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iDE

Country Director, Zambia

LocationLusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia
Work modeon-site
Typefull-time
Company size1+ people
First seen2w ago
Verified live2d ago
About the company
About iDE
At iDE (International Development Enterprises), we believe lasting development is achieved by empowering people to build better futures through entrepreneurship. For more than 40 years, we have partnered with governments, private sector actors, financial institutions, and communities to create inclusive market systems that generate sustainable economic opportunities across Africa, Asia, and Central America.
Our mission—Powering Entrepreneurs to End Poverty—reflects our commitment to strengthening markets rather than creating dependency. Through Market Systems Development (MSD), we facilitate commercially viable, locally owned solutions that increase incomes, strengthen resilience, and create lasting impact beyond donor funding.
Operating across agriculture, food systems, climate resilience, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), nutrition, women’s economic empowerment, youth livelihoods, financial inclusion, and enterprise development, iDE combines technical excellence, innovation, adaptive management, and evidence-based decision-making to deliver sustainable systems change.
About iDE Zambia
For more than two decades, iDE Zambia has been a leader in applying Market Systems Development approaches to improve livelihoods, strengthen rural economies, and expand opportunities for entrepreneurs, farmers, women, and young people.
Working alongside government, private sector, financial institutions, research organizations, and development partners, the Country Office delivers innovative, market-based solutions across agriculture, food systems, climate resilience, WASH, enterprise development, and financial inclusion.
With a diverse portfolio supported by institutional donors, foundations, corporate partners, and strategic alliances, iDE Zambia is focused on delivering measurable impact while strengthening its technical leadership, institutional capacity, funding diversification, and influence within Zambia’s development landscape. This next phase requires an exceptional Country Director who can combine strategic vision, entrepreneurial leadership, financial discipline, people leadership, and external influence to position the organization for sustainable growth and impact.
About the role
Role Purpose
The Country Director (CD) is the senior executive leader of iDE Zambia, accountable for the strategic direction, organizational performance, financial sustainability, programmatic impact, people, and institutional reputation of the Country Office. Reporting directly to the Senior Regional Director, Africa & Central America, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Chief Executive Officer, the Country Director leads the Senior Leadership Team and ensures Zambia’s strategy and operations remain aligned with iDE’s global mission, organizational priorities, policies, and standards.
The Country Director holds overall accountability for the performance and sustainability of iDE Zambia, including delivery of the Country Strategy and Annual Operating Plan; portfolio performance and impact; business development and revenue growth; financial stewardship; people and organizational leadership; donor, government, and strategic partnerships; compliance; security and risk management; and external representation. As iDE’s senior representative in Zambia, the Country Director safeguards the organization’s legal standing, assets, resources, reputation, and relationships.
Working closely with the Senior Regional Director, CEO, Senior Leadership Team, and Regional and Global teams, the Country Director translates organizational strategy into country-level priorities while building the systems, leadership, partnerships, and financial foundation required for sustained impact. The CD is expected to lead entrepreneurially—identifying opportunities, anticipating risks, making timely decisions, and ensuring the organization remains responsive to Zambia’s evolving development and market context.
Success in this role extends beyond the performance of individual projects. The Country Director is accountable for building a high-performing, financially sustainable, well-governed, and resilient Country Office that delivers measurable impact, attracts strategic investment, develops strong leaders, and contributes meaningfully to iDE’s broader global ambitions and One iDE culture.
Requirements
Leadership Accountabilities
1.
Strategic Leadership & Country Office Performance
The Country Director provides overall leadership for iDE Zambia, translating iDE’s global strategy and mission into a clear country vision, organizational priorities, and measurable results. Working with the Senior Leadership Team, the CD ensures the Country Office remains strategically focused, operationally effective, financially sustainable, and responsive to emerging opportunities and risks.
Key Accountabilities
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Provide overall strategic and executive leadership for iDE Zambia, with accountability for organizational performance, sustainability, reputation, and impact.
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Lead implementation and periodic review of the Country Strategy, Annual Operating Plan, and organizational priorities.
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Build and lead an effective Senior Leadership Team with clear accountability, delegated authority, and strong cross-functional decision-making.
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Ensure Zambia contributes meaningfully to iDE’s global strategy, impact ambitions, organizational performance, and One iDE operating model.
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Translate organizational priorities into measurable country-level objectives and regularly review performance against agreed targets.
