Nutrition Advisor, P4 / ICS 11 At UNOPS

Duty Station: Geneva, Switzerland

Application Deadline: 23 November 2021

Women are encouraged to apply

The UNOPS Europe & Central Asia (ECR) Geneva Office is looking for a Nutrition Advisor, P4 / ICS 11 for the SUN Movement Secretariat

This is an International position and the candidate is expected to have relevant education and experience background along with Language proficiency

Since 2010, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement has inspired a new way of working collaboratively to end malnutrition, in all its forms. With the governments of SUN Countries in the lead, it unites people—from civil society, the United Nations, donors, businesses and researchers—in a collective effort to improve nutrition. The SUN Strategy 2021–2025 (SUN 3.0) prioritises country leadership and focuses on supporting systemic change at the country level. It seeks to capture the ambition of SUN countries and guide the work of all actors at all levels aligning concerted action behind and responding to commonly agreed national priorities set out by governments in SUN countries.

The SUN Movement Secretariat plays a central role in enabling the multiple members and structures of the Movement to work together to advance progress on country-level priorities and the global positioning of nutrition.

The SUN Movement Secretariat comprises approximately 35 personnel, based in Geneva and in various regions globally. All parts of the Movement – member governments, the SUN Global Support System – the GSS, consisting of four SUN networks (Civil Society, United Nations, Business, Donors) and the SUN Movement Secretariat, together with the SUN Movement Coordinator, work together to align and focus efforts on priorities within countries.

The SUN Movement Secretariat is hosted by UNOPS.

Role of the Nutrition Advisor

The Nutrition Advisor reports to the SUN Movement Coordinator, UN Assistant Secretary General, who is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day implementation of the SUN Movement Strategy and Roadmap, leads the SUN Movement Global support System and represents the SUN Movement globally.

The role is part of a small global strategic advisory team, to support coordination, representation, advocacy, and liaison tasks with Movement members and stakeholders, and leading engagement with the Lead Group members.

The role works in close collaboration with the Director, SUN Movement Secretariat and the Senior Management Team of the Secretariat to ensure political positioning of nutrition becomes increasingly institutionalised in member countries and stakeholder organisations.

The purpose of the Nutrition Advisor role is to support the Coordinator and the Secretariat in positioning nutrition outcomes as a key maker and marker of sustainable development, generating additional resources and political capital to accelerate nutrition improvement.

Functional Responsibilities

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Summary of key results expected:

1. Strategic country support and capacity building

• Support the Country Action Team in quality and effectiveness of coordination in response to nutrition issues raised by SUN stakeholders at country and regional levels including, governments, UN agencies and others.
• In collaboration with various stakeholders across the SUN Movement (including MEAL/KM and communication and advocacy functions) lead the development and dissemination of key nutrition-related lessons for key stakeholders.
• Provide advice and support to the Country Action Team, to integrate nutrition into monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning plans.
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and/or review of SUN-supported research on nutrition innovation.
• Support the capacity strengthening of staff across the Secretariat in terms of nutrition, including advice and training as required

2. Strategic nutrition action

• Identify, monitor and analyse trends in nutrition and emerging issues with respect to key principles and core themes of the SUN Movement.
• Assess national, regional and global nutrition trends that might affect the SUN Movement; recommend solutions/possible actions by the Coordinator, Secretariat and/or Global Support System (GSS) in response.
• Advise, guide and support the analysis and direction setting of the SUN Movements nutrition work, with particular consideration to national and global policies and strategies, multi-sectoral progress and inter-agency collaboration.
• Develop documents for and input to the SUN Movement’s planning processes, including written briefings.
• Make recommendations for the SUN Movement’s actions across nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive sectors, through strengthened food and health systems, and with a focus on gender and economic equity.
• Work across the Strategic Advisory Team, to identify opportunities to increase investment both by SUN Member countries and by international partners in nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive measures.
• Identify other global challenges that affect nutrition and the work of the SUN Movement, either directly or indirectly, such as climate change, conflict, displacement, and food systems, as well as a focus on equity and social inclusion, accountability, corporate responsibility and financing.

3. Alliance building, networking, policy and strategy guidance, and advocacy

• In collaboration with key stakeholders across the Movement and Secretariat, contribute to the development and implementation of nutrition-related policy engagement.
• Provide advice on key (potential) partners in food systems/nutrition/health and education including UN family, national and international NGOs and associations and civil society.
• Collaborate with Communication and External Relations Advisor to ensure visibility of activities with donors and press, including press releases, meetings and field visits, as well as strengthened communication activities around nutrition interventions.
• Participate in advocacy efforts for nutrition interventions to governments, donors and other actors, explore possibilities and engage with new donors.
• Liaise closely with nutrition colleagues across the Movement, in key nutrition partner agencies (particularly UNICEF, WFP, GAIN, FAO, Save the Children) and with inter-agency coordination efforts to maximise synergy and coherence.
• Participate in conferences, seminars and academic fora related to his/her assigned area of expertise.
• Represent the Coordinator and/or the SUN Movement Secretariat (when requested) in public events, task forces, working groups, etc. on nutrition, food security and social sector activities.

4. Support to the Coordinator

• Develop and maintain relations with government officials, donors, missions and other SUN stakeholders at the working level to understand issues and policies of mutual concern.
• Contribute nutrition expertise to notes, background papers, talking points, speeches and other correspondence for the Coordinator in collaboration with the Communication and External Affairs Advisor, Political Affairs Advisor and Food Systems Advisor.
• Provide expert information to the Coordinator regarding nutrition matters related to the positioning of the SUN Movement.
• Support the Coordinator’s function by contributing in shaping the Secretariat’s thinking and execution of new nutrition concepts, approaches and priorities for the future direction of the SUN Movement, including its Global Support System.
• Support the Coordinator to mobilise financial and technical resources in support of nutrition interventions that are likely to be effective.
• Identify and prioritise evidence-informed actions and make the case for investing in nutrition.
• Monitor nutrition-related events in order to ensure appropriate positioning of the SUN Movement and identify opportunities for appropriately positioning the role of the Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in nutrition or other relevant field is required.
• A bachelor’s degree with a combination of two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree
• A minimum of seven (7) years professional experience in nutrition, public health, related research or planning or management in relevant areas of maternal, infant and child nutrition at the international level, some of which preferably in a developing country is required.
• Proven track record of producing high quality written reports and other materials pertaining to nutrition-related activities is required.
• Experience in health/nutrition/food security programme/project development and management in an international organisation is preferred.
• Experience in nutrition and/or food security policy analysis and engagement is preferred.
• Experience working with government partners, donor agencies and local partners is preferred.
• Fluency in English Language ( Writing, Reading and Speaking) is required.