The Client
Practical Action (PA) brings communities and experts together to find practical and lasting solutions that help people lift themselves out of poverty while safeguarding the environment. Their four themes, sustainable energy access, food and agriculture, urban water and waste, and disaster risk reduction, are developed across seven offices in Bangladesh, East Africa, Latin America, South Asia, Southern Africa, Sudan and West Africa, with a HQ office in the UK.
Key Objectives
Oxford HR worked with Practical Action to find their Country Director Sudan.
Services
- Executive Search
Muna Eltahir was the appointed candidate. Muna has a long history of experience in the field of development, working with DfID, Netherlands Embassy, UNDP, UNOCHA, ADRA and the Windle Trust. She also has degrees in Economics and Human Resource Development, and an MSc in International Community Development.
When asked why she joined PA, Muna’s face lit up. “PA is a unique organisation. (…) I wanted to do a change for my country and saw a few practical fields in which I could do this. I became interested in PA as their work interventions are set to achieve sustainable change. I expect my role to help doing this and to expand the organisation’s reach”, while
“it allows me to grow professionally. PA’s mandate is also in line with my environmental and ethical values.”
Muna feels joining the organisation was the right decision:
“one of the best decisions in my career, as what they [PA] say, what they write and what they do is coherent”.
To the question about the organisation’s plan for the year ahead, Muna tells us that PA has just launched their strategy plan to widen their impact. The idea is getting more people to do good things, catching valuable knowledge, stretching learning and inspiring people to be the leaders in their communities.
Finally, thinking about the future, Muna is very satisfied with what she’s doing and wants to acquire knowledge and more experience and be a better development agent, globally, in general, and in Sudan, in particular. Watch this space!
”(Toby's) HR expertise gives him the confirmation whether a candidate is right or not for the role.
Muna EltahirCountry Director Sudan, Practical Action
