OTT Consulting supported Southern Voice through the transition of its first Executive Director, with the new leader scheduled to begin in early 2024. Over the past decade, Southern Voice had grown into a global network of 66 members spanning Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, with robust governance structures and an expanded secretariat. Managing this geographically distributed and culturally diverse network required careful planning to ensure a seamless leadership transition.
Engaged by GRADE, Southern Voice’s host organization, OTT guided the project team and its Steering Committee (SC) through the transition process.
The work was carried out in three phases:
- Preparation: OTT supported the development of essential resources, including a transition timeline, inputs for the new Executive Director’s job description, and insights to update governance documents. Outputs included revised terms of reference for the outgoing ED and a monitoring framework for the incoming ED’s first year.
- Discussion and Sensemaking: OTT facilitated discussions through a kick-off meeting and bi-monthly progress meetings with the SC to review and refine transition milestones, roles, and governance updates.
- Direct Participation: OTT took part in the recruitment process by providing insights and improvements to the evaluation criteria, and serving on the selection panel for the new Executive Director.
This project ensured a smooth leadership transition, enabling Southern Voice to maintain its momentum and cohesion during a pivotal period in its development.
Timeline:
May 2023 to January 2024
Budget:
17,000 USD