The Asylum Reform Initiative

CHAIR

APRIL 2024

About us

The Asylum Reform Initiative (ARI) is an alliance of leading groups working in collaboration to secure deep-rooted change in the UK’s refugee and asylum system. Founded in 2020, its governance group is currently composed of British Red Cross, Citizens UK, Freedom from Torture, NACCOM, One Strong Voice, Rainbow Migration, Refugee Action, Refugee Council and Scottish Refugee Council. ARI is not a registered entity. The project has been hosted by the British Red Cross and is currently being transitioned to a new host.

The ARI incubated, launched and supports the public-facing Together With Refugees coalition in 2021 to build a united campaigning front to counter the deepest threat to refugee protection in the UK since the UN Convention was signed in 1951. The coalition now has over 600 national and local member organisations taking collective action to project widespread support for a positive alternative approach into public and political debate. Members of the coalition include grassroots, community and refugeeled organisations, groups led by people with lived experience of seeking asylum, international development charities, LGBT+ organisations, trade unions and faith groups. For an overview of public-facing activities across the country by Together With Refugees, you can visit this section of the website

The Governance Group is the highest decision-making body in the ARI. It is formed of CEOs or other senior leaders. It is accountable for the ARI’s core mission of strategic collaboration to secure longterm, deep change in the UK system for asylum and refugees. The Governance Group is a champion for the ARI’s mission and strategy with the refugee and asylum sector, wider movement and key stakeholders. It is responsible for shaping the longterm strategic direction of the Together With Refugees coalition and ultimately accountable for its delivery against the ARI’s overarching mission, including oversight of resources, funding, risk management as well as the ARI Director and staff team. It provides a key forum for senior leadership in the refugee sector to strategise, support each other and provide collective leadership.

Strategy

In December 2023, the Together With Refugees coalition launched its new two-year ‘Fair Begins Here’ campaign commitment from the next UK government within its first year of office to deliver a fair new plan for refugees respecting Britain’s obligations under the UN Refugee Convention.

Specifically, the campaign is calling for:

• Protection for people fleeing war the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum and by scrapping the Rwanda scheme.

• A proper strategy for welcoming refugees decisions on their application for asylum, and the chance to rebuild their lives through settling in a community, being allowed to work and the chance to learn English.

• Stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes people to flee their homes and provides positive solutions when they do, including through safe routes to refugee protection.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

range of organisations and people with different skillsets, networks and approaches. We will soon be doing the same with the ARI Directors Group.

At present we are working on increasing representation within our governance and operational structures, particularly of people with lived experience of the refugee and asylum system as well as people who have experienced racial inequality. We have recently expanded the membership of the ARI Governance Group to bring in a broader

This opportunity for an Independent Chair is part of the ARI’s ongoing work to widen the participation of people from communities and backgrounds currently underrepresented in our coalition and in the wider refugee rights movement – and is part of a broader transformation strategy. Diversity is something we celebrate and we want the Independent Chair to be able to bring his/her/ their authentic self to the role.

The ARI currently has an annual operating budget of approx. £350,000-450,000. This includes donations from numerous UKbased foundations such as Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and international human rights funders including the Oak Foundation and Open Society Foundations as well as annual contributions from the founding ARI member organisations. Further sources of funding are being actively pursued by the central team.

specific areas to support strands of work.

Organisation Structure

Managed by ARI Director Ben Jackson, the ARI central team is formed of staff and consultants who coordinate the wider Together With Refugees coalition. There are currently two permanent staff members who are full-time employees and a roster of parttime consultants providing specialist expertise in areas including strategic communications, media, digital, talent management, fundraising and operations. Some further evolution of the team is planned in the coming period including two new full time employees.

The ARI Director reports to the ARI

Role Description

Position: Chair

Term of office: Initial term of two years

Remuneration: Unremunerated, Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed

Time commitment: Minimum 2 days per month, and will vary over time

Purpose

This is a unique opportunity for an inclusive, collaborative leader to work with a highly talented and committed team to develop and drive the Asylum Reform Initiative forward with passion and humility. The Chair will play an integral role in providing inclusive leadership and management to the Governance Group, enabling each member to fulfil their duties and responsibilities and to maximise our impact in securing deep change in the UK’s approach to refugees and people seeking asylum.

