Policy Specialist, Multiple positions

Launched in September 2010, the purpose of the SUN Movement is to catalyse collective action and create an enabling environment to end malnutrition in all its forms. With 58 SUN Countries and the Indian States of Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh at the helm, the SUN Movement represents an unprecedented country-led effort to bring together stakeholders – from governments, national and global civil society organisations, businesses, the UN system, researchers and scientists across different sectors- and provide them with a collaborative space to convene, mobilise, share, learn, advocate, align and coordinate actions and approaches to improve nutrition.

SUN countries, supported by all stakeholders in the Movement, are committed to creating an enabling environment for scaling up nutrition by strengthening four strategic processes as set out in the SUN Movement Strategy and Roadmap 2016-2020: Expanding and sustaining an enabling political environment; prioritising effective actions that contribute to good nutrition, implementing actions aligned with national common results frameworks and effectively using, and significantly increasing, financial resources for nutrition.  The SUN Movement Coordinator, UN Assistant Secretary General, oversees the day-to-day implementation of the Strategy and Roadmap, leads the SUN Movement Secretariat and represents the SUN Movement globally. 

Since 2012, the SUN Movement Secretariat has developed as a small coordinating mechanism. It has no operational role, but seeks to link together countries and networks in the SUN Movement to ensure that support, requested in countries to intensify actions and achieve nutrition objectives, is received in a coordinated and coherent way.  It also ensures that the Movement’s progress is tracked efficiently and communicated clearly. The Secretariat is headed by the Director of the Secretariat who is responsible for ensuring that the Secretariat catalyses, facilitates and supports effective action across the overall SUN Movement. 

1. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

In the SUN Movement Secretariat, the Policy Specialist for liaison with SUN countries contribute to the fulfillment of the Secretariat’s work plan for 2016-2020 and are managed by the Coordinator of the Country Liaison Team who ensures that all SUN Countries receive timely and adequate support. The primary objective of the positions is to establish and maintain an effective liaison with a portfolio of SUN countries that will:

(a)   Assist SUN Movement Government Focal Points and their multi-stakeholder platforms to lead coordinated country-level actions to improve nutrition as set forth in national nutrition plans

(b)   Ensure that the SUN Movement Coordinator and Secretariat are kept informed of challenges and opportunities to accelerate progress in SUN countries, sustain the SUN Movement and its principles, implement the Roadmap of the SUN Movement for 2016-2020.

Working in collaboration with colleagues from across the SUN Movement Secretariat and Networks, the successful applicant will be responsible for tracking and analyze the challenges, opportunities, and progress of a portfolio of 8 to 10 SUN Countries. The incumbent will then use this information and analysis to assist the continuous strengthening of the SUN Movement’s established system for timely and appropriate peer-to-peer exchange and technical cooperation across all SUN countries, by working closely with other thematic experts in the secretariat.

As country-level efforts to improve nutrition are greatly affected by a complex range of underlying drivers, the SUN Movement Secretariat works to ensure that it can act as an effective conduit for evidence, experience, and debate related to these determinants at the country, regional and global levels.  Therefore, the successful applicant will also be expected to assist the Secretariat and Coordinator in one of three thematic areas of work that are critical for improving nutrition: a.) agriculture, trade and food systems; b.) responsible business engagement in nutrition, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises or c.) equity, gender and local governance in practice. 

The main contact for Policy Specialist in SUN Countries are government-appointed focal points. Policy Specialists also establish close working relationships with contacts across other stakeholders in SUN countries including the United Nations agencies, civil society, business, as well as academia and development partners.  The Policy Specialist’ tasks are undertaken through meetings (involving some occasional travel), phone calls, drafting and review of written materials. They require the regular production of advice, analysis, and proposals (a) in written form, presented as emails, short notes, and reports, or (b) as oral briefings to the SUN Movement Secretariat and Coordinator, members of SUN Movement Networks and other external actors. The tasks and responsibilities of the Policy Specialists are regularly adjusted according to the evolution of the work plan and staffing of the SUN Movement Secretariat. The incumbent is expected to work autonomously and be able to perform at a high standard in a proactive and opportunistic manner.