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Lead organizational change and continuous improvement, ensuring structures, systems, and resources remain appropriate to portfolio needs and strategic priorities.
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Anticipate strategic opportunities and challenges and ensure timely, evidence-based decisions and appropriate escalation to Regional and Global leadership.
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Foster an entrepreneurial, innovative, collaborative, and accountable organizational culture focused on sustainable impact.
2.
Growth, Business Development & Financial Sustainability
The Country Director is accountable for the long-term financial sustainability and strategic growth of iDE Zambia. Working with the Senior Leadership Team and Regional and Global Business Development colleagues, the CD builds a diversified portfolio, cultivates strategic funding relationships, and ensures that growth decisions strengthen both impact and institutional sustainability.
Key Accountabilities
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Own the Country Office’s business development and resource mobilization strategy, maintaining a credible and sufficiently diversified pipeline aligned with Zambia’s strategic priorities.
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Lead donor cultivation, strategic positioning, partnership development, and high-level engagement with institutional donors, foundations, corporations, government, and other funding partners.
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Provide executive leadership for capture strategies and major funding opportunities, ensuring appropriate technical, financial, operational, and partnership inputs.
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Hold overall accountability for achieving approved country revenue, business development, and portfolio sustainability objectives.
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Ensure proposals and funding decisions incorporate appropriate cost recovery, realistic implementation assumptions, organizational capacity, and financial sustainability.
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Maintain close oversight of current and projected funding, pipeline, backlog, organizational cost structure, and financial outlook in collaboration with the SLT and Regional and Global leadership.
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Ensure timely mitigation of material funding gaps and financial sustainability risks.
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Position iDE Zambia for responsible growth by pursuing opportunities that advance organizational strategy, technical strengths, impact, and long-term institutional sustainability.
3.
Portfolio Performance, Impact & Technical Leadership
The Country Director holds overall accountability for the performance, strategic coherence, and impact of iDE Zambia’s portfolio. The Country Director ensures that appropriate technical and programmatic leadership is in place and that the portfolio collectively delivers against the Country Strategy, donor commitments, organizational impact priorities, and financial expectations.
Key Accountabilities
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Hold overall accountability for portfolio performance, program quality, impact, and achievement of approved organizational and donor commitments.
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Ensure programs remain strategically aligned with the Zambia Country Strategy, iDE’s Market Systems Development approach, and organizational impact priorities.
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Empower and hold the appropriate SLT leadership accountable for effective technical leadership, program quality, implementation oversight, evidence generation, adaptive management, and organizational learning.
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Review portfolio performance regularly with the SLT and ensure corrective actions are implemented when programs, budgets, timelines, or impact targets are off track.
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Ensure appropriate systems are in place for accurate performance data, evidence-based decision-making, impact measurement, and organizational learning.
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Promote high-quality, scalable, and sustainable programming, including consolidation and replication of successful approaches where appropriate.
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Ensure strong donor stewardship through timely delivery, transparent communication, high-quality reporting, and proactive management of implementation challenges.
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Use portfolio evidence, impact results, and learning to inform strategy, business development, external positioning, and organizational decision-making.
4.
External Leadership, Partnerships & Representation
As iDE’s senior representative in Zambia, the Country Director builds the relationships, credibility, and influence required to advance iDE’s mission, strengthen its institutional position, and create opportunities for sustainable impact and growth.
Key Accountabilities
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Serve as iDE’s principal representative in Zambia and maintain trusted relationships with government, donors, private sector leaders, development partners, civil society, and other strategic stakeholders.
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Cultivate senior-level relationships that strengthen iDE’s reputation, influence, funding opportunities, and strategic partnerships.
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Represent iDE in policy dialogue, sector platforms, donor consultations, strategic coalitions, and other forums relevant to the organization’s mission.
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Position iDE as a credible thought partner and leader in Market Systems Development, entrepreneurship, inclusive private sector development, and sustainable systems change.
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Maintain proactive and transparent relationships with existing donors and strategic partners, including timely escalation and resolution of material issues.
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Identify opportunities for partnerships, innovation, influence, and collaboration that extend iDE’s impact beyond individual projects.
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Serve as an effective ambassador for iDE’s mission, values, evidence, and impact.
5.
