Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) Officer (Aftit and Ura)

The SBCC Officer is responsible for the effective planning, implementation, monitoring, and documentation of Social and Behavior Change Communication interventions aimed at preventing malnutrition and improving maternal, infant, and young child nutrition outcomes among refugee and host communities.

The position contributes to EU action objectives by strengthening community awareness, addressing harmful social norms, increasing early detection and referral of malnutrition cases, and promoting equitable access to quality nutrition and health services, including Community Based Management of Acute Malnutrition. The role ensures that SBCC interventions are inclusive, gender responsive, conflict sensitive, and aligned with national strategies and EU humanitarian and development principles.

JOB RESPONSIBITIES

1. Essential Duties / Responsibilities:

1.1 SBCC Planning and Implementation in Line with EU Results Framework

• The SBCC Officer will support the design and implementation of nutrition focused SBCC plans aligned with the EU action log frame, expected results, and indicators. The officer will ensure that SBCC activities contribute measurably to improved knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to maternal and child nutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, infant and young child feeding, adolescent girls’ wellbeing, and prevention of malnutrition.
• The officer will develop and adapt culturally appropriate SBCC messages and IEC materials in line with national guidelines and EU quality standards, ensuring inclusion of safeguarding, accountability, and protection messaging. Communication channels will include community dialogues, audio messages, banners, and community‑based dissemination mechanisms suitable for refugee and host community contexts.

1.2 Community Outreach, Participation, and Accountability

• The SBCC Officer will facilitate structured community outreach activities targeting refugees and host communities in Ura and Aftit targeted kebeles and settlements. The officer will promote meaningful participation of women, men, adolescents, community leaders, and vulnerable groups in SBCC activities, in line with EU commitments to inclusion and community ownership.
• The role will actively support accountability to affected populations by promoting two-way communication, community feedback mechanisms, and respectful engagement. The officer will address harmful myths, misinformation, and social barriers that affect nutrition related behaviours and service uptake.

1.3 Support to Early Case Detection and CMAM Surge Implementation

• The SBCC Officer will contribute to strengthening early case detection of malnutrition through community sensitization on routine MUAC screening, home visits, and timely referral pathways for children under five and pregnant and lactating women.
• The officer will support demand creation and community acceptance of CMAM services, including the CMAM surge model, ensuring communities understand service availability during periods of increased caseloads. SBCC activities will reinforce appropriate care seeking behaviour and continuity of treatment, contributing to improved coverage and effectiveness of nutrition services supported by the EU action.

1.4 Capacity Building and Sustainability

• The SBCC Officer will support capacity building efforts for health workers, health extension workers, community health volunteers, and mother support groups on nutrition SBCC, CMAM surge principles, and nutrition sensitive interventions. This includes facilitating training sessions, supporting on-the-job mentoring, refresher activities, and supportive supervision.
• The role will contribute to sustainability by strengthening local capacity to deliver effective SBCC interventions beyond the project timeframe, in alignment with EU priorities on resilience and system strengthening.

1.5 Integration with Health, WASH, and Nutrition Sensitive Interventions

• The SBCC Officer will ensure integration of nutrition SBCC with health and WASH interventions to address underlying causes of malnutrition. The officer will coordinate closely with Health, Nutrition, and WASH teams to harmonize messaging on hygiene, disease prevention, maternal health, and nutrition sensitive practices, ensuring coherence and efficiency of EU funded interventions.

1.6 Monitoring, Reporting, and Learning

• Conduct barrier analysis study and design SBCC strategy based on local context.
• The SBCC Officer will monitor implementation and quality of SBCC activities against agreed work plans and EU indicators. The officer will support routine data collection, documentation of outputs and outcomes, and contribute to activity reports, quarterly updates, and donor reporting requirements.
• The role will document lessons learned, challenges, and good practices related to SBCC implementation and community engagement, contributing to adaptive management and continuous learning in line with EU results based management principles.

1.7 Coordination, Compliance, and Representation

• The SBCC Officer will coordinate with relevant government structures, health facilities, and implementing partners at woreda and community levels to ensure alignment with national strategies and EU funded action objectives.
• The officer will support compliance with EU requirements, including visibility, safeguarding, protection, gender equality, and environmental considerations, and will participate in coordination meetings, reviews, and field visits as required.

Additional activities

• Support other areas of the office as requested or needed to ensure efficiency and quality of work for all
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment, disposing of waste appropriately

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

This position requires frequent travel to health facilities located in remote areas with very basic living conditions.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

This position requires occasional travel to health facilities located in remote areas with very basic living conditions.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and reaches their potential as individuals and teams and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to adhere to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies.

Safeguarding & Code of Conduct

Medical Teams International is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or by our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Medical Teams International Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Children and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy Training upon hire and on an annual basis.

NOTE: The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by staff assigned to this job. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of staff in this position. Duties, responsibilities, and skills are also subject to change based on the changing needs of the job, department, or organization. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned; The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by Medical Teams International as the requirements of the job change.

EDUCATION, LICENSES, & CERTFICATION

• A Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Public Health, Health Promotion, Social and Behaviour Change Communication, Community Development, or a related discipline is required.
• Certificate in SBCC model is an added advantage.

EXPERIENCE

• A minimum of three years of professional experience in nutrition or health SBCC programming in humanitarian or development contexts is required.
• Demonstrated experience supporting CMAM, IYCF, or community-based nutrition interventions is essential.
• Experience working in refugee or fragile settings and with EU funded projects is an asset.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of development & humanitarian issues and concepts
• Fluent spoken and written Amharic and English.
• Strong interpersonal and team skills
• Proven ability to be flexible in demanding situations
• Excellent communicator
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment
• Negotiation and representation skills
• Analytical and problem-solving Computer literate, able to work efficiently in Microsoft office on standard or mobile platforms.

SKILLS:

• The candidate must demonstrate strong technical knowledge of nutrition SBCC and community behavior change methodologies.
• Proven skills in community mobilization, participatory facilitation, training, and mentoring are required. The role demands strong communication, documentation, and coordination skills, as well as cultural sensitivity and the ability to work in diverse and complex environments.
• Fluency in English and relevant local languages of the project areas is required.
• Humanitarian motivation
• Emotionally and spiritually mature
• Team player – practical, desire to support the field teams.
• Willingness to pitch in and get the job done
• Understanding and sensitivity to cross cultural issues
• Flexible and adaptable to ever changing environments
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Able to build new relationships and gain people’s trust quickly
• Integrity in representing Medical Teams Willing to travel to insecure environments

ABILITIES:

• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment
• Ability to prioritize tasks
• Ability to embrace and promote MTI’s mission and vision
• Ability to uphold and exemplify the organization’s core values
• Ability to represent the organization in a professional manner to donors, volunteers, and the public