Introduction
On Call Africa is seeking to appoint new Trustees with governance and/or health system strengthening experience within a medium to large charity, to support On Call Africa through an exciting period of growth. We are looking for trustees with a particular interest in international development.
Over the last two years On Call Africa has evolved and changed our ways of working, and experienced rapid growth. We are transitioning from on an organisation that was largely volunteer led for the first ten years of operation, to a larger organisation with a growing staff team. Our income in 2019 was £119k, and it is projected to go over £1million per annum by 2022. At this exciting time we are looking for trustees who can bring governance and/or health system strengthening expertise to the board of trustees, and help us to manage this expansion well.
On Call Africa currently has six Trustees whose background consist of doctors, public health professionals, finance, international development experts and successful business owners. Trustee meetings are held each quarter, while special meetings and sub-committee meetings are called as required. We are currently in the process of a governance review and looking to bring a trustee in at the start of this process to help guide ways of working and governance arrangements going forward.
Currently, the charity has four full-time staff, and one part time staff member in the UK, and fourteen full time staff in Zambia.
We are seeking trustees who are passionate, motivated, with excellent leadership skills, who can commit the time to help drive the charity forward to its next growth stage.
Organisational background
On Call Africa aims to support the development of strong and effective rural health systems in Zambia’s Southern Province, by improving access and quality of healthcare in rural Zambia.
We ensure all of our programmes improve access to rural healthcare, and health outcomes for marginalised communities, in a way that builds capacity within the health system. Aiming to develop approaches that can be replicated by the Ministry of Health, or partner organisations, to maximise and sustain impact. We operate in a collaborative way, sharing expertise and learning with partners and the Ministry of Health to maximise impact.
Our primary focus is on improving rural health facilities and rural health systems capacity to deliver quality services and promote health, both at facility level and in the communities they serve. However, we understand that building capacity at this level of the system will only have a limited impact if there is not adequate support and supervision from district and provincial health offices, and if there is not national policy and budget to support rural health system strengthening.
On Call Africa operates at each level of the health system, either directly through partnerships at district, provincial and national level, or through our partners, to shape policy and design quality programmes. While also piloting and testing programmes to build evidence for wider investment.
On Call Africa Trustee
Remuneration: The role of Trustee is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although expenses for travel may be claimed
Location: UK or Zambia, home based
Time commitment: 4-6, 2 hour Board meetings per year (pre reading required). Additionally, trustees are expected to join at least one sub-committee, which meet for 1 hour in advance of each Board meeting.
Role Description
The role of the Board Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for directing On Call Africa’s (OCA) affairs, ensuring it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the outcomes for which it has been set up.
Trustees should focus on OCA’s strategic direction and avoid becoming involved in day to day operational decisions and matters. Where trustees do need to become involved in operational matters, they should separate their strategic and operational roles.
Trustee responsibilities
Statutory duties
- To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document
- To ensure the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the organisation must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are
- To contribute actively to the board of trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
- To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation
- To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
- To ensure the financial stability of the organisation
- To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds
- To appoint the chief executive officer and monitor his/her performance
Other Trustee responsibilities
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help OCA’s Board of Trustees reach sound decisions and ensure the organisation fulfils its objects. This will involve:
- Attending Board and other OCA meetings as appropriate
- Participating in one or more Board sub committees as required
- Scrutinising board papers and other communications
- Leading discussions and providing guidance on new initiatives, particularly in areas where the Trustee has specific skills, knowledge or expertise
- Abiding by OCA’s policies and procedures including the Safeguarding, Diversity and Equal Opportunities and Information Governance Policies, ensuring these are effectively implemented
- Participate in activities to promote OCA to our partners, stakeholders, funders and the wider public
- Contributing on other issues or areas of special expertise
Person Specification
Essential
- Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to the charity, its strategic objectives and cause
- Successful track record of achievement through their career
Desirable
- Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees in a medium to large charity
- Broad knowledge and understanding of the Civil Society sector and current issues affecting it
- Experience of working in health system strengthening
- Experience of working in international development, preferably within Zambia
How to apply
Please submit a CV and cover letter to recruitment@oncallafrica.org by 5pm on 29th October.
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