Overview
The Pharo Foundation is a mission-driven organisation working to build a vibrant, productive, and self-reliant Africa. Founded and fully funded by Pharo Management, an emerging markets hedge fund, the Foundation applies private sector rigour and operational discipline to maximise impact.
We invest in economic development programmes and ventures to deliver sustainable impact, meaning outcomes that continue long after the initial investment, rather than gains that require constant external funding to maintain. Thus, our model links two engines together: ventures create jobs and economic activity, while their profits help fund the development programmes that strengthen the conditions for future growth.
Over the next decade, the Foundation’s ambition is to deliver lasting impact across three interdependent missions:
- Empowering the next generation through affordable, high-quality education 2. Solving water scarcity through sustainable infrastructure
- Driving economic productivity by unlocking jobs, investment, and innovation through both non-profit and for-profit ventures
The Foundation operates in Ethiopia, Somaliland, Kenya, and Rwanda, employing more than 800 people across three divisions: Pharo Schools, Pharo Development, and Pharo Ventures.
Opportunity
We are seeking an exceptional Country Director to lead and scale Pharo Foundation’s work in Somaliland. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of the Foundation’s most strategically important geographies at a pivotal moment of growth and ambition.
The Country Director will provide overall leadership for the Foundation’s operations, programmes, and ventures in Somaliland, driving execution across both non-profit and for-profit activities. The Country Director is the steward and protector of people, brand, assets, and licence to operate. The role requires a leader who combines strategic vision with operational excellence, and who is equally comfortable engaging with government stakeholders, overseeing complex programmes, and building high-performing teams.
The successful candidate will be responsible for translating the Foundation’s long-term ambitions into tangible outcomes on the ground, ensuring that programmes and ventures are delivered with excellence, accountability, and measurable impact.
This role is ideally suited to a commercially minded and mission-driven leader who thrives in dynamic environments, understands the complexities of operating in Somaliland, and is motivated by the opportunity to build institutions and initiatives that endure.
Key relationships:
Role: Country Director
Location: Hargeisa, Somaliland
Reporting to: Chief Operation Officer (COO)
Functional relationship: CEO, Executive Committee, Senior Leadership Team
Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and execution of Pharo Foundation’s country strategy in Somaliland, aligned with the organisation’s broader mission and long-term objectives
- Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and trends relevant to the Foundation’s missions and provide strategic counsel to senior leadership and the Board
- Shape the strategic direction of operations in Somaliland in partnership with global and regional leadership teams
- Foster a culture of ambition, accountability, innovation, and operational excellence across the country team
Programme and Venture Leadership
- Oversee the successful delivery and expansion of all country programmes, schools and ventures across Somaliland
- Ensure strong governance, compliance, safeguarding, and risk management across all activities
- Support and oversee the performance of for-profit ventures within the Somaliland portfolio, working closely with venture leadership teams to drive sustainable growth and operational effectiveness
- Identify and evaluate investment opportunities, partnerships, and new initiatives aligned with Pharo Ventures’ strategic priorities
- Establish robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems to ensure continuous improvement and measurable impact
- Maintain strong operational oversight through regular site visits and performance reviews
Management responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with the Global Senior Leadership team to effectively manage the team within a matrix organisation.
- Joint management of the Country Office’s Management team in collaboration with relevant functional managers (e.g. Director of Pharo Schools, CFO, etc).