Call for Board of Trustees Members

Purpose of the position

ICARDA is seeking to appoint a few distinguished individuals to join its Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance of the Center, including setting the strategic direction, overseeing management performance, ensuring financial integrity, and safeguarding the organization's mission and values (see annex for more details). The Board works in close partnership with the Director General and the senior management team. The official language of the Board is English.

Trustees are expected to have recognized experience, qualifications and competence in disciplines relevant to ICARDA mandate, including natural or social sciences, agriculture, environment, finance administration, or other fields deemed relevant by the Board of Trustees. 

To ensure balanced geographic representation, preference will be given to candidates from Western and developed countries, as the current Board already includes members from hosting and developing countries representing North Africa and West Asia.

About ICARDA                                                                                                                

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR.  
ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org. 

Main responsibilities           

Board members are expected to:

·       Attend two regular Board meetings per year (typically 3 days each, one is held virtually and another one in person in ICARDA operating countries.

·       Participate in and contribute to committees’ work (e.g., Audit and Finance Committee, Program Committee) which may involve additional virtual meetings.

·       Devote adequate time and attention to all matters they are responsible for (estimated to be approximately 10–15 days per year).

·       Serve an initial term of three years, with the possibility of renewal.

Uphold the highest ethical standards, acting with integrity, independence, and accountability in all Board matters. They shall avoid conflicts of interest, respect confidentiality, and exercise their duties in the best interest of ICARDA and its stakeholders, consistent with internationally recognized principles of good governance, transparency, and fiduciary responsibility.

Requirements

Education, qualifications, and experience

·     A strong track record of leadership at the international level in agriculture, environment, international development, finance, law or other related fields).

·     Experience serving on a board of directors or a similar governance body.

·     Understanding of the CGIAR system or the challenges facing agricultural research in developing countries is highly desirable.

·     Strategic vision, independence of judgment, and the ability to think creatively and critically.

·     Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural, multinational environment.

·     Fluency in English is required; knowing other languages relevant to ICARDA’s regions of operation is desirable.

How to apply

Interested candidates may apply directly by sending applications via email to: ICARDA-BOT-Nominations-Committee@cgiar.org, with the subject line: "Board of Trustees Nomination: [Candidate Name]." Applications should be submitted as a single PDF document and include the following:

1.       A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.

2.       A cover letter expressing interest and highlighting specific qualifications relevant to ICARDA’s mission and Board needs.

The deadline for submissions is 21 March 2026. 

Please be advised that ICARDA accepts applications only in English, as per the organization's standard communication language. Applications in other languages will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Annex:

Powers of the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees shall:

·       Elect a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson from among its members with voting rights. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be eligible to a maximum of two terms of office, each for a period of up to two (2) years and subject to re-election for the second term. An exception to the term limit should occur only in extraordinary circumstances and should be in the best interest of the Center.

·       Should the term of office extend beyond the permitted service as a Board Member, the term of office will be reduced accordingly.

·       Appoint the Director General of the Center for such period or periods as it considers appropriate;

·       Establish and adopt by-laws and rules of procedure for the conduct of its meetings and for the general governance of Center affairs; 

·       Determine policies for the operation of the Center;

·       Approve the Center's program of work developed by the Director General;

·       Consistent with the budgetary and accounting guidelines established by the CGIAR System Organization, establish and adopt the general guidelines for the preparation of regular budgetary estimates and for the regulation of the financial affairs of the Center generally; 

·       Scrutinize and approve the regular budget estimates for the Center; 

·       Appoint independent external auditors of recognized international competence to conduct annual audits of the Center's activities;

·       Establish limits for the total aggregate borrowing on behalf of the Center in any given year;

·       publish, within a reasonable time after the termination of each operational year, a report relating to the activities of the Center for that year, including the financial statements of the Center and the Auditor's Report thereon; and

·       Delegate to the executive leadership team of CGIAR any authority of the Board of Trustees that the Board may deem necessary.

The Role of the Board

In addition to the powers and responsibilities of the ICARDA Board of Trustees as specified above, the ICARDA Board of Trustees is to:

·       Further the best interests of the Center and its stakeholders;

·       Set Center policies, delegate responsibility for implementation to management; and evaluate and oversee the performance of management; and

·       Play an ambassadorial role to give assurance to stakeholders that the Center is meeting its objectives and to secure their goodwill.

Basic Responsibilities of the Board

·       Determine the Center’s mission and strategy and review, approve and guide Center-wide plans and the performance targets;

·       Ensure strong, continuous leadership at the management level, including the recruitment and evaluation of the Director General, the oversight of Center management and setting boundaries between the powers of the management and those of the Board;

·       Set and reinforce ethical standards, values and policies; ensure that the Center has appropriate risk management policies;

·       Establish systems and procedures for monitoring the performance of Center programs while maintaining the Board’s focus at the level of strategy and policy; 

·       Ensure the integrity of the Centers’ accounting and financial plans, review and approve financial plans and monitor performance, oversee major capital expenditures, and review financial results, taking corrective action when necessary; and

·       Ensure effective Board leadership and Board practice and manage the Board’s relations with stakeholders.