Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
References
Generic

MILDRED ZYAMBO

Lusaka

Summary

Dynamic strategist and human-centered innovator with a strong record of designing and delivering impactful social projects and programs. I bring experience managing initiatives from discovery to launch across WASH, health, youth employment, and inclusive development. Skilled in systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, market landscaping, pilot design, and strategic implementation. I thrive in entrepreneurial, cross-sector environments and am passionate about designing solutions for systemic change.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience

Work History

Global HCD Designer

IDE Global
10.2023 - 04.2025
  • Managed end-to-end innovation projects from discovery through implementation, including stakeholder engagement, design, testing, and pilot setup.
  • Conducted field research and stakeholder interviews across three communities to inform a scalable WASH system strategy.
  • Developed blueprint strategies and actionable plans including program design, budgeting, and documentation.
  • Contributed to prototyping and deployment of sanitation innovations under marketing-based sanitation (MBS) approaches.
  • Supported proposal development, resource scoping, and early stage partnership mapping.
  • Produced blueprint strategies for product development and organizational adaptation to improve impact delivery.
  • Created wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and visualizations to communicate product designs.
  • Running fun, engaging co-creation and brainstorming workshops in the field and in the office.

Communications Officer

WWF Zambia
03.2021 - 09.2023
  • Led strategic campaigns and systems-change storytelling across climate, youth, and environment sectors.
  • Participated in senior-level engagement with partners, media, and donors; developed strategic communication plans to support mission alignment and advocacy.
  • Managed campaign execution including Earth Hour and internal innovation sprints; ensured high-quality event management, logistics, and visibility.
  • Developed decks, briefs, and reports for internal and donor audiences, contributing to organizational fundraising and accountability.
  • Collaborated on CSR initiatives aligned to organizational brand and community inclusion priorities.

Research Associate - Human Centered Design

Media 365
01.2019 - 01.2021
  • Led “Discover” and “Blueprint” phases on donor-funded initiatives across nutrition, youth, and urban resilience.
  • Conducted market landscape reviews, user interviews, and stakeholder consultations for strategy formulation.
  • Produced strategic deliverables including personas, journey maps, value propositions, and early-stage pilot concepts.
  • Supported analysis, reporting, and recommendations for programs funded by Gates Foundation, WFP, and GiZ.
  • Developed key communication outputs for client updates, donor reports, and internal knowledge sharing.
  • Successful Research Lead on the World Food Programme (WFP) funded national nutrition project - Eat Well Campaign
  • Successful Design Strategy Lead on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded Anti-Tobacco campaign - SKYGirlsZed: Desk review, pilot research, main research, product ideation and prototype (Project brand guidelines, Tag line, etc.) and year 1 final donor report
  • Successfully led the Water Security and Environmental Projects LUWSI and also Wellfields Eco Recreation Parks funded by GiZ.

Communications and Project Assistant

Media 365
03.2018 - 01.2019
  • Supported multi-donor projects in implementation planning, budgeting, reporting, and event execution.
  • Contributed to research coordination, stakeholder engagement, and proposal development.
  • Created campaign assets and content strategies that supported visibility and program scale.

Strategic Communications Intern

Media 365
10.2017 - 03.2018
  • Content development for clients; Developing editorial calendars, Drafting strategy documents, Articles and press releases, Content creation for brochures, training guides, videos, digital media and any other relevant content development
  • Drafting Communication strategy, Strategic plans and Implementation plans
  • Participate in field missions to gather information, videos and still photo footage
  • Create photo library with captions
  • Prepare communication materials including media briefs, speeches, newsletters, articles to publish on different clients' websites and other media platforms
  • Assist in the design of communication and visibility materials
  • Plan and manage meetings, workshops and media events
  • Media management for events; drafting press invites, releases, accreditation forms and media monitoring reports
  • Successfully developed Cavmont bank social media calendar and content
  • Conducting in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and field observation
  • Developing exceptional data collection instruments and tools such as questionnaires, interview guides and observation checklists, which were pivotal in the research engagements.

