APPLICATION PACK
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees at Womankind
Worldwide
Womankind Worldwide is a women’s rights and international development organisation making
an impact through the power of partnership. Since we were founded just over 25 years ago
Womankind has helped 18 million women and their families.
Our vision is a fair world where being a woman does not limit choices, opportunities or rights.
We work to end violence against women and girls and make sure that women have an equal say
in the decisions which affect their lives.
We do development differently. Our small team is based in the UK and we work in partnership
with women’s rights organisations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Currently we work with 28
partners in 13 countries.
Together with our partners we're tackling the root causes of gender inequality in their countries,
and challenging governments and international agencies to protect and promote women’s rights
through our policy and campaigns work.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual with relevant expertise and
experience to lead the Board of Trustees when the current Chair, Sally Baden, reaches the end
of her term of office as Chair this autumn. The key priorities will be to support the Chief
Executive and staff in implementing the exciting new strategy for 2016-19 and championing
Womankind and the strategy externally, using networks to increase the profile of the
organisation and our work. The successfully candidate will have credibility with our stakeholders,
experience of being on boards and able to meet the demands of the role, including flexibility to
volunteer in office hours.
You will be joining a dedicated team of people who care deeply about the difference we are able
to make working with women across the world. You will find more information about Womankind
on our website (www.womankind.org.uk).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Tania Cohen
Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees
CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Role Purpose
The Chair is responsible for overseeing the Board and the strategic direction, corporate planning
and operational efficiency of the organisation. The Chair in particular is expected to be able to
provide ongoing support to the Chief Executive as needed and to play an active role in
representing the organisation with stakeholders. The Chair is also responsible for monitoring the
Governance of the charity and coordinating other trustees.
Location:
Central London - and board meetings are usually held in central London,
generally from 4 – 7pm on a weekday, as agreed by trustees
Time commitment: The Board (and its subcommittees) meet 4-6 times per year in London. All
Trustees are expected to attend these meetings and assist with relevant
matters between meetings, for example strategic planning or fundraising
activities. In addition, the Chair in particular is expected to be able to provide
on-going support to the Chief Executive as needed and to play an active role
in monitoring the Governance of the charity and coordinating other trustees.
Estimated time commitment 20-30 days per year.
Start Date:
As soon as possible to undergo induction and a handover with the current
Chair. Anticipated to take over as Chair following our AGM in November 2016
Duration:
The Chair is recruited on a three year basis in the first instance and we
are looking for an individual who can commit to this time period.
Salary:
This is an unpaid voluntary position. Reasonable travel expenses within
the UK can be covered.
General responsibilities
 Ensure that the organisation upholds the highest possible standards of governance and
complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and other relevant
legislation or regulations and that it pursues its charitable objectives.
 Ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuit of its objectives.
 Lead the Board of Trustees in giving strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall
policy, vision, mission and values, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating
performance against agreed targets.
 Safeguard the reputation and values of the organisation.
 Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
 Be aware of the financial position of the organisation and ensure that the Trustees are
aware of their financial duties and act appropriately.
 Scrutinise board papers, lead discussion and ensure that the Trustees focus on key
issues.
Public/External Role
 Represent the organisation at functions public meetings and acting as spokesperson as
required
 Attract support for the organisation and facilitate board members to secure funds,
engage in networks and advocate for Womankind
Leadership of the Board of Trustees
 Foster effective and open debate amongst trustees on strategic and governance issues
 Foster constructive dialogue between trustees and staff while ensuring that Trustees
speak with a collective voice
 Ensure that the Board focuses on its governance role and strategy, avoiding
management of day-to-day operational issues.
 Assist the Board to review its own performance regularly and identify strategies for
improvement.
 Oversee the activities of board committees, ensuring that they are accountable and
report properly to the Board.
 Lead on recruitment and induction to the Board of Trustees (we have recently recruited 4
new trustees so do not foresee the immediate need for further recruitment)
 Build the Board team by identifying capable trustees in the future and providing for Chair
succession
 Using relevant procedures, such as the trustees code of conduct and staff policies,
address any conflicts or grievances (amongst Board Members, Staff Team or Partners
and Donors).
Chairing meetings (this needs to be in person, in London, not remote eg via Skype)
 Plan the annual cycle of board meetings.
 Ensure that agendas for board meetings address the key issues.
 Chair and facilitate effective board meetings.
 Ensure that accurate minutes are taken and shared in a timely fashion, and that
decisions made are implemented.
 Act as a point of contact for Trustees between meetings.
Management of Chief Executive
 Ensure that there are clear and open processes for recruitment and appraisal of the CE
and for setting and reviewing the remuneration package of the CE.
 Hold regular meetings with CE at which both can speak openly about worries, concerns
and challenges.
 Supervise the CE on behalf of the board, monitor the performance of the organisation
and ensure the CE’s performance is reviewed regularly.
 Ensure that the CE has opportunities for personal development.
 Act as a point of contact between meetings.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience and knowledge
 Demonstrable committed to the aims and work of Womankind Worldwide, in particular
women’s rights and gender equality, and a clear commitment to feminist values and
principles
 Good understanding of international issues and the challenges facing UK international
NGOs
 Ability to represent the organisation externally with credibility with stakeholders and
experience of doing so. Profile in relevant networks
 Experience of chairing committees and boards, ideally in the not for profit sector
 Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
 Not disqualified from being a trustee (bankruptcy, disqualification as a director, removal
as a trustee, non-spent conviction of dishonesty or corruption)
Skills and personal qualities
 Leadership qualities with ability to foster inclusive and collective decision making
 Able to demonstrate strategic vision and think creatively
 Willing to speak their mind and exercise independent judgement
 Tact and diplomacy
 Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences
 Willingness to support, directly or indirectly, Womankind’s fundraising activities.
