Twaweza Appoints Anna Bwana as its Executive Director
Twaweza East Africa today announced the appointment of Anna Bwana as its next Executive Director. Bwana, who was selected after a rigorous open search process, will take up her new post on 15 May 2025. She replaces Aidan Eyakuze, who has moved on to become the CEO of the Open Government Partnership.
Bwana brings over 15 years of experience in designing and leading adaptive governance programs, with strong skills in organizational development, strategic visioning and planning, and leading impactful teams. She is currently the Country Director of BBC Media Action in Tanzania and has also served as interim director in Ethiopia. Previously, she served as Deputy Team Leader at the Institutions for Inclusive Development Project, as Governance Advisor at the Embassy of Ireland, and as Governance Program Manager at Oxfam Tanzania. She holds degrees in Development and Economics as well as Public Policy and Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
“Anna is just the independent leader we need at this time”, said Bahame Tom Nyanduga, Chair of Twaweza’s Board, “she brings powerful skills in political economy analysis, state-citizen governance, and program design and management. Her wide experience and interactions in the national, regional and international civic space positions her well to steer Twaweza’s engagement within the region, since governments are among our major stakeholders. We are delighted to have her join us as the new leader of our organization.”
Eyakuze noted that, “I am overjoyed with Anna’s appointment. Having worked with her in the past, I can attest to her impeccable integrity, strategic mind and independent thinking, creative design and get-things-done approach. I am confident that she will take Twaweza to new heights.”
On learning of her appointment Bwana remarked, “I have engaged with Twaweza East Africa over many years and have always been inspired by its commitment to thinking, learning, and delivering impact. I am honored and excited to join the Twaweza team and be part of its journey supporting citizen action and responsive government. Twaweza’s thoughtful, rigorous, and collaborative work is needed now more than ever, and it is a privilege to be able to learn from and shape the future of that work as its next Executive Director”.
Founded in 2009, Twaweza East Africa is a regional civil society organization that operates in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya and has global influence. Its vision is of an open society built on the human impulse to make a difference, where information and ideas flow, all citizens engage, and government works better for people. This includes a fierce commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s leadership at all levels. Twaweza promotes citizen engagement and government effectiveness and accountability, defends civic space and civil liberties, and provides research and vital insights about East African realities and lived experiences. Its flagship programs include Sauti za Wananchi, Africa’s first nationally representative mobile phone survey; a globally recognized practice of learning, measurement and evaluation; and strong systems of transparency and accountability.
