Guidance Note on the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Executive Committee renewal process 2024

This document provides guidance to all SUN Movement stakeholders interested in joining the SUN Executive Committee (ExCom). It offers detailed insights into the responsibilities of ExCom members, the anticipated level of commitment, eligibility criteria, selection procedure, and the timeline for the ExCom's renewal process.

SUN Movement ExCom members are selected for a two-year term (July 2024 to July 2026). The current ExCom was appointed in October 2021 and extended by the Lead Group until June 2024 on an exceptional basis. In June the entire membership has to be selected and new Co-Chairs appointed. As per good practice the aim is to retain 20-30% of the members who are eligible for renewal.

The SUN Movement Strategy 2021-2025 SUN 3.0 recognises the central role of the ExCom in the global governance of the SUN Movement to address all forms of malnutrition. The ExCom plays a crucial role by fostering collaboration among stakeholders, fostering country leadership, and coordinating the resources of all Movement participants to support national priorities. The Executive Committee is  expected to: 

• Represent the regions, networks and thematic areas most relevant to the SUN Movement and to work together in an accountable way to address malnutrition in all its forms; 
• Act on behalf of the Lead Group to oversee the development and implementation of the Movement’s strategy and its operating modalities; 
• Ensure that the SUN Movement is rooted in country structures, responsive to country needs and supported by a global system that is equally country-focused; special attention shall be paid to fragile and crisis-affected countries; 
• Value the contribution of all stakeholders to address all forms of malnutrition and to promote nutrition and food security as a shared responsibility of all stakeholders;
• Stimulate safe, inclusive and ethical behaviour based on the Principles of Engagement within the SUN Movement and in relations with all stakeholders.
• See the Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure of the Executive Committee here and expected time commitment below. 

If you are a passionate and driven SUN Movement Country Focal Point, youth representative, technical expert, SUN Network leader, or senior member of a SUN-affiliated organization or regional body with decision-making authority, and have not yet served the ExCom for more than one term, you can submit a nomination for ExCom membership.

As an ExCom member you have to be able to represent the views and engage with your stakeholder group and table strategic issues, provide informed contributions to discussions and participate in decision-making processes for the benefit of the SUN Movement and its commitment to address malnutrition in all its forms through a country-led and driven multi-sectoral approach.

If you meet the below outlined criteria are dedicated to the SUN Movement's objectives, enthusiastic about its mission, and embrace its distinct country-driven and multi-stakeholder approach, and if you aspire to play a role in influencing its trajectory and advancement, then joining the ExCom is a worthwhile consideration. As an Executive Committee member you will gain important experience in the governance of the SUN Movement, expand your professional network and have ample opportunities to learn.

The ExCom has 16 seats with voting rights that can be filled by individuals representing their respective regions, networks, and thematic areas of expertise. Among the 16 initially nominated ExCom members, two Co-Chairs are elected, of which one has to be from a SUN country. The seats of the elected Co-Chairs are given to the runner-ups of the seats the Co-Chairs are vacating respectively. 

The SUN Coordinator and UNOPS as the organization hosting the SUN Movement Secretariat, are both non-voting ex-officio members of the ExCom. The table below for an overview of the distribution of seats among SUN Movement stakeholders. 

Description

Overview of the SUN Movement Executive Committee Seat

During their two year term, ExCom members will meet 8 times (4 times per year, once per year in person, the rest virtually. ExCom members are expected to commit approximately 5-7 days per year (non-remunerated) to prepare for and attend meetings, consult and debrief their stakeholder group and champion the SUN approach.

ExCom members are invited to identify alternates (see below) who may exceptionally represent them in a meeting and identify resource staff to accompany them to (virtual) ExCom meetings as silent observers should they find it beneficial to their preparations and follow-up.

While ExCom members do not have any legal or fiduciary responsibilities, their active participation is critical. Failure to attend two out of four sessions within a one-year period will be treated as a resignation.

• In-depth understanding of and personal commitment to the SUN Movement, its principles, core values, and mission; 
• Committed to read meeting documents ahead of meetings, gain an understanding of all issues, of the SUN Movement and obtain input from their constituency/organization prior to deliberations of the ExCom (meetings, calls, emails);
• Represent the respective constituency/stakeholder group (country / region / network / youth / organization / specialised expertise) and their views at the ExCom;
• Actively convene and communicate with their constituencies / stakeholder group (e.g., regular meetings or calls). ExCom members have to participate in meetings and discussions, and be committed to communicating constituency/network views to the ExCom and reporting key issues back to their constituency/stakeholders/network after meetings.

Expected profile:

• Sound understanding of public health, nutrition and development, development and/or humanitarian financing;
• Well-respected as a leader and convener within their stakeholder group / region; 
• Motivation and ability to promote the vision, strategy and the aims of the SUN Movement, including to act in accordance with the Principles of  Engagement of the SUN Movement;
• Ability to use and access to necessary communication technologies to carry out their role as ExCom Members effectively (e.g., landline and/or mobile phone, email);
• Ability to work in a diverse cultural setting that is gender sensitive, and respecting equity and inclusion, contributing to the enrichment and representation of the diversity of origin, gender, age; 
• Ability to work in written and spoken English (knowledge of French, Spanish or Portuguese is advantageous);
• Awareness of and responsive to country and community needs with the ability to create space for SUN countries to lead and learn from one another;

Desirable skills:

• Ability to act as an advocate and to represent the SUN Movement at a senior level (e.g., represents a larger viewpoint);
• Experience serving in governing bodies, and the ability and capacity to network effectively and broadly;
• Enthusiastic to consult, communicate and work in a multicultural, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder environment, valuing contributions of all stakeholders, and willing to participate in and align behaviour with the 360 Degree Accountability Framework¹ of the SUN Movement.

