Meet Tsema - Tsema Yvonne Ede

My Story

About

Tsema Yvonne Ede

Who I Am

Tsema is a lawyer with expertise in communications for development, policy, gender, grantmaking and funds management. With nineteen years of multisectoral experience in developing and implementing integrated programmes for government and civil society, her expertise spans public policy development and implementation, public safety and human security management, women’s peace and security, design and implementation of human rights protection mechanisms, facilitating processes for enhancing civil society resilience, and natural resource governance.

She is the leader of Nigeria’s pioneering and only fund dedicated to human rights defence, where she manages an annual portfolio that supports several frontline grantee organisations and individuals directly and indirectly. She is a policy expert who has worked with the government, business corporations and non-governmental organisations on implementing people-centred policies to protect citizens. Before going into development, she founded a law firm where she worked as a litigation lawyer doing pro bono work where she rendered critical support to bridge the access to justice gap for low-income individuals in underserved communities.

Tsema’s career has been marked by significant achievements, including launching the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s Green Academy- a competence-building hub for equipping youth leaders and activists in Nigeria with the skills and expertise for engaging in poverty reduction and social justice. She has also provided support to civil society organisations and the private sector on the harmful effects of solid mineral extraction on host communities.

Tsema has also contributed to leading research on energy gaps in Nigeria’s primary health centres. Throughout her career, Tsema has consulted for and led teams with several leading bilateral organizations and international NGOs, including OSIWA, Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Global Rights, the MacArthur Foundation, Luminate Group, and the Ford Foundation. She has advised on donor funding priorities, managed programs, supervised partner NGOs, and engaged with diverse stakeholders to drive impactful, life-changing projects. Tsema is committed to promoting human rights, enhancing civic participation, and fostering sustainable development in Nigeria.

Tsema is also passionate about sharing knowledge and building capacity. You will find her facilitating training sessions and workshops on diverse topics that promote development in Nigeria and Africa. Tsema works actively to promote feminist leadership platforms and the advancement of inclusive governance Her expertise spans grantmaking, fundraising and management, partnership engagement, stakeholder management, social impact, ESG, legal writing, advocacy, policy formulation, research, community organising, resource governance, conflict resolution, and gender mainstreaming.

With a strong commitment to fostering human dignity and sustainable development, Tsema has a proven track record of formulating policies, conducting research, and providing strategic advice on advocacy for donor engagement in the protection of marginalized and minoritised communities. With a strong academic background and a commitment to learning, Tsema is a StartingBloc Fellow, an Afrisig Fellow, and an Acumen West African Fellow. Tsema is an alumnus of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. She earned an LLM in Law with a focus on International Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and an LLB in Public and International Law.

My Mission

My mission is to champion human rights, inclusive governance, and social justice through legal expertise, policy reform, and advocacy. I am committed to:

Protecting Civic Space: Ensuring that activists, journalists, and human rights defenders operate in a safe and enabling environment.
Advancing Gender Equality: Creating policies and initiatives that promote women’s rights, feminist leadership, and inclusive governance.
Strengthening Democracy & Good Governance: Engaging governments and institutions to foster accountability, transparency, and citizen participation.

Driving Legal & Policy Reforms: Influencing policies that address social injustice, digital rights, energy access, and natural resource governance.
Empowering Communities: Training and mentoring grassroots organizations, youth leaders, and vulnerable groups to advocate for their rights.

Through strategic partnerships, research, and advocacy, I aim to build stronger institutions and ensure that every individual, regardless of background, has access to justice and fundamental rights.

Who I Am

I am a passionate lawyer, human rights advocate, and policy expert committed to creating a just and equitable society. My work focuses on governance, gender equality, civic space protection, and human rights defense. With a background in legal practice and development consulting, I have spent over a decade working at the intersection of law, policy, and advocacy, ensuring that marginalized communities have a voice and access to justice.

I have worked with governments, civil society organizations, media, and grassroots movements to design policies that drive systemic change. From leading Nigeria’s only human rights defense fund to empowering activists, women, and vulnerable groups, my work is deeply rooted in fostering sustainable impact. My expertise spans legal writing, strategic advocacy, policy reform, and community organizing.

I believe in the power of knowledge and capacity-building. Whether through mentorship, training sessions, or large-scale advocacy campaigns, I am dedicated to equipping individuals and organizations with the tools to fight for justice, equity, and transparency.

My Mission

My mission is to champion human rights, inclusive governance, and social justice through legal expertise, policy reform, and advocacy. I am committed to:

Protecting Civic Space: Ensuring that activists, journalists, and human rights defenders operate in a safe and enabling environment.

Advancing Gender Equality: Creating policies and initiatives that promote women’s rights, feminist leadership, and inclusive governance.
Strengthening Democracy & Good Governance: Engaging governments and institutions to foster accountability, transparency, and citizen participation.
Driving Legal & Policy Reforms: Influencing policies that address social injustice, digital rights, energy access, and natural resource governance.
Empowering Communities: Training and mentoring grassroots organizations, youth leaders, and vulnerable groups to advocate for their rights.

Through strategic partnerships, research, and advocacy, I aim to build stronger institutions and ensure that every individual, regardless of background, has access to justice and fundamental rights.

As Featured in

Tsema Yvonne Ede Awards & Recognition

Launched the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s Green Academy, empowering young activists.
Led the development of toolkits for gender-based violence response and disability-inclusive services.
Manages a portfolio to protect human rights defence in Nigeria
Led advocacy campaigns with Nigeria’s film industry to shift narratives on sexual violence.
Conducted policy research on renewable energy for Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.

Speaking Engagements & Training

Tsema is an experienced speaker and trainer, having facilitated workshops on human rights, feminist leadership, and civic engagement. She has worked with organizations and governments to build capacity in policy development and social justice.

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