Country Director, Malawi

About Evidence Action

At Evidence Action, we deliver data-driven interventions that transform lives at an unprecedented scale. We identify neglected global health issues and deploy proven solutions, forging healthier futures for generations.

Our model operationalizes leading academic research (including from Nobel-winning economists). We measure progress and outcomes at every stage to ensure we’re making a real impact for people living in poverty and suffering from preventable or treatable health issues. Operating across 11 countries, our team of 900+ has reached over 500 million people, working closely with governments to scale these interventions.

• Our Deworm the World program has delivered over 2 billion treatments, significantly reducing worm prevalence and generating more than $23 billion in lifetime productivity gains. 
• Through Safe Water Now, we’ve saved the lives of over 15,000 children. 
• Our Accelerator explores untapped opportunities in global health, testing low-cost interventions with the greatest potential to save and improve lives.

At Evidence Action, your colleagues are your greatest asset. You'll partner with high-caliber colleagues in an environment blending innovation, autonomy, and teamwork. Our team excels in disruptive thinking and believes in rolling up our sleeves to get things done. If you're looking to work flexibly and with purpose, join a team that delivers measurable change for millions.

Role Overview

The Country Director (CD) will be inspired by the mission of measurably improving the lives of hundreds of millions of people through proven and scaled interventions.You will lead Evidence Action’s operations and programs in Malawi. You will be adept at engaging governments, including existing partnerships at various national Ministries as well at various District Governments. In collaboration with global and regional technical leaders, you will oversee program implementation in Malawi, including strategic planning, operations, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, and policy advocacy. You will facilitate transparent communication about progress and results to the regional and global leadership team, donors, and other stakeholders. You will also play a leading role in expanding Evidence Action’s portfolio in Malawi by identifying new program opportunities and engaging with prospective donors.

This role will be based in Lilongwe and will report to the Regional Director, East and Southern Africa (ESA). You will also be a member of the Africa regional leadership.

Direct reports: Senior Program Manager , Manager, Finance, Manager, People and Culture and Manager, Operations

Contract duration: This is a 1 year, renewable contract based on funding, performance and need for the role

Responsibilities

Strategy and Vision 

• The Country Director will lead the development of the Malawi program strategy and vision, collaborating with strategic partners within the organization. S/he will also contribute to key regional global strategy development.
• Draft annual country goals, including team priorities.
• Identify and address short-term and long-term risks and remove roadblocks to success.
• Ensure decision-making is aligned with global organizational priorities, program data, and local stakeholder data.
• Maintain all relevant country registrations and statutory requirements, report to- and facilitate effective in-country board leadership, and ensure compliance with all in-country laws and regulations, as well organizational policies. 

Program Performance

• In consultation with global and regional leadership teams, manage all Evidence Action programs in Malawi 

• Lead program activities including field operations, research/evaluation, information systems, and support functions in Malawi.
• Lead all phases of the Dispensers for Safe Water (DSW) program close out, scale-down, ensuring milestones are met as defined in the approved scale-down workplan.
• Support significant public health initiatives, specifically focusing on the planning, execution, monitoring, and assessment of the Deworm the World (DTW) program and Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) projects.
• Create and strengthen program delivery systems to ensure high-quality implementation and service delivery.
• Coordinate with the MLE team to ensure that program monitoring results and insights are used to improve or sustain program performance.
• Coordinate closely with National, sub-National and community government stakeholders to identify and troubleshoot challenges that might affect the quality of the program
• Devise evidence-based and cost-effective ways of motivating community program promoters and/or volunteers. 

Build Culture 

The CD will work with the in-country leadership team, People Lead and all in-country department heads for the following:

• Inspire all levels of staff through the celebration of team wins.
• Ensure Evidence Action values are known and lived.
• Conduct frequent field visits per month to spot-check program execution and to connect with clients.
• Monitor team sustainability and make adjustments to workload where needed.
• Oversee annual roll-out of staff satisfaction survey, among other feedback channels, and the resulting initiatives.

