The Advisory Board of SuSanA serves as a consultative body that provides strategic guidance and expert advice to the Global Steering Committee (GSC) and supports the network's mission and objectives. Comprised of distinguished professionals from diverse fields, the Advisory Board helps shape SuSanA’s direction by offering insights on key initiatives, fostering partnerships, and ensuring alignment with global sustainability goals. While it does not engage in the day-to-day governance of SuSanA, the Advisory Board plays a crucial role in enhancing the network’s impact and outreach by advising on long-term strategies and advocating for the adoption of sustainable sanitation practices worldwide.
The AB is the body that provides non-binding strategic advice and recommendations to the GSC. The informal nature of an AB gives greater flexibility in structure and management. Nevertheless, members are expected to commit and participate actively. The following serves to better define the (1) composition, (2) selection process and criteria and (3) roles and responsibilities of the AB.
Composition of the Advisory Board
The SuSanA AB is composed of people in important and strategic positions within SuSanA working on a voluntary basis (fully or in part). The AB consists of the following persons:
- Working Group Leads
- Regional Chapter Coordinators
- Forum moderators
- Representatives of the secretariat
- Non-elected GSC candidates
- Founding members of SuSanA
- Prominent sector actors committed to SuSanA and relevant to SuSanA’s strategic development
- Representative of Funding agency/Donor
Selection process and criteria for the SuSanA AB / Duration of AB membership
In the past, no selection criteria have been set for the AB beyond visible commitment and involvement in SuSanA (open door policy). Candidates (e.g. new WG leads and co-leads) were proposed by the secretariat and approved by the rest of the CG.
For the initial composition of the AB, an email was sent to all CG members (as per the latest list) and non-elected GSC candidates, inviting them to join the AB. Those who accepted within the time limit specified in the email constitute the newly formed AB.
After a period of three years, members of the AB will be asked to re-confirm their willingness to remain part of the AB. Members who do not re-confirm their membership of the AB will not be renewed.
In addition to the initial list of Board members, the GSC may propose new candidates for the AB at any time, based on the following criteria
- Adherence to the vision and principles of SuSanA
- Commitment to the work of SuSanA
- Extensive knowledge of the sector or specific expertise in an area of particular interest to SuSanA
- Key position in the WASH sector or a related sector
The main roles and responsibilities of the SuSanA AB
As SuSanA relies on broad sector support, the role of the AB is to
- Ensure that decisions are based on broad sector knowledge and representation
- Acting as a sounding board for strategic decisions and the development of SuSanA
- Identify trends that SuSanA should address.
Part of the SuSanA AB's responsibilities will be to
- Participate in quarterly to bi-annual virtual AB meetings of approximately 1-2 hours to assist the GSC in its decision making.
- Attend special face-to-face meetings with the GSC in conjunction with major sector conferences, such as the Stockholm World Water Week. To avoid additional travel, those members of the AB/GSC present at major sector meetings will use the opportunity to meet and discuss / decide on strategic issues for the development of SuSanA.
