Landscape Assessment of Nutrition and Hygiene Social & Behavior Change Communication (SBCC)

1. Context and Rationale

The Sahelian corridor that includes Niger and Burkina Faso remains one of the worlds most nutritionvulnerable regions. Stunting affects more than 30% of children under five in both countries, while acute malnutrition rates regularly exceed emergency thresholds. At the same time, waterrelated diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera are endemic, driven by limited access to safe water, inadequate sanitation, and low levels of personal hygiene.

Social and behavior change communication (SBCC) is recognised as a critical lever to improve dietary diversity, promote optimal infantfeeding practices, and increase adoption of hygienic behaviours. The landscape assessment was undertaken to map existing SBCC interventions, identify gaps, and provide evidencebased guidance for donors, government ministries, NGOs and research institutions.

2. Main Actors and Platforms

2.1 Government Ministries

2.2 Multilateral and Bilateral Donors

• UNICEF supports BabyFriendly Communities and radio drama series on infant feeding.
• USAID funds the Niger Hygiene and Nutrition Initiative (NHNI) that blends mass media with interpersonal communication.
• World Bank implements the WaterSanitationNutrition Integration Project (WSNIP) in Burkina Faso.
• European Union provides technical assistance for elearning modules for community health volunteers.

2.3 NGOs and Civil Society

Key NGOs include Action Against Hunger, Mdecins Sans Frontires, and Catholic Relief Services. These organisations frequently employ communitybased approaches such as Village Health Committees, MothertoMother support groups, and Hygiene Clubs in primary schools.

2.4 Media Landscape

Radio remains the most trusted source of information, especially in rural zones where ownership of smartphones is low (<30%). However, mobile phone penetration has risen to 45% in Niger and 53% in Burkina Faso, opening opportunities for SMSbased reminders and interactive voice response (IVR) campaigns.

3. Predominant SBCC Strategies

3.1 Mass Media Campaigns

Shortwave and FM radio spots targeting pregnant women and caregivers convey simple messages such as Four food groups a day keep your child strong. Programs are typically aired three times daily and reinforced with community drama performances.

3.2 Interpersonal Communication (IPC)

Community health workers (CHWs) deliver tailored counseling during home visits. In Burkina Faso, the OnetoOne nutrition counseling model combines growth monitoring with a 10minute hygiene demonstration.

3.3 CommunityLed Total Sanitation (CLTS) Adaptations

While CLTS originally focuses on eliminating open defecation, pilot projects have integrated nutrition messaging, encouraging households that achieve sanitation graduation to receive seed kits for nutrientrich crops.

3.4 Digital Innovations

• SMS reminders for vitaminA supplementation dates.
• WhatsApp groups for peertopeer sharing of recipes using locally available foods.
• Interactive radiophonein sessions where listeners ask nutrition experts questions.

3.5 SchoolBased Approaches

In partnership with Ministries of Education, Hygiene Clubs teach handwashing with ash or soap before meals. Simultaneously, school feeding programmes incorporate fortified porridge, and teachers serve as SBCC champions.

4. Key Challenges Identified

• Fragmentation of messaging. Different donors and NGOs often use varied terminologies and visual styles, leading to confusion among target audiences.
• Limited monitoring and evaluation. Few projects include robust behaviorchange indicators, making it difficult to attribute outcomes to specific SBCC activities.
• Cultural acceptability. Certain dietary recommendations (e.g., animalsource foods) clash with traditional taboos, especially during religious fasting periods.
• Logistical constraints. Remote settlements have unreliable radio reception and poor road access, reducing the reach of both mass media and CHW visits.
• Gender dynamics. Decisionmaking power frequently rests with male household heads, limiting womens ability to adopt new feeding or hygiene practices without spousal approval.

5. Recommendations for Strengthening SBCC

5.1 Harmonize Messaging Frameworks

Create a joint NutritionHygiene Communication Toolkit codeveloped by ministries, donors, and NGOs. The toolkit should provide standard visuals, key messages, and translation guidelines for local languages (Hausa, Zarma, Moor, Dioula).

5.2 Integrate RealTime Monitoring

Adopt mobile data collection (e.g., KoBoToolbox) for CHWs to record counseling sessions, enabling rapid feedback loops and evidencebased adjustments.

5.3 Leverage Trusted Community Structures

Engage Islamic leaders and traditional chiefs as message ambassadors. Pilot FaithFriendly nutrition briefs that align dietary advice with religious teachings.

5.4 Expand Digital Reach

Scale up SMSbased Microlearning modules offering bitesize tips on complementary feeding and water treatment. Pair with lowcost solarpowered radio kits for offgrid households.

5.5 Foster GenderResponsive Approaches

Include men in SBCC sessions on the economic benefits of improved child growth. Use couplesfocused radio dramas to model shared decisionmaking.

5.6 Strengthen CrossSector Coordination

Establish an interministerial SBCC coordination forum that meets quarterly to review progress, share data, and align budgets across health, water, agriculture, and education sectors.