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Imani Countess is the Zimbabwe country director for NDI, with responsibility for program development, oversight and implementation of democracy strengthening programs, donor relations and representation. Ms. Countess is a veteran of the U.S.-based Africa advocacy community. A respected political strategist and analyst, she is frequently requested to make presentations regarding U.S.-policy toward Africa, including congressional and expert witness testimony. She has extensive knowledge of African politics, particularly Southern Africa.
Previously, Ms. Countess was the senior director for public affairs at TransAfrica Forum where she functioned as an advisor to the president, conceptualized and implemented the organization's Zimbabwe program, maintained expert knowledge on U.S. policy toward Africa, maintained the organizations external relations, and worked with staff and the board of directors on issue-framing. Prior to joining TransAfrica, Ms. Countess was the national Africa coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, where she re-vamped a dormant program through the creation of innovative educational, training and outreach activities. Ms. Countess' other professional positions in the non-profit sector include: outreach director at Shared Interest, a New York-based loan guarantee fund; senior outreach fellow with the Africa Policy Information Center; executive director of the Washington office on Africa/Africa Policy Information Center, Washington, D.C.-based legislative and research organizations; program associate with the Namibia Information Service, a U.N.-sponsored news agency; and the Southern Africa program coordinator for the Coalition for a New Foreign Policy, a Washington, D.C.-based research and advocacy organization.
In addition to her work in the non-profit sector, Ms. Countess also worked as the congressional liaison for the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF).
Ms. Countess is a board member of the African Studies Association, board member of the Association of the Concerned Africa Scholars and former co-chair of the Jubilee USA Network Board of Directors. She is the 2007 recipient of the Bud Day Award for Activist Scholarship on Africa.
