I am Rufaro, a social impact specialist, strategist and fervent believer in the boundless potential of our continent and its people.
Through my work with enke: Make Your Mark, YD Co-Lab and other initiatives, I strive to create supportive environments where personal and professional success can flourish, leaving a positive and lasting impact on the communities we serve.
With Tafara Advisory, we are dedicated to empowering organizations and individuals through strategic guidance and innovative solutions.
About Rufaro
Rufaro believes in cultivating leaders who are visionary, ethical, and adept at navigating the complexities of the modern world. Her approach involves nurturing skills that allow emerging leaders to create transformative changes within their communities and beyond. Through Tafara Advisory, Rufaro leverages her extensive experience to advise organizations, institutions, social enterprise and non-profit organisations on creating impactful youth and leadership development initiatives.
Why? Rufaro envisions an Africa where the boundless potential of its people is unlocked through comprehensive development strategies that encompass youth empowerment, leadership excellence, and personal growth.
Her work focuses on strategy development, program design, and impact assessment, ensuring that projects not only meet their immediate goals but also contribute to the broader vision of a prosperous, equitable Africa. By integrating these elements into her vision, Rufaro aims to build a continent that values and invests in its greatest asset—its people.
Professional Contributions
Rufaro has led strategic initiatives, developed impactful programs, and driven organizational growth across various roles. Her experience includes executive management, strategic consulting, and governance, all aimed at empowering communities and fostering social impact. These contributions highlight her commitment to innovation and sustainable development.
Leading the organisation and significantly expanding the organization’s reach and impact.
- Roles: Chief Executive Officer (2015-2024), Various positions since 2012
Providing curriculum development, strategic facilitation, and orchestrating impactful training programs and workshops.
- Role: Founding Director & Lead Consultant
Youth Development Collaboration South Africa (YD-CoLab)
Fostering collaboration in the South African youth development sector for systemic impact.
- Roles: Founding Chairperson (2020-2022), Steering Committee Member (2023-Present), Project Manager (2024)
Overseeing governance and HR policies to support education and empowerment programs for youth.
- Role: Member of Board of Directors and Chair of HR & Governance Committee (2019-Present)
Services
Project Management & Consulting
Providing expert project management, executive leadership capacity and consulting to drive strategic initiatives and optimize organizational performance.
Facilitation & Workshop Orchestration
Leading dynamic workshops and strategic facilitation sessions to foster collaboration and achieve impactful outcomes.
Program & Curriculum Design and Development
Designing and developing comprehensive programs and curricula tailored to enhance learning and development.
Speaker, Panelist & Moderator
Engaging audiences as a speaker, panelist, and moderator, delivering insights on leadership, social impact, and development.
Accolades & Recognition
Rufaro’s impactful work in social impact and leadership development has earned her numerous awards and accolades. These honors highlight her dedication to empowering communities and fostering sustainable development.
Awards
- 2024: Forty Under 40 Africa - Honorary Award for Leadership Development
- 2023: Responsible Social Enterprise Award by E-Squared Investments
- 2022: Yale University Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellow
- 2018: 100 Most Influential Young South Africans - Social Enterprise and Philanthropy categories
- 2018: Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa
- 2017: Top 25 Distinguished African Women in Leadership Honoree
- 2016: One Young World Ambassador - All Bar None Scholarship
Publications
- Chapter 2: Youth and development: The significance of ‘youth moments’, in “Youth in South Africa: Agency, (in)visibility and national development”
- Poem: 'Imposter' in “A Better World: Hope from Africa – A Collection of Poems from Young Leaders in Africa”
Work with me!
TafaraAdvisory
My company is Tafara Advisory, a consulting firm dedicated to empowering organizations and individuals through strategic guidance and innovative solutions. “Tafara” means “we are happy” in ChiShona (Zimbabwean language), the sentiment we wish all our clients to experience through our services.
At Tafara Advisory, we are dedicated to driving significant growth and innovation, collaborating with a diverse array of stakeholders to achieve measurable results. Our passion lies in cultivating environments that support personal and professional success, ensuring a lasting impact on the communities we serve.