NGOs in over 30 countries, often using simple changes to tackle major policy problems and deliver improved public services and social outcomes.
BIT was established by the UK government in 2010. In 2014 it became an independent social purpose company, part owned by the Cabinet Office and innovation charity Nesta, and since 2021 has been entirely owned by Nesta.
For more information on our work and our team visit www.bi.team and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Medium.
