Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Advisor

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Project background 

The Clean Faces, Clean Environment – A Path to Sustaining Trachoma Elimination is a 5-year project funded by the Fred Hollows Foundation. The [project aims to accelerate and sustain the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region. Trachoma remains a leading cause of preventable blindness, primarily linked to poor hygiene and environmental sanitation.

Building on the WASH for Trachoma Elimination (WASHTra I & II) initiatives, the project promotes facial cleanliness, hygiene behaviour, and community-led waste management. It applies SNV’s Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All (SSH4A) approach and the Behaviour Centred Design (BCD) framework to ensure lasting behavioural change. The project aligns with the national SAFE strategy and the Total Sanitation to End Open Defecation and Urination (TSEDU)–Ethiopia initiative.

The project adopts a five-year phased leadership transition from SNV to the Oromia Health Bureau (OHB): SNV leads and builds capacity (Years 1–3), followed by joint implementation (Year 4), OHB-led activities with SNV support and full OHB leadership with SNV advisory (Year 5). The project aligns with government-led initiatives, including the One WASH National Program, a national campaign aimed at eliminating open defecation by 2030 and one of the Bureau of Health’s key priorities.

The project will be implemented in 49 woredas across six zones of Oromia Regional State: Arsi, East Hararghe, East Shewa, Guji, Jimma, and West Hararghe.

Purpose of the Job

The Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) Advisor will lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of evidence-based social and behaviour change strategies. The Advisor will ensure that hygiene promotion, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement interventions are effectively integrated into trachoma elimination activities and aligned with regional and national health and WASH programs.

Job overview:

• Lead the design and delivery of the regional BCC strategy focusing on facial cleanliness, handwashing, and household hygiene.
• Apply Behaviour Centred Design (BCD) principles to promote behaviour change across households, schools, and communities.
• Align BCC strategies with the national SAFE framework, TSEDU-Ethiopia, and the One WASH National Programme.

Develop inclusive communication approaches that engage children, women, men, youth, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the design and delivery of the BCC strategy focusing on facial cleanliness, handwashing, and household hygiene.
• Apply Behaviour Centred Design (BCD) principles to promote behaviour change across households, schools, and communities.
• Align BCC strategies with the national and region’s NTD Master Plan, TSEDU-Ethiopia, and the One WASH National Programme.
• In collaboration with the MEL officer, develop inclusive communication approaches that engage children, women, men, youth, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
• Ensure that all people, regardless of gender and disabilities benefit from, and are empowered by improved sanitation services, and hygiene practice.
• Coordinate and lead the planning, implementation, and reporting of the Project – increasing demand for improved WASH product and services.
• Build the technical Capacity of woreda sectoral office staff, HEWs using proven approaches, and according to the national /regional strategy, WASH NTD Mater Plans, promote demand creation for improved sanitation and hygienic behaviour.   
• Lead the management of project activities and the woreda based Community Promoters on SBCC.
• Ensure that respective monthly/quarterly/biannually/annually reports are meeting required quality and deadlines set by the PM internally and externally by the donor/FHF.

Programme Implementation and Coordination:

• Using the National Sustainable Open Defecation Free Implementation Guideline, and other approaches as appropriate to promote for improved Sanitation in the project woredas and sustained behaviour change,
• Ensure all Project OD kebeles become certified for Basic sanitation and Beyond ODF status
• Provide technical guidance for behaviour change campaigns, Clean Home Competitions, and face and handwashing events.
• Support the integration of hygiene promotion within Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and trichiasis management campaigns.
• Oversee the development, production, and dissemination of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials through appropriate media channels.
• Coordinate and build the capacity of Woreda and Zonal Health and Education Offices, HEWs, School WASH Clubs, WASHCOs, and Women Development Army (WDA) groups.
• In coordination with the regional Burau of Health promote for  Market Based Sanitation,
• Oversee behaviour change/demand creation activities related to expanding key hygiene behaviours at home, school, and health facilities with focus on Trachoma elimination and prioritise the learning from the behavioural sciences and integrate with the program.
• Build local capacity of government staff in the design, implementation, and evaluation of SBCC programming.
• Participate in the various studies with internal staff and external Consultants and Knowledge institutions.

Partnership and Advocacy

• Strengthen partnerships with the Oromia Regional Health Bureau, WASH–NTD coordination teams, and local NGOs.
• Advocate for the integration of BCC into routine health extension and education systems.
• Engage media outlets, community leaders, and private sector actors to amplify hygiene messages.
• Contribute to national learning and policy dialogues on trachoma elimination and WASH behaviour change.

Business Development

• Identify and advice the PM on potential and new opportunities including donors for resource mobilisation or business development which is aligned to SNV sector strategy.
• Provide the business development team with relevant WASH information which could be helpful as an input.
• Actively contribute to the development of Concept Notes and Proposals Development.

Knowledge Management, Learning and Innovation

• Periodically collect information on good practices more specifically at the kebele, woreda, zone and region to gain institutional knowledge.
• Advice and support the PM in rolling out of evidence and SBCC tools developed.
• Inform WASH knowledge agenda to the PM, in line with direction set by the project/SNV implementation modalities and donor requirement/FHF.
• Support the development of case studies and report to the PM to be disseminated to larger audience/stakeholders including GoE, FHF, SNV global and other NGOs working in the WASH/NTD sector.

 Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting

• Support monitoring of hygiene behaviour adoption and BCC outcomes through surveys and clean-face monitoring tools.
• Collaborate with the MEL team to track progress, analyses findings, and inform adaptive planning.
• Collaborate with the communication team to document and share lessons learned, case studies, and success stories to inform scale-up and policy advocacy.
• Contribute to project progress reports, reviews, and learning events at regional and national levels.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the PM and Water sector Lead.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Behavioural Science, Social Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC), Sociology, and other related social sciences fields
• At least 5 years of experience in Social Behaviour Change Communication.
• Fluency in Local language of the project implementation area and English languages is essential as a working language of SNV.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills.
• Proven experience in undertaking activities aimed SBCC and Capacity Building of community and government staff and institutions.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and a strong track record in meeting deliverables and donor deadlines.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills.
• Competent and motivated, commercial drive and quality orientation.
• Ability to work independently and under stressful conditions.
• Team player and able and willing to perform tasks to make the project successful.

Competencies:

• Problem analysis
• Coaching
• Focus on quality
• Result orientation
• Persuasiveness

Contract Type: National - Full time

Expected start date:  1st January 2026

Duty Station:  Oromia - Addis Ababa - Ethiopia

Contract Duration: One year, with the possibility of extension based on budget availability and performance.

How to Apply? 
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and a letter of motivation before/on November 24th, 2025. 

Please submit your application only via Smart Recruiters. All information will be kept in the strictest confidentiality. 
If your experience and skills match the position's requirements, we will contact you to advise on the next steps in the recruitment process.

Working at SNV  
SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse environment. Our staff benefit from and contribute to, an internal and global network of experts.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Vetting
SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for national and internationally determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.  

SNV is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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