Biography

Nikiwe J. Kaunda is a social justice and development practitioner with over 18 years of experience. She has worked with regional and international non-profits, multilateral institutions, governments, and academia to promote good governance, accountability, and high-impact programmes. She has extensive experience working across East, West, and Southern Africa, engaging in high-level policy advocacy and networking with policymakers, the private sector, government, embassies, and civil society organizations. Prior roles include serving as Africa Policy Manager at Open Society Foundations, leading external engagement, grant-making, policy, and advocacy; and as Human Rights, Access to Justice, and Rule of Law programme Team Leader. Nikiwe holds a PhD from Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership, with a focus on the impacts of governance and accountability on organizations’ value creation and program responsiveness; a Masters in Labour Law, and an Honors in Workplace Change and Labor Law.