Chair of the Board of Trustees

At Makani, we work with refugee women through the arts to overcome trauma, fight for their rights, and to transform their lives and the world around them. Our vision is a world of freedom, dignity and equality for all displaced women and girls.

We work in Lebanon with Syrian and Palestinian refugee women, and in the UK with refugee women from all over the world. In both countries we run therapeutic arts projects including theatre and craft therapy, filmmaking and feminist embroidery. In addition, in Lebanon we also help women through economic empowerment and income generation, access to training and education, and we are responding to the humanitarian crisis with emergency support for displaced families.

Makani was founded in 2022, building upon years of work supporting Syrian and Palestinian refugee women in Lebanon by our co-founders, one of whom is a displaced woman herself. We were officially registered as a charity in June 2024.

We are a small but ambitious organisation that is already transforming the lives of over 100 refugee women and their families in Lebanon, and dozens in the UK. We have rapidly grown over the past two years, with the accompanying rapid increase in income. We are driven by our passion for a better world for marginalised refugee women.

POSITION: Chair of the Board of Trustees

The Chair of the Board of Trustees will provide leadership and support to the rest of the Board and the Senior Leadership Team as we put in place stronger systems and structures. Key responsibilities will include fundraising, governance, and leading on the development and implementation of an organisational strategy for the next three years, helping us to grow sustainably.

The Chair will be a passionate advocate of refugee women's rights and issues, with a strong belief in gender justice and migrant justice.

DETAILS:

Location: Home-based, with occasional meetings in London.

Remuneration: This is a voluntary position, expenses covered.

Hours: Variable but generally up to two days a month.

• Regular preparation for and attendance at Board meetings (quarterly or as needed).

• Participation in committee meetings and strategic planning sessions.

• External engagements and providing support to the Senior Leadership team.

Deadline: Friday 15 November, midnight

ROLE OUTLINE:

• Leadership and Governance:

  • Provide strategic leadership to the Board, ensuring the effective governance of the organisation.

  • Chair and facilitate Board meetings, working with the Executive team to set the agenda and ensuring discussions are focused on key priorities.

  • Foster a collaborative and inclusive culture within the Board.

  • Provide support to the Executive team.

• Board Development:

  • Lead efforts to manage and develop a diverse and skilled Board of Trustees.

  • Encourage continuous learning and development among Board members.

• Strategic Planning:

  • Work collaboratively with the Board and senior management to develop and implement a three-year strategy for Makani

  • Monitor progress towards strategic goals and adjust plans as necessary.

• Advocacy and Representation:

  • Act as a visible and effective ambassador for the organisation, representing it to external stakeholders, donors, and the wider community.

• Fundraising Support:

  • Collaborate with the Board Treasurer and Executive Team to develop and implement fundraising strategies.

  • Develop donor networks and represent Makani in funding events and circles as necessary.

  • Provide insights to support grant applications.

• Financial Oversight:

  • Work closely with the Treasurer and Executive Team to ensure financial sustainability.

  • Provide oversight and support for financial decision-making.

• Risk Management:

  • Identify and address risks to the organisation's mission and reputation.

  • Collaborate with the Board to develop and implement risk management strategies.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Proven experience in a leadership role and especially in supporting organisational development and fundraising

• Proven experience as a board member in the charity sector

• Familiarity with charity governance and compliance requirements.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Passion for the organisation's vision, mission and values.

• An understanding of the challenges faced by small start-up organisations, and a supportive and solutions-focused approach to meeting these.

Desirable but not essential:

• Arabic language skills

• Experience of working with refugee women in the UK and/or Lebanon.

TO APPLY:

Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and suitability for the role via CharityJob's 'Quick apply' button below.

Makani is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.