Role of the trustees
The trustees provide the governing body of AidWorkers. Their role is to make sure the organisation acts only to further its humanitarian purposes, manages risk properly, keeps accurate records and uses funds responsibly.
Trustees should not create unnecessary bureaucracy. Their job is to provide enough structure to protect the organisation and the people it serves, while preserving the ability to act quickly and practically when urgent humanitarian needs arise.
Ensure the organisation remains focused on helping people affected by hardship, crisis and humanitarian need.
Review decisions, manage risk, record key actions and keep the organisation accountable.
Protect funds, approve expenditure, reduce waste and ensure support reaches appropriate people or projects.
Ensure vulnerable people, communities, aid workers, volunteers and responders are protected from harm.
Trustee appointment and skills
Trustees should be appointed because they bring judgement, integrity, independence and relevant skills. A strong board should include a mixture of practical humanitarian understanding, financial oversight, safeguarding, operations, technology, communications, governance and risk experience.
Trustee decision-making
Trustee decisions should be recorded, especially where they involve significant spending, emergency action, direct support, safeguarding concerns, reputational risk, partner selection or sensitive information.
In urgent humanitarian situations, speed should not remove responsibility. Decisions should still be lawful, proportionate, reviewed and documented.