CARE Zimbabwe is pursuing a deliberate strategy to diversify its revenue base through private sector engagement, co-investment partnerships, corporate shared-value arrangements, and other commercially structured collaborations.
CARE Zimbabwe has already established a pipeline of active private sector opportunities across agribusiness, financial services, social enterprise, and inclusive market systems. These opportunities have progressed beyond initial relationship-building and now require dedicated commercial capacity to convert them into signed agreements. Engagement with investors, commercial banks, and financing facilities has reinforced a consistent message: capital is available, but well-structured, socially inclusive, investment-ready propositions remain scarce.
CARE Zimbabwe therefore seeks to engage a Private Sector Partnerships and Business Development Advisor to open, shape and convert commercial opportunities, and to position CARE Zimbabwe as a trusted partner for community-centred investment.
Job Summary
- Employer: CARE
- Job Type: Contract
- Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
- Category: Business Development
- Closing Date: 2026-10-04
Key Responsibilities
- Review, prioritise and assess CARE Zimbabwe’s existing private sector opportunity pipeline.
- Identify prospective partners and open relationships with senior commercial decision makers.
- Develop a short transaction roadmap for each priority opportunity.
- Conduct partner and market assessments.
- Develop, price and pitch partnership propositions.
- Lead or support negotiations through to memoranda of understanding, partnership agreements, financing agreements, or co-investment arrangements.
- Support internal review and approval processes.
- Develop business cases and partner-facing or investor-facing materials.
- Strengthen the commercial and social impact proposition for each priority opportunity.
- Build financial and partnership models where required.
- Identify key risks and practical de-risking options.
- Flag where specialist financial, legal or technical structuring support should be brought in, and help CARE Zimbabwe scope that support.
- Map relevant investors, commercial banks, development finance institutions, and financing facilities.
- Facilitate introductions and support engagement meetings and pitches.
- Identify opportunities to draw on existing blended-finance facilities and technical assistance platforms.
- Identify a shortlist of at least three to five credible renewable energy and infrastructure project developers already active or expanding in Zimbabwe.
- Assess and test, for each shortlisted developer, whether CARE could become their preferred community and last-mile partner, offering community access, demand aggregation, local implementation, safeguards, social and gender design, and evidence of impact, and where relevant support building the productive-use case around the infrastructure.
- Recommend one to two priority developers for deeper engagement and support the negotiation of a memorandum of understanding or equivalent partnership framework with at least one.
- Where useful, draw on CARE’s broader network, including other Country Offices with prior developer engagements, to inform the assessment and approach.
- Mentor and coach designated CARE Zimbabwe staff through joint partner engagements and practical on-the-job support.
- Deliver structured learning sessions on origination, pitching and negotiation.
- Develop practical partnership tools and systems for continued use by the team.
Requirements
- At least 10 years of relevant commercial experience in business development, partnerships, or a comparable role.
- A demonstrable personal track record of originating and closing commercial partnerships or transactions.
- An active network in the Zimbabwean private sector and the ability to reach senior commercial decision makers.
- Ability to shape, pitch, price and negotiate commercial propositions.
- Ability and willingness to identify credible renewable energy and infrastructure project developers and to test whether CARE could serve as their community and last-mile partner.
- Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to present credibly at executive and board level.
How to Apply
About the Company
CARE is a major international humanitarian agency delivering emergency relief and long-term international development projects. Founded in 1945, CARE is nonsectarian, impartial, and non-governmental. It is one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations focused on fighting global poverty. In 2019, CARE reported working in 104 countries, supporting 1,349 poverty-fighting projects and humanitarian aid projects, and reaching over 92.3 million people directly and 433.3 million people indirectly.
Website: https://www.care.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications and experience are typically required for a Private Sector Partnerships and Business Development Advisor role in Zimbabwe?
Most employers require a bachelor's degree in business, economics, marketing, or a related field, with an MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification being advantageous. You typically need 5-7 years of experience in business development, corporate partnerships, or fundraising, preferably within the NGO or development sector. Professional certifications in project management or partnership development can strengthen your application.
What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities in this role?
You will spend much of your time identifying and engaging potential corporate partners, negotiating partnership agreements, and managing existing relationships with private sector actors. Daily activities include proposal writing, attending stakeholder meetings, conducting market research, and collaborating with program teams to align partnerships with organizational goals. Reporting and tracking partnership performance metrics is also a core responsibility.
How does the local work culture in Zimbabwe affect this role?
Relationship-building is paramount in Zimbabwean business culture, so face-to-face meetings and networking events are essential rather than relying solely on digital communication. Punctuality is valued, though meetings may start with extended greetings and relationship-building before business matters are discussed. Understanding local economic challenges and tailoring partnership proposals to mutual benefit is critical for success.
What career progression opportunities exist for business development professionals in Zimbabwe's NGO sector?
With proven success, you can advance to Senior Advisor, Partnerships Manager, or Head of Business Development positions within larger organizations. Some professionals transition into consultancy roles or move into senior leadership positions such as Country Director. Experience in this role also opens doors to regional positions covering Southern Africa or global roles with international NGOs.
What benefits are typically included in contract positions with international NGOs in Zimbabwe?
Contract positions usually include medical aid coverage, often through schemes like CIMAS or PSMAS, and pension contributions where applicable by law. Annual leave typically ranges from 20-25 working days, with additional compassionate and sick leave provisions. Some employers offer professional development allowances, but benefits vary significantly between organizations and contract lengths.
What do employers like CARE look for in applications, and how should I apply?
Employers seek evidence of successful partnership closures, strong networks within Zimbabwe's private sector, and demonstrated understanding of development contexts. Tailor your CV to highlight quantifiable achievements in revenue generation or partnership value, and submit a compelling cover letter explaining your motivation and fit. Applications are typically submitted through the organization's careers portal or via email as specified in the job posting, with shortlisting based on relevance to the stated requirements.
