Micheal Mhlanga
Bulawayo
Summary
Strategic Program Manager with expertise in humanitarian and development programming in complex contexts. Led climate adaptation and agribusiness initiatives, empowering over 25,000 smallholder farmers. Specialized in project management, grant compliance, and emergency response, driving sustainable agricultural practices and disaster recovery to enhance community livelihoods in high-risk environments.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Leader/Agribusiness Development Expert
OXFAM/HOPE FOR A CHILD IN CHRIST
Matabeleland South
11.2025 - Current
- Strategic Leadership & Agribusiness Specialist with a $4.3M portfolio management, specializing in transitioning subsistence agriculture into high-performing, market-aligned systems.
- Pioneered business-oriented farming solutions for 25,000 smallholder farmers, shifting traditional practices toward sustainable market-system integration.
- Facilitated collaboration between entrepreneurs and climate specialists, resulting in enhanced resilience strategies.
- Designed and executed Crisis Modifier interventions, protecting agricultural gains and providing life-saving support to over 70,000 individuals during disasters and risk periods.
Consultant
Ali Douglas Research Network
Bulawayo
01.2012 - Current
- Provided strategic advisory services leveraging expert understanding of climate financing mechanisms to identify and structure funding streams for sustainable development and adaptation initiatives.
- Integrated risk financing strategies and resilience frameworks into program design and policy, enhancing disaster management effectiveness.
- Guided evidence-based approaches in agriculture, food systems, and humanitarian response, applied in project evaluations to maximize impact and inform future programming.
Climate Adaptation & Livelihoods Coordinator
HOPE FOR A CHILD IN CHRIST
Bulilima, Buhera, Mberengwa, Gutu
10.2022 - 10.2025
- I designed and led the El Niño Crisis Modifier project designed to safeguard the gains of the project that ensured that +20,000 lives were saved in Matabeleland South during the peak hunger period.
- Coordinated agriculture initiatives that enhanced resilience and increased incomes for farmers during intense drought periods.
- Over three years, I successfully led the development of agriculture systems and business-oriented farming solutions to 5000 farmers, resulting in the project team being rated a top-performing delivering team.
- Allocated a US$4,000,000 budget and established a three-year timeline as project lead.
- Led acquisition of US$300,000 grant for resilience project funded by SIDA in response to El Niño and additional support grants.
Field Officer
UN-WFP/Hope for a Child In Christ
03.2020 - 03.2022
- Designed public health responsive distribution strategy during COVID-19, implementing village-based entitlement redemption and promoting health awareness and GBV reduction.
- Developed beneficiary assistance strategies during COVID-19, enhancing support for vulnerable populations.
- Collaborated with the team to introduce a timed and disaggregated village-based distribution plan that reduced FDP turnaround time by 50%.
- Established nutrition garden, providing sustainable Non-Food Item assistance and improving food security for 100 households in Umguza ward 17.
Community Asset Creation Focal point
Latter Day Saints Charities/HOCIC
Bulawayo, Umguza, Insiza, Matobo, Umzingwane, Bubi
06.2020 - 09.2021
- In this position, I designed and helped establish self-sustaining small-scale climate-smart agro assets in Umguza and Matobo.
- The assets, to this date continue to improve beneficiary household food security and income levels and are contributing to improved individual household agro-based systems change.
- Led horticulture, natural resource utilization, community capacity building, poultry and rabbit management training for project beneficiaries.
- Led market linkages for community produce, enhancing income levels and assessing food access situations.
- Led team in engineering piped water systems in peri-urban Bulawayo, Umguza, Matobo, and Umzingwane districts, and established community nutrition gardens.
- Ensured majority of beneficiaries for these assets were women.
Project Officer
US State Department
08.2019 - 01.2020
- Coordinated grant budgets, donor reporting, activity design, and facilitation, ensuring alignment with Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
- Achieved 160 self-esteem improvements, education grade increases, and enhanced decision-making skills among beneficiaries in the youth-focused project.
- Implemented innovative strategies to maintain high retention of beneficiaries, fostering development of notable young leaders.
Lead Consultant
MNG Consultancy
01.2014 - 08.2019
- Facilitated development of climate resilient education systems in Zimbabwe through school-based curriculum revisions integrating agriculture, climate change, and cultural elements.
- Managed consultancy budget for UNICEF, GoZ, Books Botswana, and Emmaus International, optimizing resource allocation for maximum impact.
- Supervised national consultants across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces, ensuring effective implementation of climate resilience initiatives.
Youth livelihoods Project Lead
CONTEMPORARY AFFAIRS FOUNDATION
05.2011 - 12.2013
- Crucially, I spearheaded the development of localized early warning systems and conducted participatory disaster risk assessments, building community capacity for proactive preparedness and effective response to climatic shocks.
- Specialized in developing sustainable, community-owned infrastructure and leading disaster risk planning alongside early warning systems design.
- My role involved identifying and implementing vital assets like water points and climate-resilient agriculture infrastructure, ensuring these are designed with inherent resilience.
- Led project execution with a team of 6, coordinating resources efficiently.
- Ensured communities gained physical assets and protective knowledge to effectively minimize impacts of hazards.
