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.
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.
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
• Provide overall strategic and executive leadership for iDE Zambia, with accountability for organizational performance, sustainability, reputation, and impact.
• Lead implementation and periodic review of the Country Strategy, Annual Operating Plan, and organizational priorities.
• Build and lead an effective Senior Leadership Team with clear accountability, delegated authority, and strong cross-functional decision-making.
• Ensure Zambia contributes meaningfully to iDE's global strategy, impact ambitions, organizational performance, and One iDE operating model.
• Translate organizational priorities into measurable country-level objectives and regularly review performance against agreed targets.
• Lead organizational change and continuous improvement, ensuring structures, systems, and resources remain appropriate to portfolio needs and strategic priorities.
• Anticipate strategic opportunities and challenges and ensure timely, evidence-based decisions and appropriate escalation to Regional and Global leadership.
• Foster an entrepreneurial, innovative, collaborative, and accountable organizational culture focused on sustainable impact.
2. Growth, Business Deve