Behavioural science interventions within the development and environmental fields in developing countries: A systematic review

Human behaviour is a key driver of climate change, and behavioural science interventions offer promising opportunities to promote positive environmental/climate and development outcomes. Yet rigorous empirical guidance is lacking in terms of how to change behaviour most effectively to support adaptation and emissions reductions in developing countries. The primary objective of this systematic review (SR) is to identify, assess and synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of feedback, reminders, salience (communication), salience (experience design), and goal-setting interventions conducted in developing countries on environmental/climate and development outcomes. We first conducted an interactive evidence gap map (EGM) using a broader research scope to provide an overview of the evidence base on the effectiveness of behavioural science interventions, covering 22 interventions. The full SR followed an aggregative review approach, including only the rigorous quantitative impact evaluations of these five interventions. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as well as quasi-experimental studies that used quantitative methods. We conducted 12 meta-analyses in our SR to examine the overall effects of feedback,