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Don't Just Watch the Future Unfold —Help Build It.
Francis Maberi (Uganda) and Anna Roguski (United Kingdom) were Co-Chair a of the Action/2015 Youth Action Team

Don't Just Watch the Future Unfold — Help Build It

The Step Up Youth Initiative is more than an organization; it is a movement grounded in ObuntuBulamu. We are actively building a future where every young African has the skills to lead, the power to earn, and the dignity to thrive. But we cannot realize this vision alone. Your hand, joined with ours, makes the heavy lifting lighter.

Partner with Purpose

We engage in high-impact collaborations with development agencies, governments, and civil society organizations. We are a trusted, youth-led implementing partner that delivers data-data-backed results on the ground. Whether you are looking to implement a program, conduct citizen-led research, or scale a proven model like the Obuntu Knowledge Hub, we are prepared to integrate your mission with ours.

Our Foundational Partners

Partner in Evidence and Accountability

Our journey began together during the foundational Post-2015 youth consultations. Today, we continue to walk side-by-side, monitoring the implementation of the SDGs using Citizen-Generated Data (CGD), with a critical focus on ensuring gender justice is measured and delivered.

Championing Data & Economic Sovereignty

A strategic ally in turning research into economic power. Our partnership has spanned from generating critical evidence through the Citizens Report (via African Monitor) to unlocking markets for rural women at the landmark Women in Agri-Business Investment Summit and Expo

Partners in Global Solidarity.

Since 2015, we have stood together with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty – GCAP to organize the annual Global People’s Assembly. We unite to demand that world leaders address the structural causes of poverty and the deep inequalities that hold our people back from true development.

Partners in Global Civil Society & UN Advocacy.

Action for Sustainable Development (A4SD)A4SD is a vital global coalition of civil society organizations dedicated to ensuring that governments are held accountable for their commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.

Our partnership with A4SD connects the ground-level reality of our work in Uganda to the global civil society movement. They provide us with the global advocacy tools and networks necessary to track policy implementation, lobby international decision-makers, and ensure that the voices and needs of frontline activists, like the women agri-preneurs we serve, resonate in major UN forums and beyond. A4SD is our partner in demanding global accountability for local change.

Sister Organisation in Pan-African Leadership

Since 2017, we have collaborated to convene the annual African Youth SDGs Summit, creating the premier space for young African leaders to shape the continent’s development trajectory.

Pioneering Green Industrialization

We collaborate to build Green Economic Zones that place women and youth at the center of critical agribusiness and agro-processing value chains, merging environmental sustainability with economic sovereignty.

Intellectual Engine

Supported by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), we collaborate on the annual conference of African researchers and development practitioners. Together, we deliberate on the critical policies essential for safeguarding inclusive development and freedoms across Africa

Restoring Dignity Through Enterprise.

Our collaboration with Kuza Refugee Business Platform – Kuza is vital towards supporting small businesses owned by refugee women. Together, we foster economic resilience and self-reliance within refugee host communities.

Coordination and Amplification

This is the collective heartbeat of Uganda’s next generation of leaders.

As a critical national platform, the Uganda Youth Coalition For SDGs is hosted by the SDG Secretariat within the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and mentored by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRC).

This unique, high-level structure provides the essential bridge for the Step Up Youth Initiative—from the villages where climate change is a daily struggle to the national tables where policy is made. This Coalition is crucial for amplifying authentic youth voices, validating our grassroots solutions, and transforming local successes into powerful, evidence-based advocacy for all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the nation. They ensure our work directly informs Uganda’s official development trajectory.

We don’t just enter collaborations; we forge deep relationships rooted in the spirit of ObuntuBulamu—the philosophy that our success is interconnected. Our partners are collaborators, mentors, and advocates who share our unwavering passion for securing the dignity and potential of young Ugandans.
Through this trusted network of grassroots activists, technical experts, and national policy leaders, we pool our resources and knowledge. This collective strength allows us to move beyond temporary fixes, creating lasting pathways to Economic Sovereignty and ensuring that every young voice is heard, valued, and amplified

Volunteer Your Skills

We welcome ethical professionals and experts who embody ObuntuBulamu and are ready to share their knowledge. Do you have expertise in agribusiness, digital marketing, policy advocacy, trauma-informed care, or craft production? Join our network of mentors and volunteers and empower the next generation of African leaders.

Invest in Resilience

Your financial investment goes directly into production and tangible assets, not just administration. When you donate to Step Up, you are buying seeds for the Obuntu Farm, securing equipment for the Komuka Skills Hub, and supporting the technical training vital for our advocacy work. You are investing in Economic Sovereignty, ensuring that a young person doesn’t just receive aid for a day, but builds a sustainable income for a lifetime.

 

Contact us, Let's Connect Today

Whether you are a potential partner, a young person looking for opportunity, or a supporter who believes in our mission, we want to hear from you. We are accessible, transparent, and ready to engage.

Address

Obuntu Knowledge Hub, Busamira Upper Cell, Namagumba Ward, Northern Division, Mbale, Uganda

Email: info@stepupyouthafrica.org 

Hours

What Our Volunteers Say

Join our mission and hear the stories of those who made a difference.