Nomusa Nkwanyana

MA (International Relations) / MA (IR) – University of Witwatersrand

Nomusa Nkwanyana is a Programme Associate within the Democracy and Civic Engagement Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. In this role, she contributes to strengthening democratic participation, civic engagement, and constitutional literacy across Africa, with a focus on enhancing the participation of civil society and citizens in key continental governance mechanisms, such as the Pan-African Parliament and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

Nomusa holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her professional experience spans academia, trade unions, research, policy-making, and advocacy, with a strong track record of working in sectors including energy, agriculture, informal economies, and labour rights. She has collaborated with leading consultancy firms both locally and globally, focusing on social impact, community needs assessments, and strategies for advancing human rights and labour protections.

Her work is underpinned by a deep commitment to justice, equity, feminism, and the decolonial project. She is particularly passionate about amplifying the voices of women, young people, and marginalized communities within governance structures and policy-making spaces. Across her engagements in South Africa and the broader Southern African region, Nomusa has contributed to initiatives that promote inclusive development, worker rights, and meaningful civic participation.

Nomusa brings to her work a nuanced understanding of the intersections between governance, social justice, and economic development in Africa, as well as a dedication to fostering participatory and accountable institutions rooted in the lived realities of the continent’s people.