Summary
The Flowminder Foundation is looking to appoint a new board member (non-exec) to strengthen the organisation’s engagement with senior government donors and philanthropies to scale its resource mobilisation.
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 Foundation. The total expected contribution per board member is on average one day per month.
Board members can be located anywhere in the world. Our board meetings are generally online and participation is remote. We look for opportunities to meet physically twice per year, but not being able to do so is not a blocker for becoming a member of the Board.
About us
Flowminder is a Swedish operational, non-profit foundation with 30 staff across our two offices in Stockholm (Sweden) and Southampton (UK), with team members in Africa, the US, France, Ireland and Austria.
We seek to improve population well-being among vulnerable people in LMICs by providing high-value decision support through data science in the development and humanitarian sectors. We use 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.
We currently work with mobile operators to create privacy-safe estimates and statistics on migration, displacement and mobility patterns across countries totaling approximately 400 million people. For more than a decade, we have performed research and developed our technical and operational capacity to create impact. Building on these developments, we are now at a stage where we are operationally ready to significantly scale its support to new countries.
We are currently active in a number of countries, including Haiti, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Pakistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
We receive grants and provide consultancy services within our focus areas. Our largest donors and clients include Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; the International Organisation of Migration; the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); the World Bank and others. Our work has been featured in media such as the New York Times, Financial Times, The Economist, CBS, Le Monde and many others.
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 (i.e. geospatial data). We are currently scaling services to support placement of public services in LMICs.
What we are looking for
We are seeking a Board Member who can help us achieve greater impact for vulnerable communities by leveraging their high-level connections and insights into resource mobilisation strategies.
Your role will be to support Flowminder grow, secure increased funding, and build meaningful relationships with senior government officials, philanthropies, donors, and other key stakeholders. By joining us, you will make a significant contribution, helping to guide our efforts to growth areas and ensuring that our mission continues to expand and adapt—ultimately helping more people, in more countries.
You will ideally also support us to navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with growth. If you have experience from a growth journey in another organisation, advice in this area can be an important part of your role.
Your networks and prior experience will naturally shape your role. Ideally, the role of Flowminder board member will create an additional platform for your ability to scale impact on vulnerable populations and become engaged in additional networks that can support this mission.
Key responsibilities
- Help shape and strengthen our fundraising approach to attract substantial, long-term support that allows us to scale our work for vulnerable populations.
- Identify growth opportunities, including potential focus areas such as climate-related initiatives, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovative humanitarian and development solutions.
- High-level introductions and advocacy: Facilitate introductions to key government and philanthropic leaders who can champion our mission and provide sustainable funding.
- Advocate for our value and achievements among donors and stakeholders who are invested in creating positive global change.
- Guidance and support to leadership: Provide strategic guidance to our Chair, Managing Director, and Director of Strategic Partnerships on approaching funders, engaging with governments, and nurturing long-term partnerships.
- Offer insight on navigating donor landscapes and tailoring engagement strategies that align with our mission, values, and evolving focus areas.
- Advice us on how the organisation should be set up and navigate challenges and opportunities of growth within and across countries.
Collaboration and support: While this Board Member’s primary contribution will be strategic and relational, the operational and technical work will remain the responsibility of our staff. You will not be burdened by day-to-day programme implementation. Instead, you will focus on high-level guidance and opening doors to influential stakeholders.
All Board Members share collective responsibility for decisions and are committed to supporting one another. The entire Board will engage in relevant decision-making processes and back this Board Member’s efforts to secure funding, promote growth, and shape our future trajectory.
Why join us?
By joining the Board, you will help us deepen our impact for those who need it most. Your contributions —introducing new funders, driving strategic growth, and inspiring government support— will enable us to serve more vulnerable communities, explore new areas like climate resilience, and ultimately help create a brighter future for countless individuals. We very much hope this will be an opportunity for you to make a tangible contribution to positive global change and help us grow in meaningful and sustainable ways.
Compensation
Board members receive a fixed amount of USD 500 per board meeting they attend, for all regular board meetings (six meetings per year). Time outside board meetings are not compensated for financially. The total expected time contribution per board member is on average one day per month.
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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