Recruitment Advertisement: Board of Directors

YALI AFRICA COMPANY LIMITED

About Us

YALI Africa, https://yaliafrica.com/, is seeking dynamic leaders with pan-African experience to guide the vision and implementation of a high-level and well established sub-Saharan African youth development program as members of the YALI Africa Board of Directors.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), https://yali.state.gov/, is the U.S. government’s signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders through three distinct activities: the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the YALI Regional Leadership Centers (RLC) based in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa, and the YALI Network. USAID is planning for the next decade of support to promote effective public administration; foster entrepreneurship and business opportunities; and cultivate civic leadership.

YALI Africa was conceived by the four YALI RLCs to build upon their work to create a pan-sub-Saharan Africa entity that supports their efforts to offer comprehensive and harmonized leadership training programs in 49 countries, build awareness of what YALI offers to reach more youth and partners, and create additional opportunities for YALI alumni post-training.

To achieve its strategic objectives, YALI Africa will be led by a Board of Directors composed of competent, diverse, and qualified members from across Africa and the diaspora. As such, YALI Africa is seeking qualified leaders on the continent and in the diaspora to serve on the YALI Africa Board of Directors and be part of a dynamic team that will make YALI Africa the premier pan-sub-Saharan African youth-focused organization on the continent.

During the initial years when YALI Africa is being established, the Board will work closely with the Young African Leaders Initiative Legacy Localization (YALI Legacy Localization) activity funded by USAID Washington and managed by Arizona State University. YALI Legacy Localization’s mission is to ensure the prosperity of YALI Africa, a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) that was registered in Ghana in 2019 and renewed in June 2024, by collectively directing its affairs while meeting the interests of shareholders and relevant stakeholders.

Position Title: Member of the Board of Directors (8) positions available)

Overview

YALI Africa is seeking 8 experienced, integrity-driven, and dedicated professionals from across Africa to join the inaugural YALI Africa Board of Directors. The board members will play a pivotal role in providing strategic oversight, governance, and leadership to ensure the company’s long-term success and sustainability. These individuals must be committed to a pan-African solution to youth empowerment and inclusion, have a demonstrated philanthropic approach, and possess social capital within Africa and the diaspora. YALI Africa is looking for board members with expertise in legal, financial, governance, strategy, management, and social inclusion. These skills will ensure functional board committees covering finance, audit and risk management, policy, advocacy, resource mobilization and partnership development, human resources and quality assurance, and monitoring and evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Oversight

• Participate in the development and approval of the company’s strategic plans.
• Monitor the implementation of strategic initiatives and guide management.
• Evaluate the company’s performance against established goals and benchmarks
• Oversee major corporate actions, including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

Governance and Compliance

• Develop and approve key corporate policies to promote good governance and ethical behavior.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the identification and management of significant risks.
• Ensure appropriate internal controls and risk management systems are in place.

Financial Oversight

• Approve annual budgets and major financial decisions.
• Monitor financial performance, ensuring the integrity of financial statements.
• Oversee the external audit process and internal audit functions.
• Review and approve financial statements for accuracy and transparency.

Leadership and Succession Planning

• Participate in the appointment and evaluation performance of the managing director and senior management.
• Ensure effective succession planning for the managing director and key management positions.
• Participate in the selection and orientation of new board members, ensuring legitimate youth
• leadership representation both on the board and the secretariat.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Ensure effective communication with shareholders and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee the preparation and distribution of the annual report and other communications.
• Promote corporate social responsibility and align company activities with ethical standards.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: legal, financial, governance, strategy, management, and social inclusion.
• Strong understanding of the industry in which the company operates.
• Ability to think strategically and provide innovative solutions.
• Proven leadership and management skills.
• High ethical standards and a commitment to good governance practices.
• Bilingual in English and French and/or Portuguese.

Appointment and Term

The members of the inaugural board will be appointed and ratified by members of the Annual General Meeting at the first AGM. They will serve for a period of three years. Subsequent board members will be elected by the shareholders and serve for a three-year term as outlined in the company’s bylaws. Board members are expected to commit to regular board meetings and actively participate in board activities and board committees and participate in fundraising events.