Within the SUN Movement Secretariat, Policy Specialists for liaison with SUN countries have the following responsibilities:

 a)     Assist SUN countries to accelerate progress and achieve impact through peer-to-peer learning and access to timely and relevant technical assistance

This includes:

-      support SUN Countries to articulate their needs and expectations and seize opportunities to accelerate results at country level

-      work to increase the use and quality of peer-to-peer exchanges by all SUN Countries through various channels, including the organization, facilitation, and documentation of quarterly teleconferences of SUN Countries based on a theme of common interest to SUN Countries as well as SUN Movement Global Gatherings

-      facilitate and synthesize the findings of specialized exchanges (virtual and face-to-face) among select SUN Countries according to common socio-economic or geographic situations, specific needs or capacity levels.  This could include countries facing similar weather and environmental shocks, countries that belong to the same regional economic community and countries that share comparable challenges and opportunities in scaling up nutrition

-      broker access to effective and predictable responses from within the Movement to SUN countries’ requests for support, identify recurring gaps in response capacity and provide up-to-date information in relation to country requests and priorities

b)     Continuous tracking and analyzing of the challenges, opportunities, and progress of a portfolio of SUN Countries

This includes:

-       Tracking progress and achievements of SUN countries as part of the SUN Movement monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system,  in close coordination with the SUN Movement Networks;

-       Assist SUN countries with the organization and reporting of their annual joint-assessments  including collection and organization of relevant information and documentation;

-       Participate in the analysis of data from multiple sources and in the generation of evidence on the effectiveness of multi-sectoral multi-stakeholder approaches;

-       Support the documentation of SUN Countries’ experiences in order to facilitate country-to-country exchange;

-       Contribute to the production of the annual SUN Movement Progress Report, SUN country information briefs as well as the preparation of any other document as required for dissemination to SUN Countries, the SUN Networks, the Executive Committee, Lead Group and the general public

c)    Take active participation in facilitating discussion and engagement in one of the following three thematic areas of work which is directly related to and critical for advancing the engagement of SUN Countries, the Secretariat, and Coordinator in ways that support implementation and delivery of concrete results for nutrition in SUN countries.  This involves a connection with on-going global and regional networks active on:

• agriculture, trade and food systems towards sustainability and nutrition-sensitivity to advise on ways to strengthen the engagement of this sector of activities
• responsible business engagement in nutrition, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises
• gender, equity, and local governance to advise the SUN Movement on ways to incorporate these dimensions in practice to ‘leave no-one behind’
 

Education:

• Advanced University degree (Master's or equivalent), in agricultural sciences, economics, environmental sciences, public health, public administration, nutrition, sustainable development or relevant subject is required;  OR
• First level University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) maybe accepted  in combination  with additional 2 years of relevant professional experience;

 Work Experience:

• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in development cooperation or a related area including in an international working environment is required.
• Field experience in multi-sector development or food and nutrition security programmes and policies is desirable.
• Understanding of and significant experience in public administration structures at both the national and sub-national levels is desirable
• Knowledge of and practical experience in the development and impact of global and regional development initiatives, especially related to one of the three thematic areas of work described above, as well as a sound understanding and appreciation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  is desirable
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Adobe Acrobat Reader is required

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required
• Fluency in either French or Spanish is desirable
• Knowledge of Portuguese, Russian or Arabic is an asset.              

• Strong analytical skills: demonstrable success in identifying patterns, causalities, and correlations from large amounts of complex information from various sources and synthesizing this analysis into clear statements and summaries
• Leading Self and Others: Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. Comfortable working with individuals across different sectors and organizational levels.
• Partnering: Demonstrates an understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
• Results Orientation: Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
• Solution Focused: Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
• Effective Communication: Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

APPLICANTS MUST INCLUDE A COVER LETTER WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS.

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale.