CARE Zambia Team

Lynn Inang’andu Chinene

Deputy Country Director

Lynn Inang’andu Chinene is a highly accomplished development and program management professional with over 15 years of experience leading national, multi-country, and regional programs across Southern and Eastern Africa. Her expertise includes women’s and girls’ empowerment, adolescent reproductive health, child and social protection, governance, and economic empowerment.

Currently serving as Deputy Country Director – Programs, Lynn previously led the multi-country SHE SOARS program across Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya as Chief of Party. In this role, she provided strategic leadership in program implementation, consortium management, donor engagement, partnership development, and program quality, positioning SHE SOARS as a flagship initiative advancing adolescent girls’ rights, youth engagement, and equality for women and girls.

Lynn has an extensive track record in building strategic partnerships, influencing policy, and mobilizing resources to enhance program impact and sustainability. She has successfully managed relationships with bilateral and multilateral donors, United Nations agencies, governments, civil society organizations, regional institutions, philanthropic partners, and the private sector. Her experience includes programs funded by Global Affairs Canada, Sida, the European Union, UK Aid/FCDO, BMZ, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid, SDC, and various UN agencies.

She has strengthened partnerships with key institutions such as the African Union, SADC Secretariat, SADC Parliamentary Forum, East African Legislative Assembly, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA, OHCHR, and Girls Not Brides. Through these collaborations, she has advanced policy dialogue, strengthened systems, and improved outcomes for women, girls, and young people.

Before joining CARE Zambia, Lynn worked with Plan International, the International Labour Organization, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and UNDP. She holds a Master of Arts in Health Education, a bachelor’s degree in Development Studies, several professional certifications, and is pursuing a master’s degree in Communication for Development. Lynn is passionate about collaborative leadership, locally led development, and sustainable impact through innovation and partnerships.

Drew Foxman

Director, Philanthropy

Drew Foxman is a philanthropy and social impact leader with more than two decades of nonprofit experience, including over a decade in international development. As Director of Principal Gifts at CARE, he partners with donor-advised fund sponsors, wealth advisors, family offices, and philanthropic institutions to mobilize transformational capital that advances global equality, resilience, and humanitarian response.

Prior to joining CARE, Drew held senior roles within international development organizations including MercyCorps and the American India Foundation. His work has included launching a girls’ education initiative with support from the MacArthur Foundation and leading a multi-year youth post-conflict initiative across India and Pakistan supported by the U.S. Department of State. Throughout his career, he has worked with philanthropic, foundation, corporate, and government partners to advance humanitarian and development programs.

Drew began his career as a founding Director of Education at SFJAZZ, expanding access to music education for youth in underserved communities. He later founded Giant Steps Music, a social impact initiative advancing youth development and peacebuilding through the arts.

He holds an M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College and a B.A. from Northwestern University. Drew is a Rotary Peace Fellow and SE100 Fellow and holds advanced certifications from UC Berkeley and Middlebury College.

Brian Phiri

Education Program Manager

Brian Phiri is an accomplished development professional currently serving as Education Program Manager at CARE Zambia. In this role, he provides strategic oversight of the organization’s education portfolio, with a particular focus on foundational learning and alternative education pathways. He leads the implementation of donor-funded programs aimed at strengthening adolescent resilience, advancing educational outcomes, promoting equality for women and girls, and empowering communities.

With extensive experience in project planning, management, monitoring and evaluation, and community-based service delivery, Brian has built a strong track record of delivering development initiatives. His expertise encompasses stakeholder engagement, youth development, education, nutrition, livelihoods, budget management, strategic planning, and institutional capacity strengthening.

Brian holds a Master of Development Studies, a Bachelor of Science in Monitoring and Evaluation, and a Diploma in Project Planning and Management. Throughout his career, he has worked with renowned development organizations, including Concern Worldwide, Women for Change, and World Vision Zambia, managing and supporting projects funded by a diverse range of development partners.

Passionate about inclusive and sustainable development, Brian is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable populations. Beyond his professional commitments, he is a proud father of one son and two daughters and enjoys spending his leisure time appreciating the beauty of nature.

Renton Kashimbaya

MEAL Coordinator, Nyenyezi Plus Project

Renton Kashimbaya is the MEAL Coordinator for the Nyenyezi Plus Project, managing all MEAL activities across four districts in Eastern and Southern Provinces of Zambia. He provides technical support to implementing partners, ensuring effective data management, quality assurance, and alignment with project goals.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Adult Education, a Diploma in Information Systems and Programming, and several professional certifications in monitoring, evaluation, and data analysis. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Data Science – Business Data Analytics.

With over five years of experience in MEAL coordination for early childhood development, education, and resilience projects, Renton has worked with CARE, NUTRI-AID Trust Zambia, and other organizations. He is also a trainer in digital data collection tools such as ODK, Kobo Toolbox, and CommCare.

Beyond his professional work, Renton has been married for 16 years and is a proud father of two children, a son aged 14 and a daughter aged 11. A dedicated Christian, he finds joy in faith, family, and music, and is also a talented scalpella singer.

Hamilton Mambo

Executive Director, Children Sentinel Trust Zambia (CSTZ)

Hamilton Mambo is the Executive Director of Children Sentinel Trust Zambia (CSTZ) and a highly respected Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) specialist with over 32 years of leadership experience in child-focused development. and has led the design and implementation of transformative programs in education, early childhood development, child protection, health, women and girls’ empowerment, livelihoods, and community systems strengthening. His academic background is in Public Health (BPH) and Early Childhood Education (ECE Diploma).

