Michael Kaiyatsa – Executive Director

Michael Kaiyatsa has more than 10 years’ experience in programme development, management, monitoring, evaluation and learning, and institutional fundraising. He is a passionate human rights advocate, who has worked extensively with vulnerable and marginalized groups on a broad range of issues, including sexual and reproductive health rights concerning people living with HIV, LGBTI persons, prisoners, refugees, asylum seekers, and young people in hard to reach areas.

His work on human rights has earned him speaking and facilitating engagements in various fora, nationally and internationally. Michael was one of the speakers and panelists at the 7th Annual Global Africana Conference held on April 5, 2019 at the University of North Carolina’s Department of African American and Diaspora Studies.

An accomplished writer, Michael has authored several articles on a wide range of human rights and governance issues.  In 2012, he authored a book titled “Challenging prejudice” with support from the Other Foundation. In 2010, he was awarded the Regional Hunger and Vulnerability Prize for his article analyzing the impact of cash transfers on poor households in Malawi. Michael has also participated in research with several local and international human rights organizations on a wide range of human rights issues, including digital rights, freedom of expression, association and assembly and the right to access information.

His academic background includes a postgraduate training in Applied Ethics and a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Cultural studies both from the University of Malawi (Chancellor College). Michael also possesses various certificates and diplomas on a wide range of human rights topics, including Sexual Minority Rights (University of Pretoria), Human Rights Leadership (Global Human Rights, Leadership Training Institute from Lagos, Nigeria), and Health and Human Rights (World Health Organisation and In-Went Capacity Building International,  Germany). Michael is also a graduate from the LGBTI and Human Rights training programme at the Swedish Centre for Sexuality Education in Stockholm, Sweden.