Khaoula Ksiksi
Khaoula Ksiksi is a gender, equality, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI) advisor at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), ensuring inclusivity is a lived reality across diverse contexts. She collaborates with technical teams to integrate GEDI principles into programmes, actively challenging systemic inequalities through transformative tools, training, and strategic approaches.
Early in her career, Khaoula served as regional programme manager at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, where she led initiatives on women’s rights, climate justice, and feminist advocacy across North and West Africa. Her anti-racism advocacy began with Mnemty ("My Dream"), a movement that pushed for Tunisia’s anti-discrimination law of 2018, the country’s first legislation criminalising racial discrimination. Through advocacy, campaigns, and lobbying, she helped bring legal recognition to racial justice issues, paving the way for broader conversations on Black identity and rights.
Determined to uplift unheard voices, Khaoula co-founded Voices of Black Tunisian Women, an initiative focused on the empowerment of Black women. She worked to highlight challenges, foster leadership, advocate for policy changes, and strengthen solidarity networks. Her activism extends beyond racial justice. As a co-founder of Falgatna, an intersectional queer-feminist movement, she has been a strong advocate for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) rights. Through direct support for survivors of violence, advocacy, and digital activism, she has pushed for LGBTQI+ inclusion in Tunisia and beyond.
For Khaoula, justice must include racial, gender, and queer liberation. At the core of her work is a deep belief in justice, dignity, and collective action. Whether pushing for policy reforms, supporting marginalised communities, or amplifying silenced voices, Khaoula remains committed to building a world where everyone regardless of race, gender, or identity has the space to thrive. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), contributing to strategic leadership, advocacy, and advancing gender equality and women's rights globally.