Where will the Summit be held?
The Summit will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.
We know borders are currently closed in multiple countries, and Morocco has suspended all regular passenger flights in and out of Morocco until January 31. Passenger ferries have also been suspended and the borders with Ceuta and Melilla remain closed.
We are closely monitoring the situation, so please check our website frequently for updates.
Who will be attending the Summit?
The Summit will connect the many individuals and organizations working in social and behavior change communication, including donors and those working in media for development, health education, communication for development, social marketing, advertising, research agencies, community development, academic institutions, and ministries of health, gender, social welfare, education and other sectors.
How can I register for the Summit?
Registration will open in late June. Announcements will be made on the SBCC Summit website several weeks in advance of registration opening.
If I registered for the 2020 Summit will I be required to re register?
If you registered for the 2020 Summit and opted to keep your registration, you do not need to register again. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to someone else. We will open this process in the new year.
What is the cost?
The general admission rate is U.S. $775; the rate for attendees from low- and middle-income countries, is U.S. $600. Youth and student tickets will remain $575. If you kept your ticket with us and did not get a refund, there is no additional cost for attendance.
Will there be options to attend the Summit online?
Yes, some of the sessions will be streamed online. These will include the plenary sessions and several other sessions that are to be determined.
At this point we do not plan to stream-in presenters, or use any pre-recordings. All presenters with accepted abstracts should plan to attend in-person.
Will there be different prices for in person and online attendance?
Yes, there will be different prices for in-person and online attendance. We will provide updates on the registration fees for the hybrid portion prior to opening registration.
What is included in my registration?
The in-person registration fee includes full access to the Summit program including breakout sessions, keynotes, exhibition hall, etc. It also includes breakfast, lunch and coffee/tea breaks. Lodging and transportation and any activities outside of the main Summit program are not included.
The virtual registration includes access to live streaming of key Summit events. As noted above, this includes the plenary sessions, such as keynote speakers, as well as other select sessions that will be determined.
Is registration refundable?
Registrations are nonrefundable. If you are unable to attend, you can transfer your registration to someone else.
Given many people have transferred their registrations from the postponed Summit to the 2022 Summit, how many registration slots are available?
There are a limited number of registrations still available. We encourage people to sign up for registration soon after it opens to reserve a spot.
Can I access my proposal(s) originally submitted for the 2020 Summit?
When you log into your account, you will not see your previous submissions, however, accepted abstracts from 2020 can be found on the Communication Initiative.
Can we present papers used for a thesis?
If there is a strong connection to Summit themes, we would encourage you to submit it for consideration. Please think carefully about the best fit in terms of format. Be sure to use the various tips and guidelines we’ve provided to create a strong submission.
Can I submit more than one abstract?
Yes, feel free to submit as many proposals/abstracts as you like. Please note that in the interest of achieving the broadest possible representation and participation in the Summit, the Program Sub-Committee will not select more than two submissions from any one person as lead author or session organizer.
Can I submit the same proposal/abstract to different format types?
No, you cannot submit the same abstract for different formats. However, you may adapt the content from an abstract for different formats.
Can I submit multiple abstracts about the same project?
You cannot submit multiple abstracts about a project in the same format category. If you would like to submit multiple abstracts about the same project, you will have to create separate abstracts customized for different formats.
My abstract was accepted for the 2020 Summit. Can I still present it in 2022?
Acceptance for the 2020 Summit does not roll over to the 2022 Summit. There is a new call for abstracts. You are welcome to resubmit your abstract but you should include current and up-to-date information.
Can I submit an abstract that has been published or presented at a different conference?
Abstracts must contain content that has NOT been presented at another conference NOR published (or accepted for publication) in a peer-reviewed journal or book. If a submitted abstract is published prior to the Summit, the submitters would be expected to withdraw the abstract from the Summit.
Will we be able to propose a double session in the skills-building format?
The skills-building session time slot is two hours. Given the popularity of these sessions, space limitations, and in an effort to encourage broad participation, we are not accepting skills-building abstracts that need two sessions to be completed.
Can I begin working on an abstract submission and finish it later?
Yes, you can save your work and return later to work on it and submit.
What if we don't have conclusions or research findings yet but will have them in time for the Summit?
You are welcome to submit, however, your proposal will need to convey the potential implications of the work even without findings. Consider describing what analysis is pending and what you hope to learn from it.
If we submit a preformed panel and are not accepted, would it be possible for individual abstracts from that panel to be submitted and if they meet criteria, would they be accepted?
