Chair
December 2020
Contents Introduction
03
About INASP
03
Vision, Values & Mission
04
What we do and who we work with
05
Our History
06
Our Work
06
Role Summary
07
The Role
07
Principal Responsibilities
08
Additional Information
08
Person Specification
09
How to Apply
10
About Oxford HR
11
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Introduction
About INASP
INASP (International Network for Advancing Science and Policy) is seeking a new Chair of the Board of Trustees, to lead the organisation through our next exciting period of change.
INASP is a small but vibrant international development organisation based in Oxford, UK with a global network of partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
We are particularly interested to hear from candidates from the Global South, wherever your current location. We are looking for someone who can commit to an initial 3-year term beginning in November 2021, with the possibility of renewal for a second 3-year term thereafter.
With a vision of research and knowledge at the heart of development, INASP supports individuals and institutions to produce, share and use research and knowledge, which can transform lives thereby contributing to the creation of stronger and more equitable knowledge ecosystems. INASP has nearly 30 years’ experience of supporting knowledge systems in 28 countries, working with a range of partners including universities, think tanks, ministries, parliaments, and NGOs. We support all aspects of research and knowledge systems, from transforming HEI’s curricula and teaching practices and supporting researchers to communicate their work, to helping parliamentarians and civil servants use research and evidence in policymaking. But the world is changing rapidly, and our new 2020-2025 strategy recognises the need to radically transform the organisation over the coming 5 years if we are to remain relevant and useful. We aspire to collaborate more with a wider coalition of like-minded organisations, especially in the Global South and we hope to increase and diversify our funding. We need to deliver more of our support online and reduce our environmental impact, and we aim to transform ourselves into a more flexible, decentralised, purposedriven and democratic organisation that works in coalition with others. But we have strong relationships with partners and funders, a strong balance sheet, and sufficient reserves to support this transition. Visit www.inasp.info for more information.
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Vision, Values & Mission Our vision is “research and knowledge at the heart of development�. To tackle global challenges and address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we need to bring the latest evidence to bear on the most pressing and intractable problems. But the solutions to global challenges are greatly constrained by inequities in the knowledge ecosystem. Important voices are currently excluded. We need to see a system in which these missing voices are heard. We call this an equitable knowledge ecosystem. In a rapidly changing and increasingly interconnected world we can achieve little working alone. A key goal of our 2020-2025 strategy is to work with others in a global coalition that will help break down barriers, support an equitable knowledge ecosystem, and unleash the talent to find solutions to global challenges. Our values: in it together, making change last, every voice counts and doing things right reflect our commitment to equity, respecting others, acting with integrity, openness, and transparency. They provide a lens for our work, both inside and outside of the organisation. Our mission is to support individuals and institutions to produce, share and use research and knowledge to transform lives.
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What we do and who we work with We support higher education and learning so that university graduates can produce and use evidence more effectively in their professional, civic and private roles. We support research capacity so that researchers can design, undertake and communicate relevant and rigorous research; Southern research communities can publish their own research, and gain visibility and credibility for this work; and a more diverse group of universities and research institutions can participate, produce and publish research, and strengthen their teaching and learning. We support the use of evidence in policy and practice so that civil servants, public officials, and parliamentary staff can make better use of evidence, and public agencies can identify and use a diverse range of rigorous and relevant evidence. We work to understand and support impact so that research funders and other actors understand the most effective ways of supporting Southern knowledge production and use, and Northern research institutions can develop and support more equitable partnerships with Southern institutions.
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Our History We were established in 1992 by the International Council for Science (ICSU) to improve access to information and knowledge through a commitment to capacity development in emerging and developing countries. ICSU provided an umbrella legal status under its Committee for the Dissemination of Scientific Information until 2003 when INASP was registered in the United Kingdom as a company limited by guarantee. In October 2004, we were registered as a charity with an independent board of trustees.
Our Work In recent years we have worked with partners in 13 countries in Africa (Ethiopia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda), South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and Central America (El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua). In addition, we provide support to researchers globally through our AuthorAID platform, which now has over 20,000 members worldwide, with our online courses reaching over 15,000 individuals since 2015. We have a strong reputation among funders and our partners as a specialist in designing, delivering and evaluating complex, multilayered capacity building programmes that: - Develop the capabilities of Global South and North researchers to deliver high quality research on global development challenges and work effectively with groups of people whose lives reflect these realities - Negotiate the barriers that prevent Global South researchers’ knowledge to be fully recognised and integrated into international development discourses - Create spaces for stakeholders in the Global South to establish research agendas and new, context-specific theoretical and methodological frameworks for key issues in international development. We are specialists in assessing and employing relevant training approaches such as workshops, online trainings, delivering Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and facilitating mentorship schemes. INASP Chair | 6
Role Summary
The Role
The Chair will hold the Board of Trustees and Executive Director to account for delivering INASP’s mission and vision, providing inclusive leadership to the Board, ensuring that each trustee fulfils their duties and responsibilities for effective governance. The Chair will also support and, where appropriate, challenge, the Executive Director and, ensure that the Board functions as a collaborative unit and works closely with the Senior Management Team to achieve shared objectives. S/he will act as an ambassador and a public face of the charity in partnership with the Executive Director.