Intern - Advertising Coordinator and Copy Writer

Moto Media (Ignite Africa)
01.2017 - 09.2017
  • Coordinated sales and advertising of Ignite magazine
  • Copy edited magazine articles
  • Managed Magazine layout and design
  • Actively listened to customers, handled concerns quickly and escalated major issues to supervisor
  • Used coordination and planning skills to achieve results according to schedule
  • Improved operations through consistent hard work and dedication.

Communications Intern

National Agriculture and Information Services (NAIS)
05.2016 - 12.2016
  • Produced 4 Radio and 2 TV Programs
  • Script writer and Documentary Editor
  • Field Reporter
  • Video and Audio Transcriber and Translator
  • Engaged in professional networking to maintain strong relationships with communications and media professionals to drive partnerships and effective dissemination of mass communications
  • Prepared for public relations presentations and plans by gathering information on business objectives, vision, brand strategy, competition and industry trends.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communication

The University of Zambia
Lusaka
04-2019

O'Level GCE Certificate -

Matero Girls Secondary School

Skills

  • Strategy Development & Systems Thinking
  • Human-Centered Design (HCD) & Innovation Incubation
  • Research, Market Landscaping & Stakeholder Mapping
  • Project & Program Management (Design → Implementation)
  • Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis & Insight Synthesis
  • Work Plan, Budget, & Risk Management
  • Donor Reporting & Fundraising Material Development
  • Communication Strategy & Stakeholder Alignment

Accomplishments

  • Successfully led human-centered design (HCD) projects from concept to implementation across multiple sectors, including WASH, nutrition, and youth empowerment.
  • Designed and deployed market-based sanitation (MBS) solutions under iDE Global, engaging 100+ stakeholders across rural Zambia.
  • Contributed to winning proposals and blueprint strategies for sanitation and clean water access programs funded by global donors.
  • Orchestrated WWF Zambia's Earth Hour campaign with national media coverage and audience reach exceeding 2 million people.
  • Developed personas, journey maps, and pilot concepts for Gates Foundation and WFP-backed initiatives, influencing national behavior change campaigns.
  • Spearheaded internal innovation sprints and donor communications at WWF, boosting fundraising impact and stakeholder engagement.
  • Supported the setup of cross-functional project teams and coordinated implementation plans for multi-donor ventures under Media 365.

Timeline

Global HCD Designer

IDE Global
10.2023 - 04.2025

Communications Officer

WWF Zambia
03.2021 - 09.2023

Research Associate - Human Centered Design

Media 365
01.2019 - 01.2021

Communications and Project Assistant

Media 365
03.2018 - 01.2019

Strategic Communications Intern

Media 365
10.2017 - 03.2018

Intern - Advertising Coordinator and Copy Writer

Moto Media (Ignite Africa)
01.2017 - 09.2017

Communications Intern

National Agriculture and Information Services (NAIS)
05.2016 - 12.2016

O'Level GCE Certificate -

Matero Girls Secondary School

Bachelor of Arts - Mass Communication

The University of Zambia

References

Dr. Natasha Phiri

Research Director and Co-Founder, Media 365

natasha@media365.co.zm

WhatsApp: +44 7747 230926

Cell: +260 966 865 151

Cell: +260 966 865 151

Tubalemye Mutwale

Communications Manager

East and Southern Africa at WWF International

mtubalemye@gmail.com

Cell: +260 762 441 401

Cell: +260 762 441 401

Elledy T. Shumba

Human Resources Manager, iDE Zambia

WWF Zambia

eshumba@ideglobal.org

Cell: +260 977 740 861

+260 977 740861

Edmore Mangisi

Programme Associate - Nutrition

World Food Programme (WFP)

Edmore.mangisi@wfp.org

Cell: +260 979 917 238

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
MILDRED ZYAMBO