If not accepted, preformed panels are not automatically considered for individual proposals as preformed panels should not just be a set of presentations – there should be added value in the combination of presentations and how panelists complement and interact with each other during the session. There should be a strong justification for why they are combined into a single session resulting in an experience for attendees that is greater than the sum of the parts. By the time decisions are made about preformed panel submissions, it would be too late to schedule them for additional review as standalone oral presentations.
Please note: If you plan to submit a pre-formed panel, you will not see it listed as an option. Pre-formed panels will open mid-January. Please click here to see the information that will be collected when pre-formed panels are opened.
Does the Summit focus on research and programmatic experience from low- and middle-income countries, or is work from high-income settings relevant?
The Summit is not focused on work only from LMICs; it is open to SBCC work regardless of geographical focus or origin. Please feel free to submit relevant work from high-income settings for review. The Program Sub-Committee will, however, consider geographic balance when selecting proposals for inclusion in the program.
Is attendance only open to presenters?
No, registration will also be open to attendees who are not presenting abstracts.
If the abstract is accepted, how many presenters are allowed to come to the conference?
Co-authors or co-presenters each need to pay for their individual registration if they plan to attend the Summit.
I plan to include co-authors on the abstract but they do not plan to attend the conference. Is that OK?
Co-authors on an abstract do not need to attend the conference and do not need to create an account. If they plan to attend as a co-presenter, they would need to register and pay, as do all attendees.
Can I submit a proposal and be a reviewer?
Yes! We invite everyone who submits a proposal to serve as a reviewer. It is a great way to learn more about what is happening in the field. If you serve as a reviewer, you will be assigned several proposals in your areas of interest for blind review.
Do we need to be affiliated with an organization to be accepted as a participant/presenter?
You do not need an organizational affiliation.
Once I receive a notification that my abstract is accepted, how do I confirm that I plan to present?
To confirm that you would like to present, please be sure to RSVP through the Summit website. Login with the same email address and password you used to submit your abstract. After you login and are on your profile page, you will see a toggle next to the phrase, “RSVP to the Event”. If you plan on attending, click on that toggle to turn it from No (red) to Yes (green). If you do not plan to attend, please leave the toggle as No (red).
Are there opportunities to volunteer for the Summit?
While we do not have any on-site volunteer opportunities available, we happily engage with folks around the world working on and interested in these topics through online communities like Springboard, Twitter, and more. For those interested in supporting the SBCC Summit’s vision and goals, we have made a social media toolkit available to make it easy to share with your personal and professional networks the power of communication.
Are there scholarships?
The scholarships awarded for the 2020 conference are still valid. Additional scholarships may be awarded, depending on funding. Sign up for updates to learn the latest.
Do I need to have my abstract accepted to be eligible for a scholarship?
Candidates are encouraged to submit an abstract. However, this is not a requirement for becoming eligible for a scholarship award.
What language will the Summit be held in?
English is the primary language of the Summit. However, there will be Arabic, French and Spanish interpretation available during all plenary and some breakout sessions. Important documents and information will be translated into Arabic, French and Spanish.
Will you accept abstracts in multiple languages?
Abstracts will be accepted in English, French and Spanish. If you wish to submit an abstract in Arabic, please contact the conference organizers info@sbcccummit.org with that request.
How can I sponsor the Summit?
Visit our sponsorship opportunities page to learn more about the various ways you or your organization can sponsor the Summit.
I need assistance getting a visa. What should I do?
If you are in need of a visa, please email the official Summit events management company, RTS at visasbcc2020@rts.co.ma to begin the process.
Will my auxiliary event time and exhibit booth location still be honored?
Yes. Your booth location will remain the same, and so will the auxiliary event day and time.
If I need to reapply for my visa, where can I get an updated visa invitation letter?
Please send your full name as it appears on your passport, passport nationality, passport number and corresponding passport expiration date to soumaia.cheqrouni@rts.co.ma for your personalized invitation letter.
How do I book a hotel?
We are currently in the process of confirming hotels. More information will be provided in the new year.
Do I need to be vaccinated to attend the Summit?
Yes, everyone attending the Summit will need to upload proof of being vaccinated. In addition, please confirm entry requirements set forth by the Government of Morocco. Additional safety protocols will be enforced. Please expect to wear a face-mask and have your temperature taken daily.
What COVID precautions will the conference take?
In addition to requiring everyone to be vaccinated, Summit organizers will work with the venue to ensure COVID related precautions are in place. This will include having proper ventilation and accessible hand sanitizer throughout. Participants will be expected to wear masks anytime indoors – including in the sessions, on the buses and anytime not actively eating and drinking. Microphones that are passed around for questions and comments will be wiped down before being passed to the next person. Please check the Summit website as we get closer to December 2022 for updates based on the progression of COVID, country requirements in Morocco, and any mandates required by the venue.