Special Assistant to the SUN Movement Coordinator

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. 

The Special Assistant to the SUN Movement Coordinator will work under the direct supervision of the Coordinator. The responsibilities of the Special Assistant will include the following key functions:

• Provide strategic advice and support to the leadership of the SUN Movement Coordinator, especially participating in the development of a strategic and efficient plan of activities of the Coordinator with the SUN Movement Secretariat;
• Ensures that the Coordinator receives timely, strategic and content support from the SUN Movement Secretariat to accompany her plan of activities: Prepares analytical reports and other documents on sensitive and high profile matters of political and policy concern for the Coordinator; drafts notes, background papers, talking points, speeches and other correspondence for the Coordinator when required;
• Assists the Coordinator in the follow-up to meetings, including the drafting of relevant notes and briefing to staff, and the preparation of follow-up meetings or contacts, as appropriate;
• Takes full responsibility of managing and organizing the Coordinator’s agenda: keeps calendar and contact details up-to date; ensures synergy between the Coordinator's agenda and the one of the Secretariat;
• Screens and prioritizes all incoming correspondence addressed to the Coordinator; takes initiative in drafting and preparing correspondence for the Coordinator's signature;
• Functions as a key communication focal point with a broad range of internal and external contacts most of them at senior level on the Coordinator’s behalf;
• Keeps the Secretariat informed by conveying directives, reports, status updates and other relevant information; brings sensitive and urgent matters to the attention of the Coordinator; 
• In coordination with the Facilitation Team ensure that all travel arrangements of the Coordinator’s missions are organized on time and oversee meetings arrangements.
• Ensures the timely preparation of briefing papers, speeches and other materials by the relevant staff in preparation for the Coordinator’s missions;
• Upon request and in liaison with the Events Manager organizes   key events convened  by the Coordinator, including conferences, meetings, etc., handling all necessary arrangements
• Performs other duties as requested.

Master’s degree in International Affairs, Economics, Business, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Humanitarian or related area.
Bachelor’s degree with additional 2 years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree.

A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience at the national and international level. 

Previous experience working in executive/management office environment providing substantive strategic advice and support to Senior Officials is desirable.
Previous experience working on issues related to the sustainable development agenda, and areas related to food security and nutrition is desirable.

Fluency in oral and written English is required.
Knowledge of French is desirable

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