Amref Health Africa is Africa’s leading health charity. Its work starts with women and girls, to secure the right to health and break the cycle of poverty. Headquartered in Nairobi, it is a truly African organisation, partnering with communities across the continent to create lasting change.

Amref Health Africa UK is one of ten offices in Europe and North America whose primary roles are fundraising, developing partnerships and promoting Amref’s work. Its focus is generating income from a range of donors including individual supporters, institutions, trusts and foundations and corporate partners. Based in London, the passionate, committed, enthusiastic Amref Health Africa UK team has a diverse portfolio of income streams that generated over £5 million last year. The majority of its fundraising supports four crucial and complementary programmatic themes: Maternal, New-born and Child Health; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); and Training of Health Workers. Amref Health Africa has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 response in Africa, training and supporting health workers in countries whose under-resourced health systems have been hit hard.

In June 2021, Amref Health Africa launched ‘Vaccine Solidarity’, an ambitious campaign to support COVID-19 vaccination across Africa. This was the largest and most complex global vaccination drive in history. The COVID-19 response and reversing the pandemic’s devastating impact on access to healthcare and health services will continue to be an important part of Amref’s activities, which include providing significant support to vaccination initiatives in a range of countries.

As the world strives to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of Universal Health Coverage by 2030, Amref is committed to removing the barriers that impede access to healthcare - ensuring that no-one is left behind. 

The role of Trustee is a vital part of the effective governance of the Charity. The Board of Trustees supervises the management team in delivering the Charity’s mission and vision. Trustees also support and, where appropriate, challenge the Chief Executive Officer and management team to achieve agreed objectives. 

Trustees will be expected to:

• Advise and guide the Charity in the delivery of its strategic aims 
• Be prepared to serve on a standing committee depending on their skills (Finance or Governance Committee) 
• Offer advice at strategic level to the senior staff of the Charity
• Act as ambassadors on behalf of Amref Health Africa UK, attending its key events and networking on its behalf where feasible and appropriate
• Be ready on an occasional basis to work directly with the management team to offer practical support in areas where the Board member has specialist knowledge, skills or experience to contribute to a specific issue or project

Trustees on the Board of Amref Health Africa UK will demonstrate a strong interest in global healthcare and / or Africa along with a readiness to contribute their knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the Charity. They will also showcase their willingness to draw on professional and personal networks to support Amref Health Africa UK’s fundraising capacity.

Amref Health Africa UK seeks candidates who can meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Access to a high value network or experience of developing relationships with high net worth supporters
• Fundraising / Marketing / Communications / Public Relations experience at a senior level
• A qualified accountant, ideally with charity finance experience
• Digital experience and ability to provide long-term strategic and creative input into Amref’s digital activities and to identify opportunities to use digital tools and strategy to further fundraising and communications objectives
• Lived experience of Amref programmes in Africa 

This role is unremunerated. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be extended for a maximum of two further terms. Time commitment will include quarterly Board meetings and quarterly Committee meetings (Finance and Governance Committees). Candidates may be required to attend other events when relevant and feasible, as well as training when required – typically this amounts to four additional days of commitment per year.

This organisation is based in London and in-person attendance is expected for meetings and events. However, some virtual attendance may be possible. Reasonable expenses associated with the Trustee role (including travel) may be reimbursed.

Amref Health Africa welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As individuals from its countries of operation are currently under-represented on the Board of Amref Health Africa UK, applications from African candidates would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from under-represented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.