Board Chair selection criteria
The PMNCH Board Chair will offer strategic leadership and will provide global stewardship to ensure that the organization remains relevant, resilient, and impactful into the future. The Board Chair will act as a global envoy and Ambassador for women’s, children’s and adolescents health and well-being. The Board Chair holds a three-year term (renewable once) and will have the following key competencies and experience.
Key competencies and experience
Board leadership experience:
• Exceptional global leadership and convening power with authority and credibility to mobilize Heads of State, senior ministers and global leaders.
• Established track record of success in board leadership gained in a multicultural/multi-stakeholder environment, including experience in leading or serving not-for-profit boards
• Understanding of the governance of complex, global organizations, ideally in the not-for-profit sector, with the ability to build bridges by applying a strategic mindset and diplomacy
• Adept at navigating complex geopolitical situations and using personal influence to bridge gaps between global development and national policy
• Experience in fostering a consultative and collaborative approach with a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals
• A strong commitment to a culture of respect, equity, and inclusion of race, age, gender, and sexual orientation among others, and to superintend a Board that respects the views of others, ensuring Board members feel included and heard.
Strategic leadership experience:
• Former head of state or statesperson with important connections and the influence to leverage them
• A leadership stature and accomplishments that will attract other well-qualified, high-performing board members
• An accomplished track record as a former head of state or statesperson and the ability to act as a wise counsel and sounding board to the Board as well as the Executive Director.
Essential skills and requirements:
• An in-depth understanding of and personal commitment to the core values, mission, and governance mechanisms of PMNCH
• Strong advocacy, analytical, policy, and strategic skills
• Successful track record of high-level judgment in complex situations
• Excellent oratory and diplomatic presence,
• Ability to work in written and spoken English (additional languages an advantage)
• The Board Chair needs to commit an estimated at 20% FTE (one day per week). The PMNCH Secretariat will provide full executive support to the Chair.
The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) is the world’s largest alliance dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents. Hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), PMNCH brings together partner organizations across six constituencies, including governments, United Nations agencies, health-care professionals and academic institutions, civil society organizations, private sector and philanthropic partners, and adolescents and youth.
Guided by its 2026 to 2030 strategy, Partnership for Change: Promoting and Protecting Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health in a Fragmented World, PMNCH fosters global south-led, impact-oriented partnerships and multi-sectoral coalitions to promote acceleration, amplify advocacy and strengthen accountability for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being. In a global context marked by intersecting crises, growing inequities and increasing threats to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), PMNCH serves as a strategic platform to align stakeholders, mobilize political will, and support coordinated action across global, regional and national levels.
PMNCH’s work focuses on translating global commitments into measurable impact by supporting collaborative advocacy, strengthening accountability for health and financing commitments, and promoting evidence-based solutions that advance equitable policies, resilient health systems and inclusive service delivery. The Partnership plays a unique convening role, connecting grassroots actors, youth leaders, parliamentarians, private sector partners and global decision-makers to drive transformative change and ensure that every woman, child and adolescent can realize their right to health and well-being.
