Karabo Mokgonyana

Karabo is a Legal and Development Practitioner focusing on human rights protection, effective implementation of international law and grassroot peacebuilding. Her work is mainly characterised by legal advice (mainly in human rights, public law and international law), advocacy and campaigning, project/program management and coordination, development research, advisory work and data management. She has worked with several multilaterals (e.g. African Union, United Nations and Commonwealth) and civil society organisations (e.g. CIVICUS, Change.org, Sesi Fellowship and Skill Hub) to advise and implement development programs. She has further advised government entities (e.g. GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Stockholm International Water Institute, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa) on inclusion and effective representation in developing programmes and policies for youth, womxn and other marginalised communities/identities. She has a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing and Law) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Witwatersrand and she is currently completing a Masters in International Law with the same institution. Karabo has approximately 7+ years worth of experience working in the development sector from a grassroot to international level. However, she has also worked in the legal sector with institutions like Webber Wentzel, Wits Law Clinic and the Constitutional Court of South Africa. She has been granted several awards for the work that she does e.g. 50 Most Powerful Women in South Africa for 2022 by Mail and Guardian, 2022 Outstanding Youth Philanthropist by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and 100 Most Influential Young Africans of 2021 by Avance Media. Karabo publishes on Mail and Guardian, Business Live and other media platforms op-eds on various public interest topics including climate change, gender and youth, human rights, legal developments and peacebuilding.