Village Capital
Village Enterprise, a nonprofit dedicated to ending extreme poverty in rural Africa, is actively recruiting a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to spearhead its next phase of growth and impact.
This East Africa–based leadership role presents a unique opportunity for an experienced, visionary, and mission-driven leader to guide one of Africa’s most effective poverty reduction organizations.
As African communities face escalating challenges—including economic disruptions, displacement, climate change, and persistent inequality—Village Enterprise is scaling its innovative, evidence-based approach to empower vulnerable populations.
The organization seeks a CEO who can deepen its impact, forge strategic partnerships, and ensure sustainable growth across multiple countries.
Pan-African Reach and Ambitious Goals
Village Enterprise currently operates directly in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, with strategic partnerships extending its reach to additional African nations.
Its bold vision is to lift 20 million people out of extreme poverty by 2030 through entrepreneurship, locally led development, and proven poverty graduation methods.
The next CEO will lead a diverse, multi-disciplinary team of over 200 staff members, managing an annual budget of approximately $20 million.
This leader will collaborate closely with the Board of Directors and the Executive Leadership Team to shape and execute organizational strategy, build capacity, and enhance Village Enterprise’s footprint and sustainability.
Key Responsibilities of the CEO
The CEO will serve as the organization’s chief visionary and operational leader, responsible for:
- Strategic Leadership: Developing and implementing strategies that align with Village Enterprise’s mission and scale its proven poverty graduation model.
- Fundraising & Partnerships: Expanding and diversifying funding sources by cultivating relationships with foundations, corporate partners, governments, and individual donors.
- Operational Excellence: Overseeing financial management, human resources, and compliance to ensure efficient and effective operations across multiple countries.
- Public Engagement & Advocacy: Acting as Village Enterprise’s global ambassador, enhancing visibility and fostering strategic alliances with stakeholders in government, philanthropy, and the private sector.
- Program Innovation: Driving innovation by scaling evidence-based programs and integrating them with public systems and community-led solutions for lasting impact.
Ideal Candidate Profile
Village Enterprise seeks a dynamic, Africa-based leader with a deep understanding of rural development challenges and a proven track record of leading complex, multi-country organizations.
Key qualifications include:
- Fundraising Expertise: Demonstrated success raising funds from institutional, philanthropic, and government sources.
- Strategic Vision: Experience leading organizational growth and change with a clear focus on impact and sustainability.
- Operational Experience: Proven ability to manage decentralized teams and complex budgets in diverse environments.
- Commitment to Local Leadership: Deep respect for community-driven development and cultural sensitivity in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Values Alignment: A strong commitment to Village Enterprise’s core values of ubuntu (community and dignity), passion, integrity, innovation, and sustainability.
- Experience with Refugee and Fragile Settings: Familiarity with humanitarian contexts is highly desirable.
Driving Impact Among Refugee Communities and Results-Based Funding
Village Enterprise’s leadership in innovative, results-driven models includes its DREAMS program (Delivering Resilient Enterprises and Market Systems), which supports refugees in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Tanzania to create sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship.
The DREAMS initiative has earned international recognition, such as the Fast Company World Changing Ideas Award and the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award for Refugees, underscoring Village Enterprise’s ability to tailor solutions for fragile contexts.
Village Enterprise also pioneered the first Development Impact Bond (DIB) for poverty alleviation in Africa, linking funding to measurable outcomes and ensuring accountability.
The new CEO will build on this foundation to expand innovative financing and scale impact further.
Application and Additional Information
This is a rare leadership opportunity to join an award-winning organization with a proven model and strong community roots, playing a vital role in transforming rural African economies and livelihoods.
Interested candidates are invited to learn more about the position and submit their applications through Village Enterprise’s official website:
www.villageenterprise.org
About Village Enterprise
Village Enterprise is a nonprofit founded in 1987 that helps lift rural African communities out of extreme poverty through entrepreneurship and innovation.
Operating in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, it equips vulnerable people—including women, youth, and refugees—with skills and resources to start sustainable microbusinesses.
The enterprise has led the way in pioneering successful results-based funding models such as the Village Enterprise Development Impact Bond (DIB), the first-ever DIB for poverty alleviation in Africa.
The model has been rigorously tested and shown to generate significant income and food security improvements.
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