The South Sinai Foundation (SSF) is a small, UK-registered charity supporting Bedouin communities in South Sinai, Egypt.

All our work is led by local people, with the aim of giving Bedu the ability to participate in modern society on their own terms. We create livelihood opportunities, facilitate education and training (especially for women), improve access to water and healthcare, and promote inclusion for the many deaf Bedu. Our small staff team is entirely Bedouin, works within Bedouin cultural norms and is widely trusted by local people. Our work is unusual, innovative and impactful. 

Bedouin communities are marginalised in Egypt. Many South Sinai Bedu are among the poorest people in the world. There are very few other organisations working in the region that can offer support, and none that are led by local people.

We are a UK-based trustee team of 8, all with expertise in Sinai, research and/or international development. Some of our trustees have built trusted relationships with Bedouin communities over several decades.

We are seeking a native Arabic speaker with excellent English to join our board. This trustee role will involve liaison with Bedouin staff in Sinai and support with translating written or spoken reports/materials. This is a hands-on role but without huge time commitment: trustees currently meet online 3 times a year, with special task groups meeting additionally as required. A key aspect of this role will involve liaising with our four-woman Women's Centre team in St Katherine. It would therefore be preferable, given Bedouin social norms, for us to appoint a woman to the role.

The successful candidate will work closely with other trustees based in the Bristol area, so someone living in or around Bristol would be preferred, but this is not essential: trustees live across the country and the majority of our work and communication is online.

Due to the nature of our work, we don’t put detailed information about our projects online but would be very happy to discuss them and answer any questions over the phone or in person.