The Civet Project Foundation (charity number 1206208, est. 2023) seeks to appoint a trustee to work with our interdisciplinary board. Our trustees oversee and guide our small but mighty charity towards its mission to protect species members of the Viverridae family. This opening comes at an exciting time in our charity's development as we expand our capacity in the UK and Vietnam.

We are the first charitable organisation in the world dedicated explicitly to Viverrid species: civets, binturong, linsang and genets - all of which are small bodied carnivores endemic to Asia and Africa. Whilst these species are the most primitive of the Feliformia alive today, they are amongst the most poorly researched family of Carnivores. This is because civets and their Viverrid cousins tend to be nocturnal, solitary, and highly elusive which makes them very difficult to study in the wild. 

Through our research and outreach activities, we promote the conservation, welfare, and protection of civets and related species. We focus on human-animal relationships and inspire empathy for lesser-known species including those yet to be formally recognised as vulnerable to extinction. Whilst many civet species are not formally listed as endangered, civet species are in decline across the world. We work with in-situ partners, NGOs and research institutions to protect civets from various threats including:

• Civet coffee 

• Wild meat

• Unethical wildlife tourism

• Civet musk

• Climate change

• Unsustainable anthropogenic pressures

• Human-wildlife conflict

In 2025, The Civet Project Foundation is launching its flagship project: Civet One Health Vietnam - Southeast Asia’s first and only program dedicated to tackling commercial civet farming. Funded in partnership with Wild Welfare, the Civet One Health project aims to safeguard the interests of people, civets and the environment through interdisciplinary research, collaborative community engagement, strategic public outreach, and effective policy change.

As a multiyear project, COH will be multi-disciplinary in design, bringing together stakeholders to understand the key drivers of civet trade, decrease demand for civet products, enhance public awareness of the impacts of civet farming for conservation, animal welfare and human health, and phase out commercial civet farming practices. Our newly appointed trustee will therefore have the exciting opportunity to steer the establishment of COH in Vietnam during the initial phases of the project’s development. 

Personal Specifications

With the Civet One Health Vietnam program, The Civet Project Foundation is seeking to build capacity in Vietnam, by engaging with communities, policymakers, industry leaders and other NGOs across the country. Ideally, our new trustee will be situated in Vietnam and will have experience and expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Animal advocacy in Vietnam

• One Health program delivery

• Animal welfare

• Conservation

• Community engagement

• Environmental Sustainability / Economic Policy

• Proficiency in Vietnamese

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and if you feel you can bring other skills that would help strengthen the board, then please apply. 

For further information on our organisation, please see our website: www.thecivetproject.com

Expectations

The minimum requirement for trustees is regular attendance at quarterly board meetings. Meetings are usually no more than 2 hours and are hosted remotely via Google Suite.

As a small charity in its infancy, The Civet Project Foundation trustees are encouraged to be involved in programs as much as their interest and capacity allows. It is envisaged that the new trustee, if based in Vietnam, will be willing to support our UK Director and in-country staff/volunteers with program/country specific queries as needs arise. There will also be opportunities to attend in-person events which will form part of the COH program.

Compensation

This position is voluntary, though travel costs and out of pocket expenses are covered with agreement from the board.

Application Process

If you wish to have an informal discussion with one of our team, please email: jes@thecivetproject.com  with the subject title “Trustee Query”

To make a formal application, please send a short CV and cover letter to info@thecivetproject.com 

Recruitment Timetable

Deadline for applications:10th June