The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) is pleased to welcome Rubab Zahra as its new Country Manager for Pakistan. Rubab joins OCA to lead the organisation’s efforts to expand its footprint and deepen its impact in the country’s organic cotton sector.
“Pakistan is a priority country for OCA, with enormous potential for organic cotton cultivation and a growing community of committed partners. OCA is scaling its work in Pakistan and Rubab’s appointment marks a significant milestone in this journey. Her leadership will help drive forward our ambitious programme for the region,” said Ruud Schute, OCA’s Programme Director.
″Joining OCA as Country Manager is a privilege I proudly embrace. I am inspired by OCA’s mission to drive systemic change globally in the organic cotton sector by supporting farmers, advancing sustainability, and scaling impact from field to fashion. With OCA’s strong vision, I look forward to shaping a bold path for organic cotton in Pakistan that is inclusive, resilient, and rooted in local realities.″
Rubab brings over 14 years of leadership experience in international development, with a strong background in business development, fundraising, strategy, and organisational growth. She has successfully managed complex development and humanitarian programmes across Asia and East Africa, consistently delivering results in challenging and dynamic contexts.
At OCA, Rubab will spearhead various strategic and operational responsibilities. These include business development, programme management, partnerships and external representation, country strategy development, and local operational oversight. With a focus on expanding OCA’s Farm Programme in Pakistan, she will work to accelerate our positive impact on farmer livelihoods and further establish OCA’s position in this important cotton-producing country.
Rubab is deeply passionate about gender equity and diversity within the workplace and in programme design. Faithful to her values-driven leadership, she has consistently led high-performing teams, supported organisational transformation, and strengthened partnerships and systems to improve effectiveness and sustainability.
Most recently, Rubab held a senior role in business development at Mercy Corps. Before this, she held leadership roles at Ipas, Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), and Rutgers, among others, where she played a central role in scaling impact and driving innovation.
Her diverse expertise in strategy, change management, fundraising, programme operations, communications, and external relations makes her a valuable addition to the OCA team.
We wish Rubab a great experience as she embarks on this exciting new chapter with us.