The Chair will support, and, where appropriate, challenge and hold the Governance Group and Director to account for delivery of the coalition’s mission and strategy, ensuring that appropriate decisions are correctly made including developing the coalitions’ aims and objectives. The Chair will ensure that the Governance Group acts with integrity, adopting values and creating a culture which centers refugees and people seeking asylum at the core of their decision making.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy, Governance & Financial Management

• Effectively lead the Governance Group in the consideration, iteration and approval of the organisational strategy in line with ARI’s mission and values.

• Ensure, with the Governance Group, that the coalition operates efficiently and effectively to fulfil its objectives and in compliance with relevant legislation and overseeing compliance with host organisation systems.

• Safeguard the interests of the coalitions beneficiaries and provide oversight of stakeholder interests.

• Ensure high standards of governance and risk management.

• Ensure the coalition is accountable and transparent in its activities.

• Maintain a clear understanding of the coalition’s financial position and, working with the Governance Group and Director to ensure sound financial oversight including reviewing and approving the annual budget.

• Review organisational policies and working with the Governance Group to monitor KPIs and evaluate performance against agreed targets and the strategy.

Governance Group Leadership

• Chairing and facilitating Governance Group meetings, ensuring the range of members is heard and that refugee perspectives are centred.

• Bringing impartiality, accountability, transparency and objectivity to decisionmaking and to development of strategic outlook.

• Giving direction to Governance Group policy-making.

• Together with the Director, planning the cycle of Governance Group meetings and setting agendas.

• Working with the Director to support them to achieve the aims of the coalition.

• Where necessary, support and guidance on operations, including personnel management.

All candidates for Chair should:

• Show a commitment to securing deep change in the UK’s approach to refugees and people seeking asylum.

• Hold refugees and people seeking asylum at the centre of their decision making and be committed to building pathways for transitioning leadership within the movement to refugees.

• Share the energy and drive of the coalition and be committed to their role as Chair.

• Be able to think strategically and identify big issues including those around the coalition’s theory of change and political context, long-term sustainability and reputation.

• Be willing to engage with relevant policy issues surrounding refugee and asylum systems.

This role description is intended as a guide to the main responsibilities of the post and not as an exhaustive list of duties and tasks. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties that are not listed above.

Person Specification

Skills and Qualities

The Chair must be a skilled leader, motivator and moderator. They should:

• Be committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and in particular lived experience inclusion and leadership.

• Be committed to anti-racism.

• Be a strategic thinker, who can work through complexity, apply reasoned and creative solutions, with good judgement and risk management.

• Be equipped to act as a critical friend, ensuring challenge and support to ARI staff teams and Governance Group members and in striving for improvement.

high-quality debate, to support effective decision-making.

• Display the highest personal standards regarding integrity, transparency, reliability, and commitment to the role.

• Demonstrate robust, independent judgement, political impartiality, and the ability to think creatively in the context of the coalition and external environment.

Work collaboratively to champion innovative, inclusive, and robust methods of engagement, able to embrace challenge and be held to account.

Be ready to chair and manage meetings efficiently and effectively.

Use excellent and clear communication (including listening) skills to influence.

Build and maintain effective relationships giving strength and support to colleagues and anticipate and manage issues appropriately and sensitively.

• Track record of developing and delivering successful strategy, within a purpose led organisation and achieving a positive impact.

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the strategic national context and key drivers across the breadth of refugee and asylum systems and policy making.

• Evidence of understanding the needs, strengths and hopes of marginalised groups such as refugees and people seeking asylum.

• Demonstrable experience shifting the balance of power and influence in favour of vulnerable and/or underrepresented groups.

• Experience of leading campaign coalitions or an understanding of how to undertake this activity.

How to Apply

To apply for the role please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website via the link outlining your motivation for the role and your key skills and experience in line with the person specification.

Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.

If you wish to apply using an alternative format please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk

Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://jobs.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/187467

At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.

Recruitment Timetable

Deadline for applications: Sunday 19th May 2024

Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 20th May 2024

Interviews with Asylum Reform Initiative: From 3rd June 2024