Chivuli Ukwimi

Senior Artist Protection Officer

Chivuli Ukwimi is an African trans feminist and human rights strategist with 17+ years in philanthropy, emergency protection, and artistic freedom across Africa and the Global South. As Senior Artist Protection Officer, she coordinates ARC’s emergency grantmaking for threatened artists, bringing expertise in rapid response, threat verification, and trauma-informed support. Previously Deputy Director of the International Trans Fund, she established the Opportunity & Crisis Fund and managed emergency cases for trans and queer cultural workers across Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, and Asia Pacific, channeling resources to artists targeted for challenging state narratives, coordinating safe haven referrals, and conducting risk assessments in criminalized contexts. Her career spans senior roles at Hivos, Open Society Foundation, and OutRight International, plus board service with Astraea, Iranti, and Dignitate Zambia. Based in Lusaka, Zambia, Chivuli holds a Master of Public Health from the University of the Western Cape and post graduate qualifications in development finance, international relations and human rights law. She believes threatened artists need advocates who understand the stakes and move with both speed and compassion.