Head of Programmes and Resource Mobilization

HEAD OF PROGRAMMES AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

Programs - Harare, Harare

---

HEAD OF PROGRAMMES AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

LOCATION: HARARE

The Head of Programmes and Resource Mobilization is a senior strategic leadership role and a full member of the Country Management Team (CMT). The role works under the overall leadership of, and reports to, the Country Director. It provides overall leadership, strategic direction, and oversight of ActionAid Zimbabwe’s country programme, ensuring high-quality, impactful, and rights-based programming aligned with the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) and ActionAid International’s Global Strategy. The role integrates programme excellence with resource mobilisation, donor and partnership management, policy influence, and organisational learning, with the objective of strengthening programme impact, sustainability, and organisational growth. The post-holder plays a central role in shaping the country programme’s strategic direction, influencing national policy debates, and positioning ActionAid Zimbabwe as a credible and effective development and human rights actor.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight to the design, implementation, and performance of ActionAid Zimbabwe’s programmes, ensuring coherence, innovation, quality, and impact across thematic areas.
• Ensure that all programme priorities, strategies, and annual plans are fully aligned with the Country Strategy Paper (CSP), ActionAid International strategies, and emerging national, regional, and global development priorities.
• Lead the integration of gender equality, human rights-based approaches, feminist leadership, safeguarding, and participatory methodologies across all programmes.
• Provide strategic oversight of robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) systems to ensure evidence-based decision-making, adaptive management, accountability to rights-holders, and continuous organisational learning.
• Promote a strong culture of reflection, learning, innovation, and knowledge management across the country programme.
• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive and forward-looking resource mobilization strategy, including donor mapping, pipeline development, funding diversification, and strategic positioning.
• Provide strategic leadership to high-quality proposal development, donor negotiations, and contract management with bilateral, multilateral, foundation, and other institutional donors.
• Strengthen ActionAid Zimbabwe’s credibility and visibility with donors through effective representation, relationship management, and performance delivery.
• Build, manage, and strengthen strategic partnerships with civil society organisations, NGOs, government institutions, research bodies, private sector actors, and donors to enhance programme reach, influence, and impact.
• Lead policy engagement, advocacy, and stakeholder dialogue in line with CSP priorities, contributing to national and regional policy processes and platforms.
• Ensure effective oversight of programme compliance with donor requirements, contractual obligations, organisational policies, and safeguarding standards.
• Work closely with finance and operations functions to ensure strong financial stewardship, risk management, and accountability across the programme portfolio.
• Provide inspirational leadership to the Programmes and Resource Mobilisation team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, resilient, and values-driven culture.
• Mentor, coach, and build the capacities of staff and partners in programme leadership, resource mobilisation, policy engagement, and organisational learning.
• Contribute actively to CMT decision-making, organisational strategy, and institutional strengthening.

Requirements:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, Law, Agriculture, Disaster Management, Development Studies, or a related field.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification is strongly preferred.
• At least 8–10 years of progressive experience in international development programming, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership or strategic management role.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-sectoral programmes and managing partnerships at national and/or international levels.
• Strong and proven experience in resource mobilisation, including proposal development, donor engagement, contract negotiation, and management of institutional donors.
• Solid understanding of development policy processes at national, regional, and international levels.
• Proven experience working with civil society partners, community-based programmes, and multi-stakeholder platforms.
• Strong commitment to gender equality, human rights-based approaches, safeguarding, and participatory development.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic leadership, visioning, and decision-making at senior management level.
• Strong negotiation, representation, and relationship management skills.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality strategic reports and proposals.
• Strong financial and programme oversight skills, including planning, budgeting, and performance monitoring.
• Ability to lead, inspire, and develop diverse, high-performing teams.
• High levels of integrity, and commitment to ActionAid’s values.