Africa Research Excellence Fund - Trustees

Trustees - Africa Research Excellence Fund

Recruiter: Africa Research Excellence Fund
Location: UK/Africa
Salary: Voluntary (expenses paid)
Posted: 22 Dec 2020
Closes: 15 Jan 2021
Job Function: Trustees
Industry: Charities

Founded by Professor Tumani Corrah KBE, the Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) works to improve the quality and impact of health research in Sub-Saharan Africa by nurturing African-led research in and for the region. Launched in 2015, our focus is on enabling talented young health researchers to access the skills necessary to become leading scientists in Africa. Most researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa lack the mentors, collaborators and key skills that are essential to winning funding for their own research ideas and becoming research leaders. AREF is addressing a critical career stage for these researchers by providing stepping-stones to competitive international funding.

More and more African health researchers are achieving PhDs, putting them on the starting block of a research career. The problem remains that, few can access the postdoctoral mentorship, skills training and advanced research networks they need to unlock research funding that will lead eventually to the building of their own teams and earn them a place with the continent’s and global scientific leaders. We need to develop a new generation of leading African researchers – working in Africa on Africa’s health challenges – and we need to do this urgently given the scale of Africa’s health challenges including emerging infections and the rapid increase of non-communicable diseases.

With the support of the UK’s Medical Research Foundation, AREF was established in 2015 as a charitable trust with the Foundation serving as its Corporate Trustee. AREF is now embarking on the next phase in its development, by incorporating as a charitable company with its own Board of Trustees who will have ultimate responsibility for directing the charity, its assets and its activities.

To complement the strengths and experience of the trustees who will be nominated to the new Board, we are seeking independent trustees with strong links to Sub-Saharan Africa and board-level management experience, from the following areas:

• Finance
• Trading
• Fundraising
• Communications
• Providing research funding for African science

Ideally you will have had experience of the principles of corporate governance in the public or charitable sector.

The Board is expected to meet five times a year. The positions are voluntary and not remunerated, although reasonable expenses will be paid.

It is expected that the appointments will commence on 1 April 2021 for a three-year term, in the first instance.

How to apply

You can find full details of the role and how to apply by visiting our website at: https://www.africaresearchexcellencefund.org.uk/Listing/Category/jobs

Join us in supporting African-led medical research, for Africa, in Africa, by Africa.

Closing date: 15 January 2021 (12 noon GMT)

Interview dates: 9 & 11 February 2021