Ability to make the time commitment required to perform the functions of the role, including in
office hours.
How to Apply
Please send your CV and cover letter/supporting statement, together with contact details of 2
referees who have personal experience of your abilities as a Chair, to
[email protected] with Chair Application in the subject field.
Your supporting statement should highlight your interest in Womankind Worldwide and your
motivation for joining our board in general as well as detailing your skills and experience that
make you ideally suited to Chair our Board in particular. Please also ensure this is in line with
the role description and addresses each of the requirements in the person specification.
Deadline:
10am (UK time) on 25th October 2016
Interviews for shortlisted applicants will be held in the week commencing 7th November
2016
More information about Womankind Worldwide can be found on our website:
www.womankind.org.uk
Strategy 2016-2019 overview: Building Women’s Movements
for Transformational Change
Womankind Worldwide is a women’s rights organisation and part of the global women’s
movement. Womankind has been contributing to positive changes to the rights of women since
1989, working with hundreds of women’s rights organisations globally. We have supported over
18 million women and their families to change their lives and their communities and influenced
governments and other decision-makers to commit to ending violence against women, enable
women to gain economic independence and ensure women’s voices are heard.
Our new strategy
Our new strategy is based on our conviction that transformational change toward a world where
all women have equal choices, opportunities and rights requires the sustained engagement of
women’s movements – as well as individual women’s rights organisations. Women’s movements
are changing the world – by demanding equal rights and equality under the law, by supporting
and empowering women, and by holding governments and decision makers to account.
Womankind is changing in order to strengthen its feminist voice in public debate and focus more
on its support to and solidarity with women’s movements in low income countries. We are
drawing on our 27 years of experience within the global women’s movement, working in
partnership with grassroots women’s rights organisations, in the belief that fundamental
transformative change to the lives of women requires strong, vibrant national and international
women’s leadership and women’s movements, as well as individual women’s rights
organisations.
Our key themes haven’t changed: the right for women to live free from violence and exploitation,
to have equal economic rights and equal influence and leadership, is more important than ever.
We will support the strengthening of national and international women’s movements and play a
leading role in international advocacy to deliver transformational change, toward: 1) Policies and
laws that tackle discrimination and protect women from rights violations; 2) Universal access to
appropriate, quality services that protect and restore women’s rights; 3) Social change that
supports the rights of women and girls.
How will we do it?
Policies and laws that tackle discrimination and protect women from rights violations: We
will build on our strong relations with decision-makers in the UK, and also look to new audiences
– identifying with our partners where change happens, and advocating to ensure that those
changes bring about the best possible solutions for women and girls – be that in international
forums, national governments, or the private sector.
Universal access to appropriate, quality services that protect and restore women’s rights:
Services run by women, for women, are an essential part of ensuring that women’s rights are
realised. We will support and advocate for essential services prioritised by the women’s
movement. We’ll link them to others and help with the communication of evidence so that
knowledge and experience cascades to those with the power to make policy and laws.
Social change that supports the rights of women and girls: Empowering women to know
and claim their rights means that women can assert their rights individually and collectively
through the family, the community, the media, women’s rights organisations or wider women’s
movements. This in turn supports recognition of women’s rights by the public, state institutions
and the private sector. We will stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists, organisations and
movements to ensure positive change in social norms at all levels.
Why now?
We are at a global turning point for women’s rights. In the past three decades, women’s rights
have been enshrined through declarations, policies and global frameworks. The new
Sustainable Development Goals put gender equality at the heart of international co-operation.
Womankind has been at the heart of advocating for these positive advances.
Yet now more than ever, women’s rights organisations face a backlash from conflict, extremism
and religious fundamentalisms. They also face greater competition for funding.
We can’t sit back and watch the gains in women’s rights being reversed. So we’re responding to
a changing world, to ensure we deliver transformational change at this crucial time for women’s
rights.
What is a women’s movement?
Women’s movements are, put simply, the women who are changing the world. They are broad
social movements campaigning for women's rights at national, regional and international levels.
Women’s rights are not granted from above, they are claimed, campaigned for and won, by
organised, mobilised women. Women’s movements throughout history have campaigned for
votes for women, protection from domestic violence, for equal pay, and against sexual
harassment. Time and time again, movements have proven to be successful in bringing about
meaningful change due to their ability to unite and mobilise large groups of women, and get their
collective voices heard.
What is transformational change?
Transformational change is significant, meaningful and long-lasting change in the lives of
women and girls. It requires change in policies and laws, and crucially changes in the attitudes
and behaviours that cause discrimination against women. The kind of transformational change
envisioned by Womankind requires a long-term approach, and a focus on all levels – from the
household to the United Nations.
Where will we work?
Alongside our ongoing commitments to women’s rights organisations in countries including
Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Bolivia and Nepal, we will strengthen our engagement in a small number of
focus countries where we believe women’s movements have the potential to bring
transformational change for women. All of this work will be complemented by our broader
international advocacy at multiple levels, so Womankind will be working with a more diverse
range of women than ever before.
One step closer
Womankind’s new strategy is driven by our desire to add the most value possible to the global
women’s movement, alongside women’s rights organisations worldwide, to have an even greater
impact on women’s rights around the world. Through collective action with partners and
women’s movements, we can come one step closer to a world without discrimination where all
women have equal choices, opportunities and rights.
As we put the new Womankind strategy into action over the coming weeks and months, we will
provide exciting updates and insights for our new activity on our website and social media
channels. Change is coming, and we want you to be part of the journey.