Wetlands International Eastern Africa - Board Members

About Wetlands International Eastern Africa

Wetlands International is the only NGO dedicated to safeguarding and restoring wetlands for people and nature. We seek to inspire and mobilise society to act and influence levers of change. We are driven by the knowledge that safeguarding and restoring wetlands is urgent and vital for water security, biodiversity, climate regulation, sustainable development, and human health. We bring knowledge into policy and practice, connect local actions in 100 countries to make a global difference, catalyse actions that support those that use or depend on wetlands, and are passionate about the positive change we make for people and nature. A Supervisory Council and a Board of the Association of 35 national government and non-governmental organisation members govern our global not-for-profit network of 20 independent offices. Our website (www.africa.wetlands.org/en) outlines the values, strategies and policies that guide our work.

Wetlands International has been present in Eastern Africa since 2008 with the official establishment of an office in Nairobi taking place in 2011. Today, the Eastern Africa office is in Nairobi with country offices in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and a project office in Uganda. Wetlands International is continuously growing and earning achievements year on year.

Wetlands International Eastern Africa has prioritized three important landscapes in the region:

• Western Indian Ocean Coastal Wetlands

• Horn of Africa Rivers and Wetlands: Upper Nile and Juba-Shabelle Basins

• Rift Valley Lakes and Wetlands

The above landscapes have been selected because they have global, regional, or national significance, they have high biodiversity values (e.g., endemism, endangered, species, refugia), and high risk of biodiversity and natural capital loss. The landscapes are also fundamental in meeting basic community needs. A total of 13 countries are covered by the landscapes and include the countries: Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Additionally, over the coming 5 years, Wetlands International Eastern Africa will explore opportunities in the Southern parts of Africa including in the Zambezi River and the Cubango-Okavango Basin.

The Role

Wetlands International Eastern Africa is seeking to recruit two Board Members, one of which will be the Board Chair.

The Board members should be residents in Eastern Africa.

The appointment will be effective from 1 January 2023 for a 3-year tenure renewed once upon the satisfactory performance as concluded from the annual Board performance reviews.

Terms and conditions will be discussed with the successful candidates.

International Eastern Africa

Job Summary

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about Wetlands International’s mission and who has a track record of board leadership. Selected Board Members will have achieved leadership stature in business, government, or the non-profit sector. His/her accomplishments will allow him/her to attract other well-qualified, high-performing Board Members.

Responsibilities

Wetlands International Eastern Africa is in the process of constituting a Board that will be responsible for strategic leadership and policy direction. The Board will perform its tasks according to the Constitution and the Board manual.

The key roles of the Board are:

• The protection of stakeholders’ interests by seeking to ensure that Wetlands International Eastern Africa strategic direction provides value for its various stakeholders

• Establishing goals for management and monitoring the achievement of organizational goals.

• Appointing and/or replacing the Director and other Senior Staff.

• Authorizing policies and overseeing the strategic implementation of these policies

• Seeking to ensure that Wetlands International Eastern Africa’s internal control and reporting procedures are adequate, effective and ethical and that the organizations strategic direction provides value for its stakeholders.

• In addition to the standard roles and responsibilities of a board member, our Board members are active advocates and ambassadors for Wetlands International Eastern Africa and are fully engaged in supporting the Organization to advance its mission.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking board members with the following attributes:

• An individual with extensive professional experience with significant executive leadership accomplishments in institutional capacity building, private sector engagement and/or wetlands conservation and management

• A commitment to and understanding of Wetlands International stakeholders, preferably based on experience that spans the development, public and private sectors.

• Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a passion for improving the lives of Wetlands International stakeholders

• An individual who will be aligned in thinking with the Wetlands International’s vision and mission

• An individual with an environmental background

• An individual who is well networked across the region and globally

• An individual with prior experience of being part of a board and sufficient time to invest in the Board Member role - at least 15 days per year

• Institutional Development experience/ someone with legal or finance and audit background to be able to advise in terms of compliance.

• An individual who is accessible, available and flexible.

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, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process. 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 Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-102020-Wetlands or Pat-JonesCoverLetter-102020-Wetlands.

Timeline

Closing date: 7th November 2022

First stage interviews: Mid-November 2022

Final interviews: Early December 2022

Selection process

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

Equality statement

Equality and diversity are at the core of Wetlands International’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.

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 at wetlandsinternational@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

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 client.