April 2025 — The UNICEF Ethiopia Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) team is making significant strides in promoting sanitation and hygiene across Ethiopia. Their efforts are focused on improving the health and well-being of both individual households and the broader community.

Transforming Homes

The SBC team is dedicated to ensuring that homes have access to improved sanitation facilities, including private toilets and bathing facilities. By encouraging households to manage solid and liquid waste effectively, they are fostering safe and healthy environments for families to thrive. This initiative is crucial as proper sanitation facilities and waste management practices are foundational to good health.

Promoting Hygiene Behaviours

In addition to improving sanitation infrastructure, the SBC team is also dedicated to promoting positive hygiene behaviours. Good hygiene practices are essential for preventing illness and go hand in hand with ensuring proper nutrition. The team emphasizes that poor hygiene can lead to undernourished children who are more susceptible to sickness, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. Conversely, good hygiene practices contribute to healthier children, reducing the disease burden on families and allowing them to focus on education and overall well-being.

Community Engagement and Education

To ensure the sustainability of their initiatives, the SBC team actively involves communities through workshops, meetings, and educational programs. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, including building and maintaining sanitation infrastructure, promoting hygiene practices such as handwashing and safe water storage, linking hygiene to better nutrition and health outcomes, encouraging community participation, providing menstrual hygiene management education, and using behaviour change communication strategies to foster lasting improvements. By educating community members about the importance of sanitation and hygiene, the team is fostering a culture of cleanliness and health that will benefit future generations.

Addressing Gender and Social Inclusion

A central focus of the SBC team is to ensure that their initiatives are inclusive and cater to the specific needs of women, girls, and marginalized groups. Women and girls often suffer the most from poor sanitation and hygiene practices. For instance, they are primarily responsible for fetching water in many households, which can take hours each day and reduce time for education and other activities. Additionally, inadequate sanitation facilities can lead to health issues such as infections, particularly during menstruation, making it difficult to manage their periods safely and privately. This is why the team provides menstrual hygiene management education and facilities to support their dignity and health. By prioritizing gender and social inclusion, the SBC team ensures that the benefits of improved sanitation and hygiene reach all members of the community.

Collaboration with Local Authorities

Partnership with local government authorities and other stakeholders is crucial to the success and sustainability of the SBC team's initiatives. By working closely with local partners, the team can leverage resources and expertise to amplify their impact. This collaboration includes training local health workers, supporting policy development, and providing technical assistance to enhance sanitation infrastructure. Through collaboration, the SBC team and local authorities are creating a supportive environment for community growth.

Monitoring and Evaluation

To ensure the effectiveness of their programs, the SBC team implements robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. They regularly assess the impact of their initiatives on community health and make necessary adjustments to improve outcomes. This data-driven approach helps them to identify successful strategies and replicate them in other regions.

Through their dedicated efforts and comprehensive approach, the UNICEF Ethiopia SBC team is reshaping sanitation and hygiene practices in Ethiopia. By empowering families, engaging with communities, and collaborating with local authorities, the team is paving the way for a healthier and more prosperous future for all Ethiopians. The impact of their work extends beyond health outcomes, creating a ripple effect that will benefit future generations.