Appointment Brief

Trustee Recruitment

Concern Worldwide (UK)

September 2016

Letter from Chris Elliott, Chair, Concern Worldwide UK

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your interest in becoming a trustee of the Board of Concern Worldwide (UK).

Concern Worldwide, the global organisation, was founded in 1968 in response to the devastating famine in war torn Biafra. In 2004,the UK operation was formally established, bringing together offices in Belfast and Glasgow with a base in London. Concern Worldwide (UK) is an integral part of Concern Worldwide, playing a vital role in fundraising and advocacy and providing a cruciallink between UK humanitarian and development actors and the organisation’s country programmes.Concern Worldwide (UK) does not directly implement programmes overseas but supports Concern Worldwide to do so.

Concern Worldwide is committed to achieving real change in the most difficult countries in the world. To contribute to this ambition,Concern Worldwide (UK) has developed an inspiring and ambitious strategy (2016-20) to significantly grow our organisation. Concern Worldwide (UK) is particularly focused on tackling hunger and malnutrition through influencing UK governmental policy, raising the profile and engaging with the public on these policy issues, and raising funds from the public and institutional donors to deliver programmes which alleviate hunger and extreme poverty.Concern Worldwide (UK)also has deep expertise in emergency response; it is a member of the Disaster Emergencies Committee and supports the global organisation to respond to humanitarian crises.

The UK charity sector as a whole faces significant challenges and - with the right approach – opportunities in the coming years. Concern UK is no exception. The public fundraising environment is changing, and will require an agile and creative approach in order to maintain income. In the international development sphere, results-based contracts with major funders are becoming more common, requiring expertise and skills in new areas.

We are seeking trustees who have the skills to help Concern Worldwide (UK)fulfil its ambitions and navigate this rapidly changing context. Trustees should have an interest or background in international development and, through strong strategic vision and leadership, will work with Concern’s (UK) management team to maximise the organisation’s impact.

If you want to use your talents and skills to help benefitthe world’s poorest communities,we’d love to hear from you.

Chris Elliott

Chair

Concern Worldwide (UK)

Concern Worldwide (UK)’s identity, vision, mission and values

Our identity – who we are:

Concern Worldwide (UK) is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Our vision – for change:

A world where no one lives in poverty, fear or oppression; where all have access to a decent standard of living and the opportunities and choices essential to a long, healthy and creative life; a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Our mission – what we do:

Our mission is to help people living in extreme poverty achieve major improvements in their lives which last and spread without on-going external support.

Concern Worldwide (UK)’s values:

Built on our history and the voluntary, compassionate commitment of Concern’s founders:

We focus on extreme poverty: We are driven by a clear focus on eliminating poverty in the most vulnerable places and responding to humanitarian crises.

We believe in equality: People are equal in rights and must be treated with respect and dignity.

We listen: Listening and partnership are key to empowering the poorest and most vulnerable to transform their own lives.

We respond rapidly: People affected by disasters are entitled to have their most basic needs met through rapid, effective, and principled responses.

We are courageous: Taking necessary risks, balanced with sound judgement, allows us to work in the most challenging contexts.

We are committed: Going the extra mile to support communities in times of need and in the face of very difficult operating environments.

We are innovative: Finding effective solutions requires innovative thinking combined with a pragmatic approach.

We are accountable: Accountability and transparency are central to all of our actions and use of resources.

Concern Worldwide tackles hunger and transforms lives across the world.In 2015 Concern Worldwide directly reached 7.6 million people in 28 of the world’s most poorest and most vulnerable countries.Concern (UK) contributed funds to work in 27 of these countries.

Afghanistan / Democratic People’s Republic of Korea / Republic of Sudan
Bangladesh / Lebanon / Rwanda
Burundi / Liberia / Sierra Leone
Central Africa Republic / Malawi / Somalia
Chad / Mozambique / South Sudan
Democratic Republic of Congo / Nepal / Syria
Ethiopia / Niger / Tanzania
Haiti / Pakistan / Turkey
Kenya / Philippines / Uganda
Zambia

Case studies of Concern Worldwide’s work

Overseas Programmes: Growing resilience in Ethiopia

Ali Assen Ali, from Ethiopia’s Amhara region, used to live in a small hut with few possessions or opportunities to earn money. For the last three months of every year, feeding and caring for his family was a struggle.

In 2013, Concern set up a seed potato co-operative in Ali’s village. He was given 50kg of seed which he used to grow one tonne of potatoes. By 2016, Ali was able to grow more than seven tonnes, selling them for about £2,000 and keeping some seed in reserve for future planting.

With the profits, Ali bought livestock including oxen, sheep, a horse and a donkey. These give him a range of ways of making money – vital for getting through emergencies like the drought currently affecting Ethiopia. If one source of income dries up, he has others to fall back on. Ali says: “I will be resilient to any shocks in the future.”

Ali plans to grow his business, do more trading and build a new house. He says: “Concern’s support has been invaluable. I am grateful for their help and I know they will continue to help other poor the way they helped me.”

Advocacy and campaigns: Good Cop Bad Cop
Ahead of the UN Climate Negotiations in November 2015 in Paris, COP21, we focused our Growing Resilience initiative on supporting the poorest to adapt to the impacts of climate change, which are already affecting them. We launched a petition, ‘Good Cop, Bad Cop’ calling on world leaders to agree a deal that provides support for the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Using caricatures of world leaders as good and bad cops, we collected nearly 10,000 signatures urging David Cameron to be a 'good cop' and received a personal response from the Prime Minister stating that the UK government would encourage all countries to deliver their commitments under the Paris agreement. Alongside the petition, we produced a briefing paper detailing our policy recommendations and case studies of some of our most successful climate adaptation programmes.

