The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) London office is seeking knowledgeable and experienced people as Trustees to join its Executive Committee.

ABOUT CHRI

CHRI is an international, independent, non-governmental organisation working for the practical realisation of human rights in the Commonwealth through research, advocacy and mobilisation since 1987. It has offices in London, Accra, and New Delhi. These trustee positions are for CHRI UK (based in London).

CHRI focuses on the intersection of human rights, transparency and good governance, with programmes on access to justice, access to information, eradicating contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking, freedom of expression and media freedom, and building the capacity of small States and civil society to access UN human rights mechanisms. CHRI UK leads research and advocacy work on SDG Target 8.7 and founded the Commonwealth 8.7 Network, a member-driven network of local, grassroots NGOs aimed to eradicate contemporary forms of slavery and human trafficking. The CHRI London office also leads on Commonwealth Secretariat relations, and engagement with the UN human rights mechanisms. We work in partnership with other Commonwealth organisations (state and non-state) on issues of common concern with a human rights focus.

The Commonwealth is a community based on a shared sense of values (the Commonwealth Charter) as well as history and language, and is unique in bringing together developing and developed countries in both the north and south, on all continents.

While CHRI has approximately 20 staff working internationally, the day to day management of CHRI UK is carried out by a small team led by the Director, currently based in London. CHRI UK is a registered charity and company under UK law. The Executive Committee (or Board of Trustees) has the ultimate responsibility of governing CHRI UK. Strategic direction and oversight, fundraising, finance compliance and risk management, are the primary responsibilities of Trustees of CHRI UK.

Meetings of the Executive Committee of CHRI UK are held on a quarterly basis and, while these are often virtual, are occasionally held in-person in Central London.

CHRI also has an International Board, which meets every four to six months (almost always virtually), with the Chair and Director of the CHRI UK Executive Committee along with one other Trustee attending these meetings and representing CHRI UK.

We are currently looking for three to four additional Trustees with human rights and development, resource mobilisation, and/or legal experience to join the governance of CHRI UK to enable us to revitalise the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a well-known and reputable human rights organisation that has in recent years grown, in terms of programmes, income and influence. We are looking for motivated individuals who are ready to take us to the next stage.

The current Chair is James Robbins, former BBC Diplomatic Editor, and the Executive Director is Sneh Aurora.

ROLE OF TRUSTEE

Purpose

The Executive Committee (or Board of Trustees) has ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of CHRI UK - ensuring it is solvent, in compliance with UK charity law, and developing and delivering its mission and strategic objectives, as detailed in CHRI UK’s Memorandum of Association and strategic plan.

As a Trustee of CHRI UK, you would work closely with the Director of the London office, liaising through her with the CHRI London team You would also work with CHRI’s leadership in Accra and Delhi and the Executive Committee (EC) Chair.

Role

• To ensure compliance with the vision, mission, objectives, purposes and values of CHRI 
• To help shape the strategic direction of CHRI UK
• To approve and ensure implementation of the strategic plan for the organisation
• To ensure the solvency, strength and strategic impact and effectiveness of CHRI UK
• To ensure that the organisation complies with relevant laws, regulations and requirements of the Charity Commission and other relevant regulators
• To support the income generation and outward facing activities of the organisation
• To agree or ratify all policies and decisions on matters which might create significant risk to the organisation. To monitor changes in risk profile for the organisation
• To provide peer support to the Director of CHRI UK
• To provide advice and guidance on specific operational areas
• To be an ambassador for CHRI and for our work, including through the media

Person specification

Essential

• Experience of successfully dealing with strategic issues
• Sound judgement and ability to think creatively and strategically; ability to handle competing priorities and make informed decisions
• Commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, to equality, and respect for diversity
• Interest in CHRI’s purpose to realise human rights throughout the Commonwealth
• Understanding of working internationally for a small non-profit organisation
• Background / professional experience in one or more of the following where we would like to improve our coverage:
  • Resource mobilisation or fundraising (preferably non-profit fundraising, strategy development, donor due diligence, knowledge of institutional donor/trusts and foundations landscape, development of cases for support and proposals, maintaining donor relationships)
  • Human rights or development programme management and evaluation (international)
  • Human rights, in particular access to justice, freedom of expression, media freedom or contemporary forms of slavery
  • Legal (business law, human rights law, or public international law)
  • Corporate and finance
  • Policy, advocacy and communications

Desirable

• Connection to Commonwealth countries outside of the UK, in particular those in Africa and the Pacific region
• Good knowledge of relevant general legislation and statutory requirements, including charity law, employment law and or health and safety law
• Experience of overseeing governance and programming processes within a voluntary or public sector organisation
• Good networker and able to leverage professional networks in support of CHRI UK strategic objectives when required, in particular for contract development and funding opportunities

SUMMARY CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT

Remuneration

Trustee posts are not remunerated. They are voluntary and unpaid positions. CHRI UK is a limited company.

Expenses

Reasonable travel expenses incurred to attend Executive Committee meetings, and all other reasonable costs incurred whilst carrying out the duties of being a CHRI UK Trustee, will be reimbursed, if approved in advance by the Executive Committee.

Trustees may at their discretion, and without setting any precedent for future activities, choose not to claim expenses if they wish to support the charity in this way.

Term of Office

The term of office is for three years. Trustees may serve an additional term of three years, subject to agreement of the Executive Committee.

Expected Time Commitment

The time commitment for the post of Trustee is approximately one day a month, including preparation for and attendance at all Executive Committee meetings (2-3 hours every three months) and other meetings including sub-committees as they might be called from time to time (approximately 1 day per annum).

Training and Development

CHRI UK will provide an induction for all new Trustees, as well as an opportunity to meet the CHRI UK team.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To express your interest please forward your CV and a covering letter to london@humanrightsinitiative.org, with ‘Trustee Application’ in the subject line.

Please indicate:

• Your interest and experience in becoming a Trustee for CHRI UK, referring to any relevant experience relating to the person specifications above
• Any experience you have in governance in a charity, private or public body

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Monday 17 February 2025. Should posts remain unfilled after this date, we will review applications on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.

To enable diversity on the Executive Committee, CHRI welcomes candidates who are women, from LGBTI+ and/or minority groups, and from young people.