02 Hygiene & SBC Officers at Organization For Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The role of the Hygiene and Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Officer is to design, implement, and monitor hygiene promotion activities and social and behavior change interventions that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of communities. They work closely with communities, stakeholders, and partners to promote good hygiene practices and positive social behavior change.
The post holder: Will work closely with communities, districts, zonal health offices, coordination forums, partners, the private sector, and the OWDA zonal team.

BACKGROUND:

Organization for Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA) was established in December 1999 to help provide humanitarian assistance to the affected population. OWDA started its operation by providing relief programs aimed at supporting the most vulnerable segment of the people. However, the organization reshaped its strategic focus to go for long-term development programs intended to strengthen local capacity to bring about durable solutions for the marginalized pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in the Somali region of Ethiopia.
In line with Agency for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) Proclamation No. 1113/2019, the organization was registered by the Agency for Civil Society Organizations as a national NGO with registration No. 0421. OWDA is an active national humanitarian organization dedicated to bringing sustainable human development in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Through its cooperation with donors and stakeholders, OWDA build the capacity of its target community through financial and technical empowerment to help them lead their livelihoods, OWDA consider them as a key stakeholder.
OWDA places special emphasis on investing and building the resilience of vulnerable pastoral and agro-pastoral communities, mainly children, women, youth, elderly and people with special needs to help them survive with natural and made shocks. The organizational age, geographical reach and the local knowledge made it possible to gain outstanding experience to deliver effective, appropriate and timely responses to target communities. OWDA’s main thematic programing are Health and Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH), Education, Food Security and Livelihood programs mainstreamed with gender and protection.
Over its life span, the organization has grown substantially in the number of projects implemented, districts covered, staff numbers and budgets managed. OWDA implements both development and humanitarian programs in partnership with international NGOs, Donors like USAID, DFID, Norway Development Fund, EU, GFFO, GIZ, UN agencies. Likewise, OWDA is one of the few national NGOs that get direct access of Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund. OWDA is operational in all zones in Somali Region, namely: Afder, Dawa, Dollo, Fafan, Erer, Jarar, Korahe, Liben, Nogob, Shebele, and Siti zones. Since its establishment, the organization through its work in emergency and development interventions supported millions of people, saving lives and providing skills, opportunities, employment for improved livelihoods. Similarly, it has achieved great development in its organizational capacity and management of programs. OWDA has over 270 staffs and manages 8-10 Million USD annually.

DIMENSIONS:

Ensure that overall project planning, implementation, and management.
In collaboration with woreda line offices and NGO partners, conduct need assessment and select project intervention sites/kebeles.
This position will be responsible for hygiene promotion and Social and Behavior Change (SBC) related activities under the CR-WASH project.
This position will conduct regular house to house visit, community dialogue, organize review meeting as well as capacity building to outreach workers and HEWs.
Carry out project activities and prepare progress reports.
Identify project implementation challenges/problems that hinder project performance and solve it timely manner.
Advises decision-making for specific programme contexts.
Supports and liaises with regional advisors in hygiene promotion and Social and Behavior Change (SBC).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead hygiene and Social and Behavior Change (SBC) technical activities in the respective district.
Develop and implement hygiene promotion activities that are appropriate for the community’s needs.
Collect and synthesise qualitative and quantitative information and data to support the establishment of comprehensive and evidence-based information for developing and planning SBC strategy and interventions in the region.
Conduct assessments to identify the community’s hygiene practices, knowledge, and attitudes towards hygiene and sanitation.
Design and implement social and behavior change interventions that aim to change the community’s behavior towards good hygiene practices.
Conduct training sessions for community members, stakeholders, and partners on good hygiene practices, sanitation, and social and behavioral change.
Conduct training sessions for community members, stakeholders, and partners on good hygiene practices, sanitation, and social and behavioral change.
Monitor and evaluate the impact of hygiene promotion activities and social and behavior change interventions on the community’s health and wellbeing.
Liaise with stakeholders such as government agencies, UNICEF, NGOs, community leaders, and other partners to ensure the success of the hygiene promotion activities and social and behavior change interventions.
Prepare reports on the progress of the hygiene promotion activities and social and behavior change interventions to share with stakeholders and partners.
Overall, the Hygiene and Social and Behavior Change Officer plays a critical role in promoting good hygiene practices, improving sanitation, and changing behavior towards better health outcomes in communities.
Liaise with all key stakeholders (including Zonal and Woreda Health Offices, volunteer community health workers, water management committees, etc.) to strengthen OWDA’s role as a lead agency for WASH within the operational area.
To represent OWDA programme on WASH issues and liaise with other INGOs, local NGOs, UN agencies and Governments departments in operational area.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

Documented work plans for the projects supported, with regular written reports demonstrating progress against targeted activities in coordination with the WASH Coordinator and Project Coordinator.

Job Requirements

SKILLS AND COMPETENCE:

Bachelor’s degree in public health, social sciences, or a related field.
Experience in designing and implementing hygiene promotion activities and social and behavior change interventions.
Knowledge of public health principles, hygiene, sanitation, and behavior change theories.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with communities, stakeholders, and partners.
Ability to conduct assessments, monitor and evaluate programs, and prepare reports.
Proficiency in relevant software applications such as Microsoft Office and data analysis tools.
Fluency in English and other relevant languages spoken in the community or region where they work.
Proven and good understanding of community-based approaches, including clear involvement of children, women and people with disabilities in the hygiene promotion and Social and Behavior Change related to WASH project.
Be a team player and ready to collaborate with others in positive manner.