OPEN CALL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVISORY BOARD
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 31 March 2022 – 23:59 CET
Document in PDF: enviromental justice advisoary board-3
ABOUT THE GLOBAL STUDENT FORUM (GSF)
The Global Student Forum is the umbrella organisation of the world’s major representative student federations and the only independent, democratic and representative student governance structure dedicated to promoting the rights and perspectives of student organisations and movements on the global level.
The organisation was founded in 2020 by the All-Africa Students Union (AASU), Commonwealth Students’ Association (CSA), European Students’ Union (ESU), Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU), Organización Continental Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Estudiantes (OCLAE) and other national student organisations. Through its membership, it currently represents 199 student unions from 121 countries. Incubated within the legal structure of Education International, the GSF offices are located within the headquarters of Education International in Brussels, Belgium.
ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) SECTOR OF THE GSF
The Environmental Justice Sector of the GSF is leading the portfolio on issues related to climate action and sustainable development. It supports and informs the Environmental Justice work of the Global Student Forum, including policy development and creation of campaigns while helping with the facilitation of sustainability-related events and capacity building efforts. The Sector further engages in strategic discussions around pushing the global climate justice movement forward with students as key stakeholders in the discourse.
FUNCTIONS OF THE EJ SECTOR
- Developing the GSF’s profile as a key actor in the climate and environmental justice field through campaigns, advocacy actions and capacity building
- Leading the GSF’s advocacy efforts and global campaign towards COP27, including the planning and implementation of an in-person training event in cooperation with the Secretariat
- Leading the development of project applications and grant proposals related to climate justice and quality climate education to create further capacities with the student movement and diversify the funding of the GSF
- Building and coordinating relationships with institutional partners and relevant UN frameworks and agencies
- Creating and disseminating a toolkit for student-led climate action in tertiary and secondary learning environments to establish a pool of student sustainability experts to support members in each region covered by the GSF
- Drafting a GSF sustainability policy and further developing new ideas for student-led action in the field
- Reducing the barriers of collaboration between the formal student movement umbrellaed in the membership of the Global Student Forum and informal youth and student-led climate action groups by integrating and strengthening each other’s efforts
- Building capacities around climate education to further position the student movement as a driving force when it comes to reshaping how we teach and learn about climate change
OBJECTIVES AND MOTIVATION
Global environmental problems have been a significant concern for many countries for years. And they have become even more critical in this era when many lives are more at risk due to climate-related issues. As students, we listen to and stand behind the scientific community and understand that we need to act in unity, with urgency, to defend future generations and our ecosystem at large.
On this premise, the Steering Committee of the GSF employed the Environmental Justice project team to lead on the GSF’s contribution to the world’s current climate situation. The EJ team, after its formation, then came to a consensus that an Advisory Board, composed of a group of environmental experts, should be formed to support and guide the team in its functions with its expertise.
The Board will be composed of up to seven individuals.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ADVISORY GROUP
- Provide professional and technical advice to the GSF EJ team in all of its activities and plans
- Help create policies that provide direction and support for the activities of the EJ team
- Contribute to popularising the GSF and its activities
- Suggest possible grant opportunities and support the team with seeking grants
- Suggest partnership opportunities for the EJ team
- Encourage and support the exploration of new projects
- Act as a resource for the EJ tea
APPLICATION
The GSF is committed to geographic diversity, gender balance and diversity in expertise in this Advisory Board. The Steering Committee would like to encourage individuals to apply in order to support the GSF’s contribution to a better and safe environment for all.
We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible, but no later than the 28th of March 2022 – 23:59 CET
Applications should be sent to steering.committee@globalstudentforum.org
The application should consist of:
- A CV
- A short motivation letter (maximum 600 words)
- A recommendation from the applicant’s organisation’s head (this applies if the applicant is not the head of the organisation)
The work of members of the Advisory Board will be on a voluntary basis. Meetings of the Board will take place online, using online tools provided by GSF and face-to-face, when possible, during GSF’s future in person events.
EXPECTATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
Advisory Board members are expected to:
- Be a member of an environmental justice organisation or movement
- Be experienced in working with youth/student unions and movements and/or the education sector
- Be capable of discussing and writing in English
- Be capable of engaging wider networks
- Participate in regular working group meetings held online and face-to-face, when possible (workload: 5 – 10 hours per month)
- Work on a voluntary basis but can expect to gain valuable networking experience
- Attend meetings and events on behalf of the EJ team when applicable
- Ensure that information is widely distributed within their organisations and movements
SELECTION PANEL AND DEADLINE
The Steering Committee will select applicants based on the application requirements and according to the rules of selection adopted by the Steering Committee, taking into account regional, gender and research diversity.
If you have any questions regarding this call and the Environmental Justice Sector at large, do not hesitate to contact team,
Applications open on 16. March 2022 12:00 pm CET and end on the 31. March 2022 at 23:59 CET.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified and potentially asked to an interview in the week after.
For questions and clarifications, please do not hesitate to contact: steering.committee@globalstudentforum.org