Hamilton has worked extensively with the Government of Zambia, civil society, and international development partners, including UNICEF, the European Union (EU), CARE, Plan International, Save the Children Norway, the Sightsavers, Firelight Foundation, and other bilateral and multilateral agencies. His expertise spans strategic leadership, program design, institutional strengthening, donor compliance, resource mobilization, and results-based management.

A passionate advocate for quality early childhood development, He is recognized for building strong partnerships, strengthening local systems, and delivering sustainable, evidence-driven solutions that improve the lives of children, women, and vulnerable communities across Zambia. His leadership continues to position CSTZ as a trusted partner in advancing inclusive learning, child protection, and community resilience.

He is a dedicated husband, Church Elder, and a father of two daughters and two sons, all above 18 years old.

Tina Mumba Phiri

Development Coordinator, Economic Empowerment

Tina Mumba Phiri is the Economic Empowerment Coordinator for the Nyenyezi Plus Project in Zambia’s Southern Province. In this role, she provides support to the project implementation team in Southern Province and offers technical support on economic empowerment, particularly VSLA interventions, to the project team in Eastern Province across Nyenyezi Plus project sites.

She has extensive experience in development coordination, economic empowerment, women and girls’ programming, and the implementation of Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives. She possesses strong expertise in facilitating community-led initiatives and strengthening coordination mechanisms. Adept at cross-functional team leadership, stakeholder engagement, and driving impactful change in rural development contexts across Zambia. She holds a Master of Science degree in Agribusiness Management, which complements her experience in promoting sustainable livelihoods and community development.

Ernest Mambo

Project Coordinator for the Nyenyezi Plus Project, Children’s Sentinel Trust Zambia (CSTZ)

Ernest Mambo serves as the Project Coordinator for the Nyenyezi Plus Project at Children’s Sentinel Trust Zambia (CSTZ), where he provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure the effective delivery of project interventions. He oversees project planning, implementation, resource coordination, performance monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and quality assurance, ensuring activities are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with donor requirements and project objectives. He also supervises Development Coordinators and District Development Officers, strengthens partnerships with government and community stakeholders, and leads timely reporting, documentation, and adaptive programme management.

Ernest holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health and brings a strong background in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), having previously served as a MEAL Officer. His expertise encompasses project management, results-based programming, data analysis, performance monitoring, community engagement, capacity strengthening, and evidence-driven decision-making. He is passionate about delivering sustainable development outcomes through effective leadership, strategic partnerships, and innovative, community-centered approaches that improve the well-being of vulnerable populations across Zambia.

He is a husband and father of one child.

Margret Ngonga

Communications and Advocacy Coordinator

Margret Ngonga is a Communications and Advocacy, Coordinator leading strategic communication, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement initiatives that support development programming and social impact. In her role, she works to strengthen organizational visibility, promote evidence-based advocacy, and facilitate partnerships that advance development goals and community-centered solutions.

She has extensive experience in communications, advocacy, and development coordination, with a strong focus on amplifying the voices of vulnerable and marginalized populations. Throughout her career, she has supported the design and implementation of communication strategies, managed stakeholder engagement efforts, and contributed to policy and advocacy initiatives aimed at driving sustainable development outcomes. Her expertise spans strategic communications, public relations, content development, advocacy campaigns, and partnership building, enabling her to effectively connect development priorities with diverse audiences and decision-makers.

Margret holds a Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Zambia and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Communication for Development at the same institution. She has further strengthened her professional expertise through certifications in Leadership, Governance, Public Speaking, and Climate Change.

Passionate about advancing social equality, climate action, and inclusive development, Margret combines strategic thinking, creativity, and a results-oriented approach to drive positive change. Her collaborative leadership style has enabled her to build strong relationships with communities, government institutions, civil society organizations, and development partners.

Based in Lusaka, Zambia, Margret brings a blend of professional expertise, dedication, and commitment to her work. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, and pursuing opportunities for lifelong learning and personal growth.

Elsie Samboko

Development Coordinator, Research, and Learning

Elsie Samboko is a Development Coordinator-Research and Learning at CARE Zambia, currently leading the Nyenyezi Plus Longitudinal Study, a multi-year research initiative focused on generating evidence to inform ECE/D program design and impact. She oversees all aspects of study implementation, including research planning, design, enumerator training, field operations, data quality assurance, and verification processes across all 4 districts.

With a background in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), Elsie has played a role in strengthening evidence generation and program quality within CARE Zambia since 2022. She previously supported the Intanda Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project in southern province, contributing monitoring systems, and data-driven decision-making. Beyond project-specific responsibilities, she provides support to the country offices’ program quality and impact unit in areas such as results measurement, data management, project tracking frameworks, and learning processes.

Elsie has expertise in data quality management, data cleaning and analysis, mobile data collection systems, and the use of digital platforms such as CommCare and KoboToolbox. Her work focuses on ensuring that high-quality evidence is translated into actionable insights that improve program effectiveness, accountability, and outcomes for communities.

Elsie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies with Sociology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation Methods. She is currently pursuing an MBA in Strategic Management, further strengthening her expertise in research, learning, program performance, and strategic leadership within the development sector.