Education
Msc. - Disaster Management
National University of Science And Technology
Bulawayo01-2024
BSc Special Honors - Monitoring and Evaluation
Lupane State University
01-2024
BSc. Honours Degree - Development Studies
Lupane State University
01-2022
Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree - Language and Communication
Lupane State University
Zimbabwe01-2014
Skills
- Agribusiness development
- Project management
- Regulatory compliance
- Risk management
- Funding strategies
- Agricultural risk analysis
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Climate resilience planning
- Strategic leadership
- Team leadership
- Team building
- Team motivation
- Problem-solving
Professional And Strategic Courses
- Horticulture, poultry and rabbit management Trainer, TMG/Hamara, Zimbabwe, 2021
- Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Trainer, Department of Civil Protection, Zimbabwe, 2022
- Child Safeguarding, UNICEF, 2023
- Prevention of Sexual Abuse and Harassment, 2023.
- Commercial animal husbandry production and facilitation (poultry, rabbits, goats and sheep), 2026.
Key Leadership Volunteer Roles And Awards
- Current Board Chair, Shoes2School Zimbabwe
- Board Member, African Food Revolution
- President, Lupane State University Alumni Association
- 2022, Vice Chancellor’s Award for best graduating student, 2 University Book Prizes, NICOZ Diamond Award for Outstanding Development Student
- 2014/15, Volunteer Board member, Zimbabwe Down Syndrome Association
- 2011/12, President, Lupane State University Student Executive Council
Digital Competencies And Strategic Memberships
- Data presentation using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher.
- Strong knowledge of World Food Programme (WFP) SCOPE Data Management System, Last Mile Mobile Client Solutions (LMMS), MIS and Kobo Collect platforms for data collection.
- Advanced Knowledge in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Gen Stat and NVIVO.
- Strong skills in Programme management, team leadership, programme monitoring and evaluation design, and analysis using data collection tools such as SCOPE, KOBO, NVIVO, Excel, SPSS.
- Grant Acquisition and management.
- Programme systems design and development.
- GIS Mapping using ArcGIS 10.7.
- Stakeholder Coordination and linkage.
- Disaster risk and emergency design and planning.
- Photography, Documentation.
- Report Writing, and research tools design.
- Proficiency in application software use for writing, advocacy material design and copywriting.
References
- Mr Thulani Moyo, Director, Alidouglas Research Network, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, +263779250555, t.moyo@alidouglasresearch.org
- Mr. Emanuel Ncube, Director, MNG Educational Consultancy, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, +263782745077, encubekimba@gmail.com
- Christopher Mufakwadzi, HR and Admin, HOCIC Zimbabwe, +263713087645, chrismufakwadzi@hociczim.org
Languages
- IsiNdebele
- Nyanja
- Chewa
- Shona
- English
Education Credentials
- Msc. in Disaster Management, National University of Science and Technology, 05/01/24
- BSc Special Honors in Monitoring and Evaluation, Lupane State University, 05/01/24
- BSc. Honours Degree in Development Studies, Lupane State University, 05/01/22
- Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Language and Communication, Lupane State University, Zimbabwe, 05/01/14
Value Proposition
- Exceptional skills and experience in Complex Project Management, project coordination, Monitoring, Accountability and evaluation (Agriculture, markets and business development, Food Security, Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction)
- Professional knowledge on Agriculture Business Advisory. Expert knowledge on multi-sectoral strategies for coordination & linkages, Humanitarian and Development Partners and Actors mobilization; and evaluation frameworks consistent with International monitoring and evaluation guidelines, protocols and reporting standards. Highly experienced in Human Resources Management; Staff Capacity Building; Lead teams and partners in consortia and complex projects. A trained Food Systems personnel (facilitating value addition, value chain development, marketing, agri-business development, communications, research, MEAL Expert, and Rural programming capacity building. Extensive experience in managing and supporting agriculture and business in resilience-building portfolio towards international donors such as SIDA, OXFAM, HIVOS, PLAN International, EU, UKAID, Canadian Aid, China Aid Kindernothilfe, Terre Des Hommes, Latter Day Saints Charities Irish Aid, USAID, UN donor Agencies such as World Food Programme, UNICEF, GIZ, and others.
Accomplishments
2 University Book Prize Winners, 2022
Affiliations
Grant Writer Assistant, Climate Disasters International Foundation (2026-present)
Timeline
Team Leader/Agribusiness Development Expert
OXFAM/HOPE FOR A CHILD IN CHRIST
11.2025 - Current
Climate Adaptation & Livelihoods Coordinator
HOPE FOR A CHILD IN CHRIST
10.2022 - 10.2025
Community Asset Creation Focal point
Latter Day Saints Charities/HOCIC
06.2020 - 09.2021
Field Officer
UN-WFP/Hope for a Child In Christ
03.2020 - 03.2022
Project Officer
US State Department
08.2019 - 01.2020
Lead Consultant
MNG Consultancy
01.2014 - 08.2019
Consultant
Ali Douglas Research Network
01.2012 - Current
Youth livelihoods Project Lead
CONTEMPORARY AFFAIRS FOUNDATION
05.2011 - 12.2013
Msc. - Disaster Management
National University of Science And Technology
BSc Special Honors - Monitoring and Evaluation
Lupane State University
BSc. Honours Degree - Development Studies
Lupane State University
Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree - Language and Communication
Lupane State University