We are looking to appoint a new board member (non-exec) to strengthen the organisation’s partnerships and business with mobile network operators (MNOs) and industry associations of MNOs.
We seek individuals excited by the prospect of improving the lives of millions of vulnerable people in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through the use of novel data sources and high-quality data science.
Board members are expected to attend six board meetings per year, and to participate in the life of the organisation between board meetings, including advising the staff team and acting in an ambassadorial role for the organisation. The total expected contribution per board member is on average 1 day per month.
Our board meetings are mostly online and participation is remote. However, we endeavour to have two full day in-person board meetings per year. So far, these have been held in Europe, but Board members can be located anywhere in the world.
About us
Flowminder is a Swedish operational, non-profit foundation with 30 staff across our three offices in Stockholm (Sweden), Southampton (UK) and Geneva (Switzerland), with team members in Africa and the Caribbean.
We seek to improve population well-being among vulnerable people in LMICs by providing high-value decision support through data science solutions in the development and humanitarian sectors. Flowminder uses new types of large-scale digital data sources, such as de-identified mobile operator data and satellite data, combined with traditional population surveys and robust data science to develop and implement solutions that can positively impact the lives of millions of people.
Flowminder was founded in 2012, building on pioneering work by Drs. Bengtsson, Lu and Tatem, to use de-identified mobile operator data to monitor and predict population displacement after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and to understand population mobility to assess malaria transmission dynamics between Zanzibar and the Tanzanian mainland in 2008.
We have since expanded to work with mobile operators and to support governments, intergovernmental and national organisations across a number of sectors and countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Asia. We have also developed several additional pioneering data products based on data sources other than mobile operator data: we’re currently scaling services to support placement of public services in LMICs.
We are active in a number of countries, including Haiti, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
We receive grants and provide consultancy services within our focus areas. Our largest donors and clients include the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the US Centers for Disease Control, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, International Organisation of Migration, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), UK FCDO, Swiss FDFA and the World Bank. Our work has also been featured in media such as New York Times, Financial Times, The Economist, CBS, Le Monde and many others.
Our work to engage with end users and to mobilise resources is spread across several teams with different geographic focus and topic area expertise. The engagement work is coordinated by the (non-board) Director of Strategic Partnerships, based in the UK. In many cases, our end users are governments in LMICs or intergovernmental organisations.
What we are looking for
We are looking for individuals who can expand our partnerships with MNOs, improve the value we provide to MNOs and improve our partnership models with MNOs.
We seek individuals with senior experience in working with MNOs in low- and middle-income countries, preferably in multiple roles over their career. The ideal candidate will have had experience with multiple MNOs, with senior roles relating to data products, monetisation of data, mobile financial services, CSR and/or government relationships. Work for MNO industry associations or senior roles in companies that work closely with MNOs are also relevant.
Additional experience and attributes which are valuable include the following:
Experience from and knowledge of
- Board work, ideally at a charity or company of a similar size and sector to Flowminder.
Skills
- Strategy design
- Interpersonal skills
- Risk management skills
- Analytical skills
- Management/project management
In addition we seek the following attributes in all candidates:
- Commitment to the objectives of Flowminder
- Willingness to act as an ambassador for the organisation, and with personal networks in the development or humanitarian sectors that can support Flowminder’s development
- Willingness to fulfil the duties and standards of conduct required of a board member of a not-for-profit organisation with a focus on improving population wellbeing
- Understanding of equality and diversity issues
- Integrity and being able to share one's view, even when it is not shared by others on the board
- Ability to operate well as part of a team, nurturing the development and accomplishment of the Board
Additionally, we are looking to recruit other board member roles after this role has been filled. These additional roles are listed on our website.
Compensation
Compensation at a rate of USD 500 per full day work will be provided for board meetings and for attending and undertaking all the necessary prep work required before each meeting. Board meetings with preparation will typically take half to a full day of work, depending on the subject matter involved. Other work for the organisation by board members is generally not compensated for.
To apply
Please send your CV and cover letter to bm1+careers@flowminder.org or directly contact Linus Bengtsson, Chair of the Board at linus.bengtsson@flowminder.org.
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