October 2022 — In partnership with Girl Effect, UNICEF Ethiopia successfully held the 2022 Social Behaviour Change Learning Symposium at Addis Ababa University from 30-31 August 2022. Two main aims of this SBC symposium were to share lessons and achievements from adolescent-related SBC programs in Ethiopia and to announce the kick-off of Ethiopia’s first Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Alliance, currently composed of seven organizations: UNICEF, BBC Media Action, Girl Effect, Population Media Center, Viamo, Ethiopian Health Education and Promotion Professional Association, and Ethiopian Human Right Commission.

The SBC Alliance was officially launched by UNICEF Ethiopia Deputy Representative Ms. Jane Muita. Ms. Jane highlighted UNICEF’s leading role in SBC for over 35 years, leveraging the largest dedicated institutional workforce in this field. UNICEF has since focused on empowering civil society and promoting community leadership to spearhead SBC initiatives aiming at improving the lives of Ethiopian children. The SBC Alliance will give additional impetus and provide a collective voice for SBC program design and advocacy in the country.

As explained by Ms. Rachana Sharma, SBC Manager at UNICEF Ethiopia, the SBC Alliance is established with a vision to be the knowledge and advocacy lead on Social and Behavior Change in Ethiopia for community-led and behavioural science-driven programs to ensure the rights of all children, adolescents, and women. It will reflect on Government SBC guidelines and keep an eye on global and national innovations in SBC programming. The SBC Alliance will build a knowledge repository and regularly convene to share lessons learned and best practices.