Fundraising: Comeback from Crisis

From September to December 2015 Concern ran an integrated awareness and fundraising campaign called ‘Comeback from Crisis’. Income raised was matched through DIFD’s UK Aid Match scheme. Working with communications partners and across all areas of fundraising – individual giving, trusts and foundations, community and digital - the appeal reached an audience of over four million and raised almost £1.7million to support vulnerable communities recovering from emergencies and disasters.

A highlight of the appeal was a photo exhibition which was on display in October 2015 outside King’s Cross station in London. Featuring photographs and stories from Sierra Leone, Uganda, Philippines, Malawi and Nepal, it raised awareness of how Concern helps people devastated by crisis to rebuild their lives.

Role Description

Trustee for Concern Worldwide (UK)

Position:Trustee

Location:Battersea, London.

Works with:The trustee board has a maximum of 16 trustees; two of them represent our parent body, Concern Worldwide, based in Dublin, whilst the remainder are selected by trustees.

There is one standing sub-committee, the Audit and Finance Committee, and fundraising sub-committee is being established. Other committees are established for defined timeframes for specific projects/tasks as and when required e.g. trustee recruitment

Background:

Concern Worldwide (UK) is an international humanitarian organisation specialising in tackling hunger with the most vulnerable people in the world’s poorest places. Concern Worldwide, the global organisation, was founded in 1968 in response to the devastating famine in war torn Biafra. In 2004, a UK operation was formally established, bringing together fundraising offices in Belfast and Glasgow with a base in London. Concern Worldwide (UK) is an integral part of Concern Worldwide, providing a vital link between UK humanitarian and development actors and the organisation’s country programmes. The UK fundraising is crucial to the worldwide organisation, tapping into a wider marketplace to bring in 24% of Concern Worldwide’s global income.

Key responsibilities:

Concern Worldwide (UK) is a company limited by guarantee and all of the trustees are also full directors of Concern Worldwide (UK)for company law purposes. The company has one member, Concern Worldwide. The company is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity Number 1092236).

Trustees are expected to perform a number of duties, as outlined below, as part of their service to Concern Worldwide (UK). Our aim is that the skills of trustees collectively are appropriate to all aspects of our work. Individual trustees are particularly encouraged to engage with the organisation in their field of interest and expertise. The charity commission guidance CC3 sets out the main responsibilities of trustees as follows:

  • ensure the charity acts within the law and all the regulatory requirements and complies with the requirements of good corporate governanceand with its governing document
  • act with integrity and in the best interests of Concern Worldwide (UK) avoiding any possible conflicts of interest
  • ensure Concern Worldwide (UK) manages its resources responsibly
  • act with reasonable care and skill
  • ensure Concern Worldwide UK is accountable
  • ensure Concern Worldwide (UK) is carrying out its purpose for the public benefit
  • attend and contribute responsibly to quarterly Board Meetings and appropriate Board Committees both according to individual Members’ experience and expertise, and more generally
  • remain informed about and interested in the work of the organisation
  • be available to give advice, support and encouragement to the Executive Director, senior management and staff, according to individual Members’ experience and expertise
  • take appropriate opportunities for advocacy, raising funds, representation and promotion of Concern
  • review organisational performance including that of the board and senior management team

For more information on the roles and responsibilities of a trustee please refer to the charity commission guidance using this link:

Person specification:

These appointments require a variety of skills and a strong interest in international development, as well as the principles and practice of good governance. You will have a proven track record of success in your area of expertise, along with strong leadership skills. Crucially, you will be a team-player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as unimpeachable integrity. Ultimately, it is important that you believe that Concern Worldwide (UK)is an organisation that you can identify with and actively promote and support.

We are looking for trustees who have professional expertise in the following areas:

  • professional fundraising
  • digital media and communications
  • organisational change management
  • international development, particularly with Concern Worldwide
  • policy and advocacy

In particular, we are keen to recruit several highly networked individuals who are willing to use their networks to raise funds and the profile of Concern Worldwide (UK).

Concern Worldwide (UK) iskeen to achieve greater diversity among our board of trustees so we welcome applications from all sections of the community. In particular we would like the board of Concern Worldwide (UK) to have a greater representation of females andindividuals originating from developing countries.

Terms of appointment

  • Appointed trustees are likely to commence in Jan 2017.
  • Trustees can serve for up to 9 years, with provisions for trustees to retire by rotation every three years. A field trip would ideally be undertaken at leastonce, though this is not mandatory.
  • Board membership is not a remunerated position. However, expensesnecessarily incurred in performing Board duties, will be borne by Concern.
  • Board and Committee meetings are normally held in central London. Trustees should be available to attend meetings 4-5 times a year plus a Trustee Away Days meeting (Friday and Saturday) oncea year.

To register your interest:

To register your interest in becoming Chair designate for Concern Worldwide (UK) please email a letter of motivation stating the skills and approach that you would bring to the post along with your CV to Lucy Asare-Akoto at by 23.59 hrs on Sunday 23rdOctober 2016.

All candidates who are short-listed for selection will be notified via email after the application deadline.Unfortunately we are unable to contact all unsuccessful applications.
In considering all applications and the appointment of Trustees, Concern Worldwide (UK) is bound to observe and comply with all applicable legislation and regulation, including but not limited to the Charities Act 2011, the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, and the Insolvency Act 1986.

Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy

Concern has a Concern Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).

Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

By submitting a formal application for paid or voluntary employment or for appointment as a Trusteeto Concern, you agree to Concern carrying out a clearance check as outlined above and that Concern will not proceed to recruit you should your name appear on any of the aforementioned list

1