Country Action Specialist, Latin America & Caribbean (LAC)

Details

Mission and objectives
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.

Context
SUN 3.0 is committed to fundamental, non-negotiable aspects of effective nutrition action, including equity and the principle of leaving no one behind. For its third phase, the SUN Movement will drive forward gender equality and enshrine youth leadership across the Movement. SUN 3.0 will strengthen partnerships to achieve greater impact on nutrition through food systems, health systems, social protection systems, actions by the private sector and humanitarian and development actors, and through education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and climate change adaptation.

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 is 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, and 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.

The Country Action Specialist, Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) reports to the SMS Regional Representative- Latin America & Caribbean. The SUN Country Action team is critical in supporting the SUN Movement to achieve the objectives set out in SUN 3.0, and provides the capacity to ensure SUN Countries are at the centre of everything the Movement does, empowering SUN Country Focal Points and/or Country Coordinators to act. The team is currently organised into five regions globally, including Bangkok (Asia hub), Nairobi (Anglophone Africa hub), Dakar (Francophone Africa hub), Panama (Latin American & Caribbean hub) and Geneva (Convergence Hub).

The Country Action Specialist, LAC is based in Panama City, Panama and is part of a small team established to support the development of National Nutrition Plans, facilitate information sharing and knowledge exchange, and identify advocacy opportunities across the countries within the defined portfolio.

The Specialist will work closely with national counterparts and other stakeholders, including representatives of the SUN Networks, to strengthen the institutional capacity for nutrition by identifying, creating and strengthening opportunities to accelerate progress in countries; identifying successful interventions and moving quickly to scale up results and ensuring effective peer learning and knowledge exchange across the Movement.

The role supports the Regional Representative to build and maintain effective understanding, communication and technical support across the broad national and international community of stakeholders to understand risks and challenges so that resources may be mobilised and technical assistance provided as necessary.

The Country Action Specialist also works closely with the existing regional SUN networks. The role also supports countries in determining predictable and sustainable long-term funding and country financing and strengthening countries' capacity to meet Country Financing requirements for nutrition.

Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Secretariat (SMS) Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, the International UNV Country Action Specialist, based in Panama City, will have the following functional responsibilities:

1. Facilitation
● Support SUN Countries to articulate their needs and expectations and seize opportunities to accelerate results at country level.
● Support Countries within the designated region to develop and document appropriate national nutrition policies, strategies, and action plans to scale-up nutrition interventions.
● Support Country Focal Points/or Country Coordinators and partners to cost scale-up and identify resource requirements.
● Track and analyse the challenges, opportunities and progress of the portfolio of SUN countries.
● Facilitate information-sharing of relevant evidence and successful practices from other partners and countries to inform strategic planning processes.
● Identify and facilitate linkages with other initiatives and processes to avoid duplication of activity.
● Support the SUN Country Focal Points and/or Country Coordinators to request technical assistance from the in-country multi-stakeholder team to finance, implement and monitor the country action plan.
● Support the Regional Representative to facilitate requests through the global SUN networks or other global partners for technical assistance to support country action plans, when requests exceed locally available resources.
● Conduct technical missions to the countries to analyse the context of the countries and support them in their priorities as part of the SUN 3.0 strategy.

2. Cordination
● Identify opportunities to enhance collaboration with network focal points locally to integrate for impact and take action as appropriate.
● Support process management and facilitation of multi-stakeholder coordination mechanisms among the various Networks in the Movement.
● Assist SUN countries in the preparation of and implementation of Joint Annual Assessment (JAA) and support the timely reporting on JAA and other MEAL exercises.
● Identify opportunities to strengthen existing resources and infrastructure in regions and make recommendations as appropriate.
● Support analysis and advise on appropriate institutional arrangements for multi-sectoral coordination on nutrition utilising SUN case studies and experience.
● Strengthen process management and coordination skills of national counterparts.

