Descriptions

Msichana Initiative is
proud to announce the appointment of Consolata Chikoti as our new Executive
Director, effective 25th August 2025.

Consolata will join the
organisation during a special feminist
co-leadership phase alongside our Founding Executive Director, Rebeca
Gyumi, who will officially step down on
31st December 2025 after nearly a decade of transformative leadership. This
intentional transition honours our commitment to shared power,
intergenerational learning, and continuity in the fight for girls’ rights.

Her appointment follows a
rigorous and participatory recruitment process, led by the Board and Members’
Recruitment & Succession Committee, and enriched by the voices of our staff
and partners.

A dynamic, passionate,
and visionary young feminist leader, Consolata brings more than seven years of
experience in feminist leadership, advocacy, and movement-building. A human
rights lawyer and global health specialist, she has worked extensively to
advance gender equality and the rights of women and children. Most recently,
she served as Gender Consultant at the O’Neill Institute for National and
Global Health Law (Center for Global Health Policy and Politics).

Consolata is no stranger
to Msichana Initiative and women’s movement. In her previous role as Msichana
Initiative’s Programs Manager, she led community empowerment initiatives across
both rural and urban Tanzania, tackling gender-based violence, championing
sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), driving access to justice and
legal reforms. Chikoti has also worked as Legal Officer at Women’s Legal Aid
Center (WLAC) and once led the Young Feminist Forum at Tanzania Gender Networking
Program(TGNP). She holds an LL.B from the University of Dar es Salaam and an
LL.M in Global Health and International Human Rights Law from Georgetown
University Law Center.

Prof.Bertha Koda, Board
Chair - Msichana Initiative, noted "On behalf
of the Board, I extend our warmest welcome to our new Executive Director. We
have full confidence in her unwavering commitment, proven leadership, and deep
understanding of the issues facing girls and women today” Prof.Koda continued
“We believe she will not only carry forward our feminist reform agenda with
integrity and vision, but also strengthen it, 
inspiring the next generation to lead and amplifying our fight for the
rights, dignity, and equal opportunities of girls and women everywhere. This is
a pivotal moment in our journey, and we are excited to work alongside her to
advance the change we all believe.”

Learning on
her appointment, Consolata had the following remarks;

“To be the next Executive
Director of Msichana Initiative is to inherit a torch lit by fearless vision to
honour the bold steps that built this path while daring to carve new ones. It
means knowing the journey is far from over, that greater heights await, and
that the voice of every girl we serve deserves not just to be heard, but to lead.”
– Consolata Chikoti

Rebeca Gyumi, our Founder
and outgoing Executive Director, shared: “Consolata is the transformative and
strategic leader Msichana Initiative needs at this moment. She brings wisdom,
tested strategies, and a life-long commitment to young feminist movements. In a
time when girls’ rights face growing threats, her intergenerational and
liberatory approach will be critical. Her ability to build and sustain strong
relationships with government, feminist movements, and funding partners will be
a great asset to our work.”

About
Msichana Initiative

Msichana Initiative (MI) is a young women
and feminist-led organisation working to advance gender equality by advocating
for girls’ right to education. We envision a society where girls’ rights are
safeguarded, their dignity upheld, and their potential fully realised. Our work
focuses on engaging directly with girls and young women, influencing
gender-sensitive legal frameworks, and strengthening feminist movements in
Tanzania and beyond.

For
more information, visit www.msichana.or.tz.

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