People, Culture & Organizational Capability
The Country Director is accountable for building the leadership, organizational capability, and workplace culture required for iDE Zambia to succeed. Working with the Senior Leadership Team and People & Culture functions, the CD ensures the Country Office attracts, develops, supports, and retains the talent needed to deliver its strategy sustainably.
Key Accountabilities
•
Lead and develop a high-performing, inclusive, accountable, and collaborative Senior Leadership Team.
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Establish clear organizational accountabilities, reporting relationships, delegated authority, and performance expectations.
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Ensure effective performance management, leadership development, coaching, succession planning, and professional development across the Country Office.
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Maintain a workforce structure aligned with confirmed and projected funding, organizational priorities, and portfolio requirements.
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Ensure staffing and organizational decisions are financially sustainable, legally compliant, and responsive to changing portfolio needs.
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Foster a respectful, inclusive, safe, and healthy workplace characterized by open communication, collaboration, accountability, and staff wellbeing.
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Ensure effective succession planning for critical leadership positions and actively develop future organizational leaders.
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Champion safeguarding, Duty of Care, diversity, equity, inclusion, organizational values, and appropriate workplace conduct.
6.
Governance, Stewardship, Compliance & Risk Management
The Country Director holds ultimate accountability for the responsible stewardship of iDE Zambia’s financial, human, physical, and institutional resources. As the senior country executive and legal representative where formally designated, the CD ensures that effective governance, internal controls, compliance, security, and risk-management systems protect the organization and enable sustainable performance.
Key Accountabilities
•
Hold overall accountability for the financial health, legal standing, compliance, assets, and institutional integrity of iDE Zambia.
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Ensure a financially sustainable Country Office through disciplined budgeting, forecasting, portfolio management, cost recovery, and proactive management of financial risks.
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Ensure effective internal controls and compliance with donor requirements, organizational policies, applicable laws, statutory obligations, and delegated authorities.
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Maintain executive oversight of material financial, operational, HR, legal, security, safeguarding, partnership, and reputational risks and ensure appropriate mitigation and escalation.
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Ensure organizational readiness for audits, donor reviews, due diligence, evaluations, and regulatory requirements, with timely resolution of material findings.
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Ensure appropriate Country Office security and Duty of Care systems, including risk assessment, security planning, incident management, and staff preparedness.
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Promote transparent, timely, and accurate reporting and communication with Regional and Global leadership.
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Ensure lessons from audits, evaluations, incidents, donor feedback, and organizational reviews result in strengthened systems and continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role extends beyond effective program delivery. The Country Director will be recognized as an entrepreneurial and trusted executive leader who strengthens iDE Zambia’s impact, financial sustainability, organizational capability, reputation, and long-term resilience.
Within the first two years, the successful candidate will have:
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Established a high-performing and accountable Senior Leadership Team capable of translating strategy into measurable organizational results.
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Maintained a high-quality portfolio that delivers strong impact, donor confidence, and alignment with iDE’s strategic priorities.
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Strengthened the financial sustainability of the Country Office through disciplined stewardship, portfolio management, successful business development, and diversified partnerships.
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Expanded iDE Zambia’s strategic relationships, external influence, and reputation with government, donors, private sector, and development partners.
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Built a healthy, inclusive, high-performing organizational culture with stronger leadership capacity, succession planning, and staff accountability.
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Strengthened governance, compliance, risk management, organizational systems, and institutional resilience while contributing actively to One iDE.
Qualifications & Experience
The successful candidate will be an accomplished and entrepreneurial development leader with demonstrated experience managing complex portfolios, building high-performing teams, strengthening organizational performance, and cultivating strategic partnerships. They will combine strategic thinking with strong financial and business acumen, technical credibility, sound judgment, and a commitment to sustainable systems change.
Education & Professional Experience
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Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Agriculture, International Development, Economics, Marketing, Development Studies, Public Policy, or a related field required. A Master’s degree or other relevant advanced qualification is strongly preferred but not mandatory; significant relevant professional and leadership experience will also be valued.
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Minimum of 10–12 years of relevant senior-level managerial experience in international development, nonprofit management, social enterprise, or a comparable mission-driven organization, with demonstrated responsibility for organizational or portfolio performance.
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Demonstrated experience leading complex programs, multidisciplinary portfolios, and diverse teams, preferably within Sub-Saharan Africa. Previous leadership experience in Zambia or Southern Africa is highly desirable.