3. Knowledge management and innovation
● Participate in discussion and engagement in an identified thematic area of work directly related to, and critical for advancing the engagement of SUN Countries in the region (e.g. gender, agriculture, food systems etc).
● Interact and follow up with SUN Countries to solicit and document case studies, lessons learned, success stories, and best practices for internal and external sharing.
● Contribute to the preparation of success stories and good practices for inclusion in internal and external communication products.
● Contribute to the development and introduction of innovation to ensure the Movement is continually incorporating best practice approaches.

4. Contribute to strategic planning and data analysis
● Monitor and analyse major developments in nutrition action of SUN countries in the designated region and work with the Regional Representative to determine how the Movement might respond to such developments.
● Support the Regional Representative, Country Action Team and Global Technical Advisory Team to monitor and analyse opportunities for engagement of the Coordinator with high level representatives of SUN countries within the designated region, to encourage the implementation of a multi sector, multi stakeholder approach to nutrition.
● Support the Regional Representative, Country Action Team and Global Technical Advisory Team to identify, analyze and monitor political developments and emerging issues within the designated region in relation to key principles and core themes of the SUN Movement.
● Monitor national and regional political trends that might affect the SUN Movement and report to the Regional Representative as appropriate.

5. Advocacy for sustainable financing and capacity strengthening
● Coordinate and support SUN members to build sustainable nutrition financing in national budgets through stronger domestic resource mobilization.
● Provide SUN countries with technical assistance and capacity strengthening to enhance their financing capacity, including in public finance management for nutrition.
● Develop and maintain Regional information repository on nutrition funding sources to enable countries to prepare themselves for funding opportunities and enhance nutrition sensitivity in investments and programming.

Results/expected outputs: The effective and successful achievement of results will support the SUN Movement and its Secretariat to achieve its vision of a world free from malnutrition in all its forms by 2030

Eligibility criteria

Age
18 - 80

Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience
5 years of experience in international development, public health, nutrition or related field is required.
● Demonstrated professional work experience in an international setting, with at least three (3) years in a field setting is required.
● Demonstrated professional work experience in working with and supporting the country governments in planning and implementation of nutrition/ health related policies/ plans is required
● Experience developing advocacy strategies for nutrition is required
● Experience in capacity strengthening for countries, namely in the area of financing for nutrition is desirable
● Experience working in Latin America & Caribbean is required

Area(s) of expertise
Administration, Development programmes, Health

Driving license
-

Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Spanish, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level
Master degree or equivalent in nutrition, public health, international development, public policy or related field.

Competencies and values
Strategic Perspective: Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally in order to positively shape the organization. Anticipates and perceives the impact and implications of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organization.

Integrity and Inclusion: Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Leading Self and Others: Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles

Partnering: Demonstrates 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).

Result 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.

Agility: Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

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.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Panama is a family duty station and considered to be a safe place to live. However, like in any city around the world, it is always good to be aware of your surroundings and to be alert. There is a wide range of goods available in Panama and many modern shopping complexes and department stores and designer stores. There are suitable residential areas, accommodation options, good hospitals, schools, universities, banks, and a wide selection of restaurants. There are beaches, mountains and national parks in the rainforest that are said to have the broadest range of flora and fauna in the world. Panama does not have any serious health concerns to worry about, however, it is important to note that in some areas such as the Darien province, it is recommended to take precautions for malaria. The Centers for Disease Control website also recommends yellow fever vaccination for travel to Darien province and the San Blas islands. Weather: Panama has two seasons, the dry season, which is from January until late April or early May, and the rainy season which is the rest of the year. The daytime temperature ranges between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit with the evenings being cooler by 5 to 10 degrees. The average humidity is 70%. Average cost of living: USD1,120. Currency: Panama Balboa; pegged 1:1 with the US dollar. Internet: High-speed internet is readily available in cities like Panama City, Colon, and David. In remote areas, you'll find DSL, cable, or satellite internet.

Panama is a unique country. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, and more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy