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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Rights & Security International (RSI) is offering this exciting opportunity for new volunteer Trustees to join our Board.
About us
We are a small, expert charity dedicated to promoting the freedoms of expression, belief and identity, while stopping governments from treating people as ‘terrorism’ threats simply because of who they are.
We challenge religious, racial and gender bias in national security programmes, promote justice and transparency, and ensure that the voices of communities facing discrimination are heard.
We were founded by a group of women activists in Northern Ireland in 1990 to seek justice for rights violations committed as part of the conflict in the region, and now work throughout the UK and internationally.
Today, we focus especially on ending Islamophobia and racism in counter-terrorism programmes, stopping governments from treating migrants and asylum-seekers as ‘security’ threats unfairly, and upholding the rights of peaceful protesters.
Globally, we work primarily to support civil society and expose harmful ‘security’ or ‘emergency’ laws in several parts of Latin America and East Africa; our project on environmental human rights defenders also brings together activists from Southeast Asia. We raise the profile of rights violations and help develop new narratives and strategies.
We have a large impact for our size, publishing groundbreaking investigations and carrying out effective advocacy in Westminster, at the UN and elsewhere.
About you
The successful candidates will bring a dedication to upholding human rights and equality, especially in the counter-terrorism and national security contexts. You should have a strong dedication to human rights principles and an understanding that human rights are for everyone.
You should have experience in a field that is relevant to charity work, such as community organising/grassroots activism, law, communications, advocacy, accounting, management or supporting human rights defenders.
We are especially interested in applications from candidates with lived experience of:
· Migration to, or seeking asylum in, the UK; OR
· Promoting people’s fundamental rights in El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru or Chile.
About the Trustee role
As a Trustee, you will have an active role in shaping our organisation and ensuring that we are well run. We welcome enthusiastic, active governance and a curiosity about why and how we do our work. You would have an impact by shaping our strategies, helping us build our networks and (as appropriate) collaborating directly with staff. We work from the grassroots level (advising migrants) to the international one (drawing UN attention to rights violations), so your impact as a Trustee will ultimately make a difference to both individual lives and broader systems.
Trustees are expected to attend remote Board meetings approximately six times per year.
Trustees who live in/near the UK are also expected to attend one annual in-person ‘away day’ in London.
We are looking for Trustees who will enthusiastically promote RSI, including to potential donors.
All Trustee roles are unpaid, although reasonable expenses arising due to the role will be reimbursed.
Application Details: If you are interested in this volunteer role, please send a statement of interest (no more than two pages) and your CV through Charity Job.
RSI strives to be diverse, equitable and inclusive. We treat all staff, trustees and interns like team members and encourage everyone to bring their full selves to our work. We welcome applications from candidates from groups that have historically been underrepresented in the human rights, legal or policy fields, and/or who are from communities that have been directly impacted by the issues we address. All applications are considered on an equal-opportunity basis.
By submitting your application, you consent to our processing and retention of your personal data to the extent, and for the time period, necessary to consider the application. We will keep your application on file for no more than one year.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job description
The Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA) is an African-led and inspired charity, established in 1989. Its mission is to reduce poverty among the pastoralists in the Horn of Africa through the empowerment of communities and to foster sustainable and dignified livestock-based and non-livestock-based livelihoods. In the UK, it works with the Horn diaspora community through youth mentoring and leadership programmes.
PENHA’s Aims and Objectives
- Sustainable livelihoods require a coordinated approach at the grassroots and policy levels. PENHA, therefore, commits itself to two goals:
- The social, cultural and economic integration of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the Horn of Africa
- Dynamic, diversified and sustainable pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods, with expanded access to information, technology, education and training
- A full and equal role for pastoral and agro-pastoralist women in public and economic life
- Peacebuilding and conflict prevention
- Development of links with the diaspora in the UK
PENHA has a team in the London Office and country chapters in the Horn of Africa region – in Ethiopia and Somaliland but works with partners in Sudan, Eritrea and Uganda as well as international partners outside the Horn of Africa.
In the UK, PENHA has a Board of Trustees, a number of research associates, volunteers and an international Advisory Group. PENHA Board of Trustees is looking for three trustees to join the London-based Board with experience in one of the following areas:
- A legal background, with financial and risk management experience;
- Knowledge of branding, marketing and fundraising, including the use of social media;
- Knowledge of the charity sector and employment law in the UK.
In addition, candidates should have an understanding of the context within which charities operate, ideally with some experience of the Horn of Africa region.
The post is unpaid and the time commitment is four to six meetings per year, with attendance at other occasional meetings and events as a representative of the charity.
The Board is responsible for submitting the Annual Report and Accounts to the Charity Commission and to Companies House. As a small charity, trustees contribute actively as part of a team in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets. PENHA is currently undergoing a new strategy development process and the candidate will help steer the organisation through the challenges ahead.
In addition, Board members are responsible for:
- Ensuring that the organisation complies with its constitution/memorandum and articles of association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
- Ensuring that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document
- Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects
- Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation
- Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
- Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation
- Protecting and managing the property of the organisation, and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation’s funds
- Appointing the senior staff and monitoring their performance
Application Instructions
Are you interested in the causes we stand for and in joining the PENHA Board of Trustees? Please send your CV and cover letter to our UK Office Manager before 10 August 2026. If deemed necessary, we may start actioning applications/interviewing before the closing date.
PENHA is a charity registered in England in 1992 with the Charity Commission Registration Number
1038957
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.