Deadline: Jun 30, 2024
Job Description
FINANCE & AUDIT EXPERTISE
ABOUT
Established in 2005, Fairtrade Africa is an independent non-profit umbrella organization representing all Fairtrade certified producers in Africa. Currently, the organization represents over 1,445265 workers and farmers organized in 697 producer organisations across 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Fairtrade Africa is owned by its members, who are African Producer Organizations certified against international Fairtrade Standards producing traditional export commodities such as coffee, cocoa, tea, cut flowers, cane sugar, wine, cotton, bananas, mango, pineapples and non-traditional commodities including shea butter, rooibos tea, vegetables and fresh and dry fruits. Fairtrade Africa is made up of both Small Producer Organizations (SPOs) and Hired Labour Organizations (HLO). In HLOs, the focus is on supporting companies that employ hired labour to supply better working conditions for their workers while in SPOs the focus is on members who are smallholders who run their farms mainly using their own and their family labour.
The Fairtrade Africa secretariat is located in Nairobi, Kenya and supports fairtrade certified producer organisations in four regional networks as follows: West Africa Network, Eastern and Central Africa Network, Southern Africa Network and Middle East and Northern Africa Network.
• The Fairtrade Africa Western Africa Network (FTA-WAN) with an office in Accra, Ghana represents producers in seven (7) countries: Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Benin and Togo;
• The Fairtrade Africa Eastern and Central Africa Network (FTA-ECAN) with an office in Nairobi, Kenya represents producers in eight (8) countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Cameroon and Ethiopia;
• Fairtrade Africa Southern Africa Network (FTA-SAN) with an office in Cape Town represents producers in nine (9) countries: South Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique and Sao Tome;
• Fairtrade Africa Middle East and Northern Africa Network (FTA-MENA) represents producers in four (4) countries: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Palestine.
THE BOARD OF FTA
FTA is governed by a Board of Directors which is comprised of seven (7) members as follows: four (4) producer representatives (one per region) as well as three (3) independent members recruited to provide specific skills and experience.
The Board is responsible for agreeing on strategies that help achieve its goals and that of the international Fairtrade system.. The Board also has an important role in ensuring the organization uses its resources efficiently and to regularly monitor performance and impact.
The Board comprises one representative from each of the four regional sub-networks, elected by the annual General Assembly. They are complemented by three independent Members also elected directly by the General Assembly to provide additional knowledge, skills and experience. Board Members (Directors) are elected for a term of three years and are eligible to be reappointed for a second successive term, subject to satisfactory performance, principle of rotations, delegate tenure ( applicable to Producer Representatives) and mutual agreement.
The Board meets quarterly, with the desired outcome being two virtual meetings and two physical meetings with occasional additional meetings as required ( The Board however regulates its meetings as it deems fit) .
Members are also encouraged to serve on one of the Board’s sub-committees which are: Governance Committee, Human Resource & Appeals Committee, Finance Committee, Markets Steering Committee, Risk & Audit Committee, Nominations Committee, Social Protection & Safeguarding Commmitte and Board Evaluation Committee and to participate in other discussion forums and working groups where their particular expertise is relevant. Board members may also be requested to attend Fairtrade International’s Annual General Assembly held on a yearly basis.
The position of a Board Member is unremunerated but reasonable travel and subsistence expenses are reimbursed.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Fairtrade Africa is seeking to recruit one (1) person as an Independent Board Member with Finance and Audit expertise.
Essential Competencies
1. Previous experience of working at board level in an organisation of similar scale and complexity, with an understanding of good governance and the role of a board and its individual members. In particular, Board members should be:
a. Committed to the principles of selflessness and integrity and demonstrate that they will act in the best interests of Fairtrade Africa as a whole, and that they will not place themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. Board Members should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
b. Able to contribute to Board discussions by listening actively with an open mind and being willing to speak their mind and engage in open debate while working effectively as part of a team.
2. A record of success in Finance & Auditing with evidence of providing leadership and strategic direction, driving achievement and managing change.
3. The ability to analyze financial reports, audit and risk reports, management reports and to take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and sufficient financial literacy to be able to understand and contribute to discussions on FTA’s budgets and management accounts.
5. Proficiency in English, which is the working language of the Board. Knowledge of other languages used by Fairtrade producers and regional networks (particularly French and Arabic) would be an advantage.
6. An understanding of Fairtrade’s rationale including the context of its mission in global trade and sustainable development, its principles, model of operation and the different perspectives of key stakeholders in the Fairtrade movement including small farmers and their organisations, workers and trade unions, development NGO’s, business, funding bodies and government institutions. If prospective Board Members are unable to offer this knowledge upon appointment, they should be willing and able to develop it through an induction programme.
Additional Specialist Competencies that may be advantegous
1. Agriculture and rural development, with an understanding of the problems faced by small farmers and waged workers and their families, particularly those of women and girls, and of effective interventions to support their efforts to improve their lives.
2. Experience of developing public-private partnerships and civil society collaborations would be especially welcomed.
3. Marketing and Trading, processing and supply -chain management, particularly in sectors relevant to Fairtrade such as coffee, cocoa, horticulture, and cotton.
4. The government-level policy environment in which Fairtrade operates and the role of advocacy and campaigning for change.
5. Governance.
6. Strategic Management and Advocacy.
7. Donor fundraising and reporting
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates, who possess the above competencies should send their documents below via email to: nominations@fairtradeafrica.net with a CC to: e.omwenga@fairtradeafrica.net.
• Curriculum Vitae of not more than four A4 pages showing education, professional qualifications and employment record.
• An application letter of not more than two A4 pages explaining your interest in the position, clearly indicating your area of expertise, previous relevant experience and examples of how you meet each area of the person specification.
The closing date for application is 30th June 2025.
The Nominations Committee shall assess, shortlist and interview candidates by teleconference in the first instance. Follow up interviews may be conducted as needed.
Candidates who meet the requirements and are successful after interviewing shall be invited to present themselves to the General Assembly Delegates who shall elect one candidate to the Board.
FTA aims to elect the Independent Director at its upcoming General Assembly in September 2025
The subject of the email submission should be INDEPENDENTDIRECTOR – FINANCE OPTION 2025 .
Please note that only shortlisted candidatesshall be contacted.