Advocacy 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 59 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. 

Reporting to the Policy and Strategy Advisor – Advocacy and Communications, the Advocacy Specialist will support the advocacy priorities of the SUN Movement, plan effective engagement in key inter-governmental processes and at global moments and support the SUN Movement Lead Group (consisting of 29 high level individuals) to carry out influential advocacy for nutrition in key fora. In addition, the incumbent will support country level advocates at key national nutrition moments and support the growing number of nutrition champions who are carrying out instrumental advocacy in 59 SUN member countries.
The Advocacy Specialist will:

Provide support in the engagement with  SUN Movement Lead Group, which is comprised of 29 high level ambassadors for nutrition and support them in cementing nutrition as a global development priority in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Maintain relations with the support staff of all 29 Lead Group members and ensure their active engagement in the priorities of the SUN Movement.
Facilitate semi-regular thematic discussions which Lead Group members on the chosen focused areas.
Support in the planning of their engagement in key global, regional and country level governance and advocacy moments and provide talking points, social media and traditional media support in liaison with their support teams.
Provide support in the organization of the SUN Movement Lead Group meeting to be held in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

Participate in the planning of the  SUN Movement Secretariat engagement in global and regional governance processes, as well as at key advocacy opportunities to ensure that the SUN Movement’s progress and approach is reflected in key for a
Track global governance for nutrition processes and provide inputs on SUN Movement strategic engagement in key fora including, but not limited to, the Wold Health Assembly, the High Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, the UN General Assembly and the Committee for World Food Security.
Determine the strategic value add of possible engagement of SUN Movement Secretariat, Coordinator and Lead Group member
Identify means for SUN Countries to effectively engage in such processes and for their progress to be adequately showcased.
Maintain the SUN Movement events calendar and plan yearly engagement in key forums.
Coordinate with key partners to arrange side events.

Support in-country advocates and nominated high level nutrition champions through ready to use tools, coaching or connecting to technical assistance when required
Develop ready to use advocacy tools such as media releases, letters, how-to guides in collaboration with key partners to support in country advocacy work.
Provide support in coaching   in-country advocates.
Participate in the development of an incentive scheme to recognise the efforts of nutrition champions award them and celebrate their progress yearly to incentivise further nutrition action.
Work with technical assistance providers in supporting key countries that request support in the development of national advocacy and communication strategies.

Provide support in the preparation of  speeches, opinion pieces, press releases and advocacy advisories in support of advocacy priorities
Provide strategic advice, author speeches and develop press materials in support to the SUN Movement Coordinator and Director of the SUN Movement Secretariat.
Provide support in the development of communication packs and written materials in the lead up to key engagement opportunities.
Undertake pro-active outreach with key media outlets and work to strengthen the recognition of the SUN Movement through print, online and social media

Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in Communications, Advocacy, Political Science or related fields.
A Bachelor degree with two additional years of relevant experience may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced degree.

Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in advocacy and/or political engagement or Communications is required

Proven experience in leading advocacy work is desirable.
Strong working knowledge of social media platforms, websites and communication processes is desirable.
Proven conceptual and analytical capacity to monitor complex and interlinked issues to ensure that the main arguments of the written/edited document are communicated is desirable.
Proven experience in the development cooperation with knowledge of (at least one of the) key UN inter-governmental processes related to food security and nutrition is an asset.
Field experience in food and nutrition security or health programmes and policies is an asset

Fluency in, oral and written in English is required.
French and/or Spanish are an asset.

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