Time commitment Approximately 12-15 days per annum, including three Board meetings which can be attended via video conference. The Chair is also expected to have regular virtual meetings with the Executive Director and undertake representational engagements for INASP.
We are seeking someone with: - Strong personal networks, with knowledge of senior actors in the international development sector in the Global South and an understanding of their perspectives. - Practical experience of organisational transformation during a period of rapid change. - Deep understanding of the changing development funding and operational landscape and the skills to identify nascent opportunities for INASP to progress its strategy.
Reporting to Board of Trustees. Remuneration The role is unremunerated, but reasonable expenses to undertake the role will be covered. Location We are particularly interested to hear from candidates from the Global South, wherever your current location. Board meetings can be delivered via Zoom, Skype or other platforms to accommodate our global Board. Terms The Chair (and board members) will serve a three-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. Committee Membership In addition to chairing the main Board meetings, the Chair has the right to attend any sub-committee meetings.
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Principal Responsibilities A. Governance and Strategic leadership - Ensure that appropriate, efficient, and inclusive governance arrangements are in place. - Develop the knowledge and capability of the Board to provide good governance. - Ensure that Trustees are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of INASP, and that the Board takes collective ownership for its decisions. - Work closely with the Executive Director to ensure that Board meetings are well planned, meaningful and reflect the challenges and opportunities of INASP. - Chair Board meetings, bringing both expertise and objectivity into the discussions. - Ensure that the Board regularly reviews major risks and associated opportunities and is satisfied that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities, managing and mitigating the risks. - Ensure that the Board is fully aware of the charity’s financial health and that appropriate scrutiny and controls are in place and observed. - Ensure that decisions taken at meetings are implemented. - Address and resolve any conflict within the Board. - Appraise the performance of the Trustees and the Board on an annual basis. - Ensure that the Board of Trustees is regularly refreshed and incorporates the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience needed to govern and lead the charity effectively and is representative of the wider knowledge sector population. - Work within any agreed policies adopted by the charity.
B. External Relations - Act as an ambassador for INASP. - Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in collaboration with the Executive Director. - Act as a spokesperson when appropriate, including representing INASP at external functions, meetings, and events. C. Relationship with the Executive Director and the wider management team - Establish and build a strong, effective, and constructive working relationship with the Executive Director, ensuring s/he is held to account for achieving INASP’s strategy, and that the strategy is regularly reviewed and updated. - Support the Executive Director, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles. - Ensure regular contact with the Executive Director and develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about strategic priorities, performance, concerns, challenges, and opportunities. - Liaise with the Executive Director to maintain an overview of INASP’s affairs, providing support as required. - Conduct an annual appraisal with the Executive Director and make recommendation of any salary changes to the Safeguarding and HR SubCommittee. - Ensure that the Executive Director has the opportunity for professional development and the opportunity to seek appropriate external support if required. This list is indicative and not exhaustive. The Chair will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role.
Additional information The two Chairs of the Audit and, Safeguarding and HR sub-committees will cover for the Chair when s/he is not available and undertake assignments at the request of the INASP Chair.
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Person Specification Personal Qualities - Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to INASP, its strategic objectives and cause. - Personal knowledge and experience of guiding the leadership of a comparably sized international organisation. - Strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities and comfort in an ambassadorial role. - Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively. - Strong personal networks with knowledge of key actors in the sector, in the Global South and an understanding of their perspectives. - Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the charity. - Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment. - Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours. - A commitment to INASP’s values, especially a decentralised and non-hierarchical approach to knowledge generation and dissemination. Experience - Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within a relevant sector and organisation, such as university, government, or international development organisation or NGO. - Practical experience of successfully guiding organisational transformation during a period of rapid change. - Successful track record of achievement throughout your career. - Experience of governance and working with, or as part of, a Board. - Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders. - Significant experience of chairing meetings, fundraising, and events. Knowledge and skills - Broad knowledge and understanding of the international development space, particularly in ‘knowledge for development’. - Deep understanding of the changing development funding and operational landscape, and skill to identify nascent opportunities for INASP to progress its strategy. - Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together. - Good understanding of governance issues. INASP Chair | 9
How to Apply All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter. Please provide a CV and cover letter in two different documents. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last NameDocument Name- Date (mmyyyy) e.g., Malika Cook CV 122020 INASP. We strongly advise that you contact Oxford HR before applying for the role for an informal discussion about your suitability and the position. Timeline Closing Date: First Interviews:
19th February 2021 Week of 1st March 2021
Equality statement Equality and diversity are at the core of INASP’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected. Selection process All candidates will be notified about the status of their applications within 10 days of the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder. All correspondence should be directed to Oxford HR. Queries If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email inasp-chair@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.
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About Oxford HR Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy. Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our clients.
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OXFORD
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