Build Team 

Country Director will work with in-country People Lead and all in-country and global department heads for the following:

• Recruit and retain the best talent from  national talent pools (closely involved in hiring and promotions).
• Provide big-picture feedback and guidance to 4-6 direct reports through weekly 1-on-1 check-ins.
• Ensure key linkages and communication between in-country department heads and as well as global and regional support.
• Build robust training programs at all job levels to maintain strong leadership development pipelines.
• In collaboration with global and regional leadership, build and maintain a country team organizational chart.

Resource Allocation 

The Country Director will work with the Finance team and department heads for the following:

• Help lead the annual country budgeting process in line with global and country strategic objectives and performance targets.
• Conduct quarterly budget review and updates.
• Monitor program financial performance through monthly Budget-vs-Actual analyses and gross margin decisions.
• Ensure appropriate levels of business controls are in place.
• Provide necessary information and due diligence request support for country-specific funding opportunities.
• Promote a culture and ethos of cost-effectiveness within the country teams.

Government and Partnership Engagement

• In collaboration with program and external relations team, identify, articulate and execute key government and policy goals and objectives in-country.
• Engage National, Sub-national, and community government stakeholders to maintain program quality during transition and identify emerging risks.
• Cultivate and manage strategic partner relationships with the capacity to support program transition and scale-down.
• In collaboration with various organizational and program leaders, take the lead on or actively contribute to the development of in-country Evidence Action partnership strategy. 
• In consultation with program leadership, identify and assess strategic partners with capacity to implement/scale some of our key interventions and/or partners willing to share information and best practices of strategic relevance in general. Take the lead in cultivating relationships with the partners in the region.
• Identify and participate in relevant in-country stakeholder forums. 

New Program Development Support

• In collaboration with global program leadership, support in the testing, piloting and/or scaling of new program initiatives in the region. 
• Support new program registration, expansion and/or launch in new and existing countries, including developing and maintaining an active database of profiles of high priority/strategic countries in the region, detailing basic to intricate political, economic and social factors, and their potential implications for Evidence Action.

Others

• Undertake other duties as necessary and assigned.

Key performance Indicators

• The Malawi Country Program continues to achieve its KPI’s within the current footprint in Malawi
• The DSW scale-down in 2026-2027 achieves its key milestones as defined in the the scale-down workplan
• Management and leadership of In-line Chlorination (ILC), ensuring we are able to measure and understand ILC stand-alone impact and Cost Effectiveness by the end of 2026 
• The DtW/IFA Program is implemented in accordance with its annual workplan and budgets through regular review of financial  and programmatic performance
• Draft annual country goals and budgets, including team priorities.
• Any other duties assigned to him/her.

• Master’s degree in public health, biomedical sciences, health management, social sciences, or a related discipline is strongly preferred; a Bachelor’s degree with exceptional experience will be considered.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive program leadership in East and Southern Africa, with direct management of field operations, government partnerships, and cross-cultural teams.
• Mandatory experience is required in supporting large-scale public health programs, particularly in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of Dispenser for Safe Water (DSW) and Deworm the World (DTW) initiatives.
• The candidate must possess a proven track record with mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns for neglected tropical diseases in resource-constrained settings, demonstrating success in achieving high coverage, ensuring treatment adherence, and maintaining compliance with national guidelines. 
• Expertise should encompass managing medicine supply chains, providing comprehensive training to field teams, and fostering collaboration with Ministries of Health and key stakeholders to ensure program sustainability and maximum impact.
• Demonstrated experience leading or managing a program close-out, scale-down, or structured transition — including stakeholder communication, milestone tracking, and lessons-learned documentation.
• At least 2 years of hands-on M&E experience, including impact measurement and cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Proven track record managing donor-funded programs, including budget oversight, financial controls, and reporting. 
• Experience with in-country board accountability and compliance with local regulatory requirements.

Desirable Attributes

• Experience with research-to-implementation programs and evidence-based decision-making.
• Self-directed and organised; comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-changing environments.
• Analytical and process-oriented, with a willingness to adapt based on emerging evidence.

Working conditions

The Country Director will be based in Lilongwe and about 30-40% travel to field offices.

This role requires regular domestic and occasional  travel, including travel into least developed rural areas.