Additional, seat specific criteria and requirements: 

SUN Country Government Focal Points -  seats (one per hub-region, total 5 seats):

• Only SUN Movement Focal Points / Coordinators from SUN countries are eligible for these seats;
• Nominees have to provide A Letter of Endorsement from the respective government;
• Country-Government Focal Points should demonstrate endorsement of their nomination by other countries in their region as they are expected to represent them, and not solely their own national interests on the ExCom;
• Committed to represent region, convene and represent its Focal Points;
• Eligible Focal Points / Coordinators can only apply for the seat, and represent the region as follows: 
  • Anglophone Africa: Botswana, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gambia, Ghana, Lesotho, Liberia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 
  • Asia Region: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam, Timor-Leste), four Indian states (Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh) and Kyrgyzstan, Papua New Guinea, and Tajikistan. 
  • Francophone Africa Region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Chad, Comoros, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome, Senegal, Togo. 
  • Latin America and the Caribbean Region: Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Panama. 
  • Humanitarian-Development Nexus: Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen.

Additional seats assigned to representatives from SUN Movement Countries (3 seats): 

• Nominees have to be from and working in a SUN Movement country;
• Nominees have to be able to participate in an institutional capacity representing the organisation / country / stakeholder group committed to the SUN Movement such as: SUN Movement networks, regional commissions, donor institutions, development banks, academia;
• Preference will be given to representatives of regional institutions with whom stronger collaboration can help further the objectives of the Movement; The ExCom ToR envisions a role for regional actors amongst the eight seats dedicated for SUN Countries. 

SUN Networks (1 seat per SUN network): 

• Each SUN network is represented by one representative at the ExCom. Nominees should (preferably) be decision makers from within network governing bodies;
• Candidates have to be committed to leverage and mobilizing the support and resources of their networks to align behind SUN Countries’ goals and priority areas of action;
• Each network should identify and nominate at least two representatives through an inclusive and transparent process with three candidates in order of preference.²  

Youth representative (1 seat):

• Nominees have to be under 30 years of age at the time of nomination;
• Nominees should demonstrate an ability and commitment to convening youth representatives from across SUN stakeholder and sectoral groups; 
• Representatives from SUN countries will be given special consideration.

Specialised experts (3 seats on humanitarian affairs, finance, and climate change and nutrition): 

• Representatives from SUN countries will be given special consideration.

¹Under development 

²See Section XV, Rule 39 (5) of the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Committee.

Each regular ExCom member is invited to identify an “Alternate”, designated to represent the ExCom member (and vote) in case of absence. Alternates are required to have the same seniority and fulfil the same requirements / profile as regular members. ExCom nominees can either propose an alternate when submitting their nomination dossier, or on a needs basis. Nominations of alternates have to be endorsed by the FRC (if nominated together with the initial regular member nomination) or the Co-Chairs and Coordinator (if nominated on a needs basis during the tenure of a regular ExCom member).

As outlined in the Call for Nominations,  qualified SUN Movement stakeholders are invited to submit their application through their specific constituency through the online form. All candidates must provide the following documentation to the SUN Movement Secretariat:

• Complete an Application Form (also available on paper [EN])
• Letter of endorsement from stakeholder group / government, confirming that the candidate will act on behalf of its constituency / organization on the ExCom (Draft letter available [EN|FR|SP]) 
• Curriculum vitae
• Disclose any potential conflict of interest (CO) and submit ExCom COI form

The renewal process of the ExCom is led and overseen by the “Full Renewal Committee” (FRC) (see Terms of Reference) appointed by the Chair of the Lead Group to guide this process in a transparent, inclusive, and fair way³. The SUN Movement Secretariat will support the FRC in this process, by providing administrative and secretarial assistance. The FRC will review all received nominations for ExCom membership and recommend the renewed composition to the Lead Group Chair for approval.

³The FRC will follow guidelines of the new ExCom TOR and RoP as appropriate in this exceptional renewal.

Once the Call for Nominations is closed and all applications submitted, the SUN Movement Secretariat will compile all nomination dossiers on behalf of the “Full Renewal Committee” (FRC). The FRC will review all nominations against a set of weighted criteria in line with this guidance note and take into account the need for diversity and for retaining institutional memory in the new ExCom. The FRC will then propose a balanced and fit-for-purpose ExCom composition to the full membership of the Lead Group for endorsement.⁴

⁴In the exceptional circumstances that there is not a sufficient number of candidates matching the criteria, the FRC may propose an interim solution.

Two Co-Chairs will be elected from among the new ExCom membership by secret ballot during the first meeting of the renewed ExCom. One of the Co-Chairs should be a SUN country representative and the other Co-Chair could come from among any other ExCom seat. Once the Co-Chairs are appointed, the seats on which they were originally nominated will be filled with the runners-up of the respective seats.

In case you have further questions on the process, please feel free to contact for practical questions Paul Mazza at the SUN Movement Secretariat (excom@scalingupnutrition.org).