Deadline: 14-Feb-23
The Commonwealth Foundation is looking for five new Civil Society Advisory Governors to serve for two years from July 2023.
The Commonwealth Foundation has a tradition of involving civil society in its governance. Five Civil Society Advisory Governors—distinguished civic voices, each representing a region of the Commonwealth (Africa, Asia, Caribbean and Americas, Pacific and Europe)—join representatives from all Member States on their Board of Governors.
While the Civil Society Advisory Governors do not have a decision-making role, they provide guidance, advice and support to Member State Governors and to the Directorate.
As a Civil Society Advisory Governor, you will have a unique opportunity to represent civil society in your region at a global level. Your contribution will help ensure that decisions taken by the Foundation are informed by the interests and priorities of the People of the Commonwealth.
Purpose
The CSAG mechanism exists to help ensure that the Foundation, as an intergovernmental organisation, is working to fulfil its mission to advance the interests and needs of Commonwealth civil society and, in so doing, to advance the principles and values of the Commonwealth. CSAG members do not have any decision-making responsibilities, nor are they involved in the day-to-day running of the Foundation. Rather, they provide guidance, advice, and support to Member State governors and to the Directorate in accordance with an agreed work plan.
Criteria
The selection process for five new Civil Society Advisory Governors, to serve for two years from July 2023 to June 2025, is now underway. They invite expressions of interest from civil society leaders who meet the following criteria:
- You have a strong background engaging with civil society in your region, focusing on areas that align with the Foundation’s fields of work.
- Your background and connections will enable you to confidently represent your regional civil society and its interests.
- You understand their unique intergovernmental position advancing the needs and interests of civil society.
- You appreciate the importance of working constructively and in a participatory fashion with governments.
- You are in a position to contribute your time and expertise without remuneration (beyond expenses) to an agreed level of effort (they estimate that to be around half a day per month plus additional days associated with any required travel).
Responsibilities
- Responsibilities of CSAG members
- CSAG members are expected to:
- Learn about the Foundation and its work and to develop an understanding of how the Foundation operates as an intergovernmental organisation at the service of civil society and how CSAG can champion the Foundation and its work.
- Perform their individual and collective role actively, constructively and with sensitivity to the political environment within which the Foundation operates.
- Make themselves available for Foundation duties as agreed.
- Commit to the Foundation’s Code of Conduct including in relation to conflicts of interest.
- CSAG members are expected to:
- Responsibilities of the Foundation
- The Foundation undertakes to:
- Collaborate with CSAG in developing its work plan and to provide all required support to ensure its effective implementation.
- Keep CSAG informed of developments within the Foundation including of opportunities to participate in Foundation events.
- Work with respective Chairs to ensure that, at governance meetings, Member State governors are aware of CSAG and understand its role within the Foundation.
- The Foundation undertakes to:
For more information, visit The Commonwealth Foundation.
