CARE Zimbabwe has ushered in a new chapter with the appointment of Delilah Takawira as its new Country Director, making history as the first Zimbabwean to lead the organisation since it began operations in the country in 1992.

Her appointment marks a significant milestone for CARE Zimbabwe’s commitment to locally led leadership and sustainable community impact, placing one of the country’s most experienced development professionals at the helm during a critical period for resilience building and economic empowerment.

With more than two decades of experience across humanitarian and development sectors, Takawira brings a strong background in food and nutrition security, livelihoods, resilience programming, and systems strengthening. Her career includes 13 years with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), alongside years of service within government and international NGOs.

Over the years, she has led major multi-donor programmes aimed at improving household incomes, strengthening food systems, and empowering vulnerable communities across Zimbabwe. Among her notable achievements is her leadership within the UK FCDO-funded Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP), which introduced innovative approaches to improving food security and livelihoods.

She also played a key role in the US government-funded Takunda Resilience and Food Security Activity, where she oversaw a consortium of partners and a team of more than 120 staff delivering programmes focused on resilience, governance, nutrition, and risk reduction in rural communities.

Known for championing inclusive development, Takawira has become a respected figure in building partnerships between communities, government institutions, and the private sector. Her work has focused heavily on strengthening market systems and expanding financial access for women, youth, and rural enterprises through blended-finance models and collaborations with commercial banks and development finance institutions.

CARE Zimbabwe described her appointment as an important step toward deepening local leadership while continuing to advance resilience and sustainable development across communities.

Beyond her professional work, Takawira holds a master’s degree in Nutrition from Stellenbosch University in South Africa and has a keen interest in psychology, food culture, and social dining — interests that complement her people-centred leadership style.

As she steps into the new role, expectations are high that her leadership will help shape a more inclusive and resilient future for communities across Zimbabwe.