Thembile Phute is a Governance and OD Independent Consultant, former Country Director/Chief of Party at Pact Zimbabwe, a USAID Contractor, with its head office in Washington DC. Has worked for the European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe in a governance, education and health program. Currently a Consultant Coordinator for the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives covering Zimbabwe, Malawi and Botswana(CFLI) at Canadian Embassy Zimbabwe. Since 2021 has been a Humentum Associate (Zimbabwe) consulting as a Board Good Governance and Financial Sustainability trainer on the Weaving Resilience project, supported by the Ford Foundation to strengthen Civil Society leadership and management in Southern Africa. She sits on the following Civil Society Organization’s Boards; Olivia Gumbo Foundation; Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights; Help Line Trust and We LEAD Trust. Has been a leader in international development, with over 20 years in senior management roles within the Zimbabwe Civil Society. She holds an M.Sc. in Sociology and Anthropology (UZ), Master’s in Business Administration (UZ) and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Industrial (UNISA).

She is experienced in operations management, leadership, Board governance, program delivery, grants management, capacity development, policy development, training, monitoring, and evaluation and budgeting. Not only that, but she has managed and implemented programs for USAID, EU, Finish Embassy, DFAT; DAI, FCDO, UNDP, Sida and Wellsprings.

She pioneered the first local Zimbabwe Civil Society Leadership program for 20 young women in middle management. She Coordinated the Zimbabwe Youth Situation Analysis Study, both initiatives supported by USAID and consults for the European Union Delegation Zimbabwe and Canada Embassy for Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe.