The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, established in 2010, promotes a country led, multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral approach to ending hunger and malnutrition. 65 countries and four Indian states are members of the SUN Movement. Building on the lessons of the last decade, the SUN Movement Lead Group endorsed the SUN Movement Strategy for 2021-2025  which prioritizes further strengthening country leadership and a focus on supporting systemic change at the country level to prevent and fight all forms of malnutrition.

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, established in 2010, promotes a country led, multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral approach to ending hunger and malnutrition. 65 countries and four Indian states are members of the SUN Movement. Building on the lessons of the last decade, the SUN Movement Lead Group endorsed the SUN Movement Strategy for 2021-2025  which prioritizes further strengthening country leadership and a focus on supporting systemic change at the country level to prevent and fight all forms of malnutrition.

Purpose of the job

The Coordinator, SUN Movement will direct the implementation of the SUN Movement Strategy to ensure the Movement catalyzes change and impact at scale. By coordinating members across SUN Countries and supporting SUN Networks, he or she will encourage nutrition champions, at global, national and community levels, to build the momentum garnered to date. The Coordinator will be a leader with strategic vision, impeccable professional integrity, and the capability to harness opportunities within challenging country contexts. He or she will build partnerships through trust, will uphold the SUN Movement’s core constitution and its principles of engagement, whilst working between the different stakeholders’ groups across the global movement. He or she will lead the SUN Movement Secretariat and coordinate the network of SUN Government Focal Points, the Movement’s networks of supporters and the providers of assistance to countries.

Reporting and Accountability

  • Appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General, at the Assistant Secretary-General level, for a two-year term.
  • Reports to the UN Secretary-General, is accountable to the Lead Group and guided by the Executive Committee;
  • Has primary responsibility to the SUN Government Focal Points who lead the national Movements to scale up nutrition;
  • Serves as an ex officio member of the Lead Group, the body appointed by the UN Secretary-General to have overall responsibility for the for the Movement’s progress;
  • Serves as an ex officio member of the Executive Committee, a body set up by the Lead Group to provide oversight of the implementation of the Movement’s strategy;
  • Provides direct line management of the head of the Secretariat and receives guidance on the Secretariat’s performance by the Executive Committee;
  • Provides regular updates on progress to the SUN Government Focal Points, the SUN networks, the Executive Committee, the chair of the Lead Group and the UN Secretary-General as appropriate;
  • Works closely with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Food Security and Nutrition, whose focus is on global governance and intergovernmental processes.

How can you make a difference?

Roles and responsibilities:

  • Direct the implementation of the SUN Movement’s strategy by coordinating:

                a) The network of SUN Government Focal Points;

                b) The Movement’s self-governing networks of supporters;

                c) The providers of assistance to countries scaling up nutrition;

                d) High-level advocacy for nutrition;

  • Represent the SUN Movement to galvanise political commitment to end malnutrition in all its forms and promote and preserve the Movement’s core values, principles and character;
  • Lead the SUN Movement Secretariat in line with the guidance provided by the Executive Committee and within the parameters of the strategy;
  • Reflect the perspective of the national Movements to scale up nutrition to enable them to:

         a) Advocate for sustained political attention to nutrition as essential prerequisite for lasting impact and improved nutritional                         outcomes;

         b) Bring together national stakeholders for the implementation of effective and coordinated actions to scale up nutrition;

         c) Access and share experiences from other countries and stakeholders in the SUN Movement;

         d) Increase, and make better use of, domestic financing for nutrition – and advocate for more and better aligned external                           resources; and

        e) Ensure that appropriate capacities are in place to develop and run national efforts to scale up nutrition.

  • Develop an annual work plan, incorporating expected deliverables, guided by the Executive Committee and approved by the Lead Group;
  • Correct the direction of the Movement should the strategy not be achieving its intended impact, as indicated by the Movement’s monitoring mechanisms and on the advice of the Executive Committee or Lead Group; and
  • Update the UN Secretary-General and the wider Movement on progress, opportunities, and challenges to scaling up nutrition.

Required Competencies

The Secretary-General is seeking an individual with:

  • Impeccable personal and professional integrity: embodying UN values and promotes the well-being of all individuals regardless of gender, religion, race, nationality, or age. This will require effective communication with people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from different perspectives;
  • Demonstrated leadership experience with strategic vision and proven skills in managing complex organisations and relationships between different stakeholders: a capacity to work with diplomacy, assessing political and operational contexts based on a sound understanding of power relations and experience of institutional dynamics, to establish strategy, develop tactics, grasp opportunities and to lead teams in pursuing them effectively;
  • Extensive experience in handling complex multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral issues: relevant experience in a political environment – handling multiple interlinked issues with a range of constituencies and interested parties, in varied and changing contexts to identify, anticipate and avert potential challenges before they start to affect operations;
  • Building partnerships through trust: an ability to build relationships with key stakeholders in the Movement, upholding the SUN Movement’s core constitution and its principles of engagement, with diplomacy and focus;
  • Dealing with bilateral and multilateral funding sources: a capacity to deal with both bilateral and multilateral donors – managing the process from fundraising until the finalization of the grant proposal- and proven experience in the development cooperation or a related area including in an international working environment;
  • Extensive experience at a senior managerial level with significant experience in the international environment with a proven record of managing and motivating diverse teams in complex political environments. Field experience in multi-sector rural development or food and nutrition security programmes and policies is an asset; and
  • The UN Secretary-General and the Executive Committee would especially welcome applications of women candidates;

Recruitment Qualifications

  • A graduate degree or equivalent in economics; business or public administration; public finance; international relations; social sciences or humanities. Major experience in management, programme, and administration.
  • Extensive experience in handling complex multi stakeholder and multi sectoral issues: relevant experience in a political environment – handling multiple interlinked issues with a range of constituencies, in varied and changing contexts so as to identify, anticipate and avert potential challenges.
  • Extensive experience at a senior managerial level with significant experience in the international environment with a proven record of managing and motivating diverse teams in complex environment. Field experience in multi-sector rural development or food and nutrition security programmes and policies is an asset.
  • English and French are the working languages of the United Nations, for this position fluency in English, with excellent drafting skills, is required. A working knowledge of another United Nations official language will be an advantage

Further details

  • The position is for two years renewable. The Coordinator may be removed by the Secretary-General in accordance with existing procedures, for unsatisfactory performance in discharging his or her responsibilities.
  • The post of the SUN Movement Coordinator is located in Geneva. Frequent travel is expected.
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