ACAPS Board Chair

About ACAPS

The world is undergoing rapid and profound change. The global order that defined past decades is under increasing pressure. New conflicts are emerging, climate change is intensifying crises, and Artificial Intelligence is set to transform society in ways we are only beginning to understand. At the same time, the humanitarian sector faces a critical paradox: as the number and scale of crises grow, global support for humanitarian action is declining. The gap between what humanitarianism is, and what it must become, is widening. ACAPS exists to bridge that gap.

ACAPS’ mission is to strengthen the humanitarian narrative and mobilize support for the world’s most vulnerable populations. Through rigorous analysis, data-driven storytelling, and a commitment to centering the voices of those affected by crisis, ACAPS helps the world understand crises more clearly—and respond more effectively.

The organization’s ultimate goal is to enhance the agency of crisis-affected people. It does this by incorporating their perspectives into humanitarian analysis and decision-making. ACAPS collaborates with humanitarian responders, analytical organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society to promote a more connected and evidence-driven humanitarian system.

ACAPS serves as a global convener—bringing together analysts to co-create knowledge, develop new platforms and partnerships, and foster a culture of collaboration. Its team of more than 100 professionals, supported by a network of expert consultants, works across the globe. The organization is guided by a core set of values: agency, candor, integrity, diversity, ambition, evolution, and collaboration.

Founded in 2009 by a consortium of international NGOs—NORCAP/NRC, Save the Children, and Mercy Corps—ACAPS has been supported by a coalition of seven major humanitarian donors. In 2024, ACAPS began its transition to become an independent organization.

As part of this transformation, ACAPS is establishing a new independent Board and is seeking principled, professional individuals to guide and support the organization through this next phase.

This is a pivotal moment in ACAPS’ evolution. Incoming Board members will play a crucial role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction, ensuring robust governance, and upholding its mission to make humanitarian action more effective, ethical, and inclusive.

To learn more, please visit ACAPS.

ACAPS Services

Humanitarian Data and Analysis

ACAPS supports the work of the humanitarian community by focusing on the needs and access of the people affected by crises. The organisation also identifies risks and builds scenarios to enable an effective and timely response.

ACAPS provides independent and multisectoral data and analysis in the form of the following:

• Global analysis of crisis severity, access issues, and risk
• Anticipatory analysis and scenario-building
• Analysis of multiple crises in one country
• Analysis of one crisis across multiple countries
• Dashboards and visualisations
• Data sets

Tailored Support

ACAPS can produce tailored analytical products, scenario-building workshops, and field assessments upon request. These services can complement your work in a collaborative learning environment and support your decision-making mechanisms.

Capacity-building

ACAPS has completed hundreds of training workshops for various audiences, from disaster response and humanitarian experts to government officials, and trained more than 100 junior analysts to reinforce the analytical capacity of the humanitarian architecture.

The Vision Behind the Board

As ACAPS continues to grow as a leading provider of independent humanitarian analysis, it is forming a new board made up of individuals who share its mission and values. These members will bring a range of experience, offering their knowledge, time, and networks to guide ACAPS forward. This transition will help ACAPS better support humanitarian workers, policy influencers, fundraisers, and donors in making more informed decisions and responding effectively to crises.

The new board is expected to take over from the current consortium in late 2025/early 2026 marking a key step in ACAPS’ move towards full independence.

By drawing on expertise in humanitarian affairs, governance, data analysis, and strategic leadership, the board will play a central role in keeping ACAPS focused and agile. Their guidance will help ensure ACAPS continues to strengthen evidence-based decision-making in crisis contexts.

The creation of the Board supports ACAPS in the following ways:

• Enhancing Strategic Oversight: Providing high-level guidance and oversight to refine ACAPS’ vision, set long-term goals, and navigate complex operational environments.
• Strengthening Governance and Accountability: Introducing a formal governance structure for the independent ACAPS that ensures transparency, integrity, and responsiveness to donors, partners, and crisis-affected communities. Having transitioned from a hosted project (e.g., under NRC), the Board reinforces ACAPS’ identity as a fully independent humanitarian analysis organisation.
• Leveraging Expertise and Networks: Board members contribute valuable sector experience and strategic networks that support ACAPS’ mission and extend its influence.

Role purpose

This is a role for a mission-driven Chair who thrives at the intersection of strategy, people, and purpose. She/he demonstrates steady, principled leadership in line with the values of ACAPS. The Chair leads the formation of an effective, inclusive, and values-aligned board.

Key Experience and Background

• Senior leadership experience in the humanitarian or international development sector.
• Prior board experience, ideally also experience as Chair.
• Deep understanding of the operational, ethical, financial and governance challenges organisations face in this sector.
• Strong familiarity with sector-specific dynamics such as donor accountability, partnership-building, and working in crisis-affected contexts.
• Understanding the role and purpose of ACAPS in the humanitarian sector.

Leadership Attributes

• Collaborative Style: Builds trust, creates space for diverse voices, and brings people together around a shared vision.
• Critical thinker & Challenger: Supports high standards and critical thinking while maintaining strong relationships.
• Inclusive & Diversity-focused: Committed to building a diverse, representative board from day one, and to embedding inclusion in governance practice.
• Globally Networked: Brings a wide-reaching international network, preferably across humanitarian, nonprofit, philanthropic, and policy sectors.
• Builder: Comfortable navigating uncertainty, establishing new governance processes, and helping to shape organisational identity at an early stage of development.

As Founding Chair, this individual will:

• Lead the formation of an effective, inclusive, and values-aligned board.
• Work closely together with the senior management team to shape strategic direction and organisational priorities.
• Establish the board’s governance structures and practices, ensuring clarity of roles and responsibilities.
• Represent the organisation externally, helping to build its profile, credibility, and relationships within the global humanitarian ecosystem.
• Ensure early-stage decisions are grounded in purpose, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

Time Commitment

Board meetings will be held quarterly (3 virtually and one likely in the Netherlands. Overall time commitment is likely 20 days in the first year as the Board gets established, decreasing to 10 days in the 2nd year.

Terms of Appointment

The Chair will serve a four-year term, renewable once for a maximum of eight years.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please ensure you complete the Application Form provided below by 15 August 2025 (23:59 hrs, GMT +2). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.

Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.

How to apply

Apply now