Dear Volunteers, Youth and Executive Directors,
I wanted to let you all know as soon as possible that at its meeting, the Governing Council approved historic changes to transform IPPF into a more member-led, transparent, and accountable Federation.
It puts us in position to respond with the greatest agility to the needs of women, girls and all the people we serve, and for that reason I am delighted and honoured to share this news with you.
We now have a new governance structure. Our new 15-member Board of Trustees is made up of nine representatives from members and six external trustees, eleven of whom are women and five of whom are young people under 25.
You can click here to read the biographies of our new Trustees. I think you will agree that we are very fortunate to have attracted such a diverse and highly skilled group of people to take IPPF into the future. I wanted to mention specifically that the interim Chair is Kate Gilmore, who may be known to you as United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2015 to 2019, or from her days at UNFPA.
Kate wanted me to share her thoughts with you:
“It would be an extraordinary privilege to join the Board of IPPF at any time; but it is even more so now. As certain governments and other regressive influencers work to orchestrate rollback on sexual and reproductive health and rights, IPPF stands as a beacon of hope and solidarity for the fundamental dignity of women, men and young people – of people of all identities – the world over. To be gifted the opportunity to contribute to the continued governance of this life saving, global game-changer is truly an opportunity to be cherished.”
At the same time as confirming the new Board, Governing Council also approved the adoption of the amended regulations, procedural byelaws, and policies that embed our governance reforms.
It also confirmed the seven members of the new Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC), which has the mandate to lead future recruitment for the Board and its committees and review the performance of Board members. Please click here to read the biographies of the NGC members, which again are truly impressive.
These amazing changes are the result of a desire and determination from across our Federation and community to build a new future. Volunteers, youth, staff and partners mobilised to breathe life into a new IPPF. The Executive Committee created last May worked tirelessly to carry the work of change onward to our General Assembly in Delhi. The Transition Committee then took on the job of delivering the new vision agreed during that extraordinary week in Delhi.
As this was its last meeting, I want to pay tribute to the work of IPPF’s Governing Council and its President Rana Abu Ghazaleh and Treasurer Mahtab Akbar Rashdi. GC has led this Federation since its inception, often through difficult times, and everyone who has served on it deserves our thanks.
The new Board is scheduled to have its first virtual meeting this Sunday. One of the key tasks will be to oversee and approve the refresh of IPPF’s resource allocation system, ensuring broad consultation with the membership in this process.
In order to introduce the new Chair to IPPF’s membership, IPPF will be hosting a Zoom call with her on Thursday, May 21, 12 PM (BST). Save the date. Details about how to register for the call will come soon.
This is a new era for IPPF, one that is grounded in our membership and more strategically positioned to focus on the needs of those we serve. With the crisis of COVID-19, they have never needed us more.
Finally, at the end of what has been a tumultuous time for IPPF, thank you for your support. There will be more challenges ahead. But with unity and with a desire to face a new future we have changed. By choice. For choice.
In solidarity
Dr Alvaro Bermejo