South West International Development Network
Chair of Trustees
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Join the Board of Bees Abroad as our new Chair and change the lives of rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The potential for beekeeping to change the lives of rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa is considerable. We are a small charity with a yearly income in the region of £180,000 but are proud to say we make a disproportionate impact. We have a network of local partners who support delivery of projects in seven African countries.
In the last four years Bees Abroad has changed from a 100% voluntary organisation to one with a paid CEO, a transition that brings with it the opportunity for increased impact. This is an exciting time to be involved in the next stage of Bees Abroad, building on its legacy of partnerships to further institutionalise approaches and maximise reach. There is considerable scope to shape organisational culture and consolidate community-led approaches. This will suit someone who enjoys facilitating effective people management with a real desire to make a difference.
About Us
Bees Abroad is a small UK-registered charity that provides training, mentoring, and sustainable beekeeping equipment to rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to alleviate poverty and empower local communities.
We develop, train and support in-country partners to become proficient, independent and self-sustaining beekeeping trainers. Honey is an incredibly valuable and versatile commodity, regarded as both a food and a medicine and this is reflected in the average price per kilo at £5 (which is greater than the daily income in many of the areas where we work). Our community groups can go on to form social ventures to aggregate honey harvests and create value added products for local sales.
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We have been working with communities in sub-Saharan Africa for more than two decades and currently have over fifty active projects across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda.
The Role
The Board is currently comprised of 10 Trustees. Collectively the Trustees are responsible for agreeing Bees Abroad’s strategy; for overseeing its affairs and effective stewardship of its finances & resources; for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating its work; and for overseeing good governance throughout its activities.
The Chair’s Responsibility Covers The Following Two Areas
Board Management
- Lead and manage the business of the Board; in doing so, seek to provide an appropriate structure for the effective operation of its Working Groups.
- Approve the objectives & agenda for each Board meeting and ensure that sufficient time is allowed for discussion of relevant issues;
- Provide that the performance of individual Board members, and of the Board and its Working Groups, is evaluated at least once a year in accordance with their respective terms of reference;
- Provide that succession issues are reviewed by the Board.
Liaison between the CEO and Board
- Work with the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) to help provide the members of the Board with accurate, timely and clear information regarding matters within their responsibility, so as to enable the Board to take sound decisions, monitor effectively and provide advice to promote success;
- Provide that the decisions taken by the Board are effectively implemented under the direction of the CEO.
- Lead the Board in monitoring the performance of the CEO annually.
- Provide support, advice and a sounding board for the CEO while respecting executive responsibility;
- Perform other such duties and exercise such other powers as from time to time may be assigned by the Board.
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Term of appointment: The anticipated term for the Chair is 3 years with the option to continue for a further 2 terms.
Person Spec
We Are Ideally Seeking Someone That Has
- Previous Chair or equivalent working group or committee management experience
- Experience with international NGO management and of working in Africa
- Charity development in a UK context
The Chair can be based anywhere in the UK as meetings are predominantly carried out on-line but ability to travel to the region within 70 miles of London for at least one in-person meeting a year is necessary.
We anticipate a time commitment of approximately 8–10 hours per month, including board meetings, working group calls, and 1:1s with the CEO.
How to Apply
If you are interested to find out more about the charity and the role, our Trustees would be happy to answer your questions before you decide to apply. Please contact Katharine Thoday – Katharine_Thoday@beesabroad.org.uk who will co-ordinate a call with one of our Trustees based on availability.
To apply please provide the following documents by midday on Friday, 30th of October.
- An up-to-date CV
- A supporting statement (maximum two pages) that outlines your interest in Bees Abroad and the position of Chair and your experience against the skill sets we seek
Interviews are anticipated to be conducted in early November.
Please email your application to the Appointments Committee via Katharine_Thoday@beesabroad.org.uk
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