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Strong technical understanding of Market Systems Development (MSD) and market-based approaches to poverty reduction, with experience in one or more relevant sectors such as agriculture and food systems, WASH, nutrition, climate resilience and climate-smart technologies, financial inclusion, enterprise development, women’s economic empowerment, or youth livelihoods.
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Proven track record in business development, resource mobilization, grant and contract acquisition, donor engagement, strategic partnerships, and portfolio growth, including the ability to identify and position the organization for new funding opportunities.
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Strong financial and business acumen, with demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, financial forecasts, cost structures, financial management information systems (FMIS), donor resources, and organizational financial risks.
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Demonstrated experience with organizational governance, donor compliance, internal controls, risk management, and applicable regulatory requirements, including the ability to identify, manage, and appropriately escalate significant organizational risks.
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Proven ability to recruit, lead, coach, mentor, and develop high-performing teams within diverse and multicultural environments, including experience with performance management, organizational change, talent development, and succession planning.
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Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive senior-level relationships with government, institutional donors, foundations, private sector actors, development partners, and other strategic stakeholders.
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Strong analytical and strategic capabilities, with the ability to use data, evidence, technology, and innovation to improve organizational decision-making, operational efficiency, program performance, and impact.
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Ability to identify and responsibly leverage relevant digital technologies and tools, including ICT, data systems, GIS, and emerging technologies, where these can strengthen organizational effectiveness, evidence, innovation, or program delivery.
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Exceptional written and verbal communication, negotiation, representation, and relationship-management skills, with professional fluency in English required.
Core Leadership Competencies
Strategic & Entrepreneurial Leadership
Sets direction, identifies opportunities, anticipates challenges, makes sound decisions, and translates strategy into organizational results.
Business & Financial Acumen
Understands the relationship between mission, portfolio growth, revenue, cost structure, financial sustainability, risk, and organizational capacity.
People & Organizational Leadership
Builds strong leadership teams, creates accountability, develops talent, delegates effectively, and leads successfully through change.
External Influence & Partnership
Builds trusted senior-level relationships and represents iDE credibly with government, donors, private sector, partners, and other stakeholders.
Results & Impact Orientation
Maintains focus on measurable impact, organizational performance, evidence, learning, innovation, and sustainable systems change.
Judgment, Stewardship & Integrity
Exercises sound judgment, manages resources responsibly, anticipates and escalates risk, and models transparency, safeguarding, inclusion, accountability, and ethical leadership.
Benefits
Why Join iDE Zambia
This is an opportunity to lead an established Country Office at an important stage in its evolution—building on more than two decades of experience while shaping its next phase of impact, growth, and institutional development.
As Country Director, you will have the opportunity to influence strategy, develop leaders, cultivate partnerships, expand iDE’s portfolio, and position market-based solutions at the center of some of Zambia’s most important development challenges. You will work with talented colleagues across Zambia and iDE’s global network while having significant scope to shape the future direction and organizational strength of the Country Office.
For a leader who combines entrepreneurial thinking, development expertise, financial discipline, and a genuine commitment to empowering people through markets, this role offers the opportunity to build something enduring.
Working Conditions
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The position is based in Lusaka, Zambia, with frequent domestic travel and periodic international travel.
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The role may require work outside standard business hours to collaborate across iDE’s global network and respond to organizational priorities.
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Domestic travel may include work in rural or remote environments.
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Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.
Legal
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
iDE is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization where people of different backgrounds, identities, experiences, and perspectives are respected and empowered to contribute. Employment decisions are made without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
Safeguarding
iDE is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for employees, partners, and the communities we serve. The Country Director is expected to model and uphold iDE’s Code of Conduct, safeguarding standards, Duty of Care responsibilities, and organizational policies, and to promote a culture in which concerns are raised and addressed appropriately.
Hiring process
Application Process
Applications will be accepted through October 3, 2026. Candidates are encouraged to apply early to ensure full consideration.
Following an initial screening and shortlisting process, selected candidates will be invited to participate in a multi-stage selection process during October and November 2026. This is expected to include an initial structured assessment, virtual panel interviews, and final interviews with iDE’s regional and executive leadership and other key stakeholders.
Final candidates will be subject to professional reference checks and other applicable pre-employment requirements. iDE anticipates completing the selection process and extending an offer by late November 2026, with of December 2026 to January 2027.
iDE reserves the right to adjust the recruitment timeline as necessary and to close the recruitment process once a suitable candidate has been identified.
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