Fred Okello, Programs Director
Okello Opok Fred Peter is our Program Director, a role he assumed recently in March. He leads the organisation’s programs in the Education, Community Engagement, and Scholarship departments, where he fosters child development, youth empowerment, and community development across Uganda. With over 15 years of experience in international development, humanitarian response and community empowerment programs across East Africa, Fred brings extensive expertise in designing and managing large-scale programs that enhance and strengthen opportunities for vulnerable children, youth, and their families.
Prior to joining Action in Africa, Fred served as Project Management Specialist - Child Protection with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Uganda, where he provided strategic leadership for child protection and youth development initiatives within national systems and donor-funded programs. He worked closely with government institutions, local organisations and international partners to deliver sustainable and locally driven solutions.
His professional background also spans leadership roles with international organisations, including AVSI Foundation and ZOA Refugee Care in South Sudan, where he supported programs focused on community resilience, youth employment and national systems that protect and empower children and youth.
Fred is widely recognized for his commitment to community-led development, safeguarding and systems strengthening, as well as his ability to build strong partnerships that expand program impact. He is also known for promoting data-driven programming, fostering long-term partnerships with government and civil society and developing innovative approaches to service delivery, including the integration of mental health and digital systems into development programs.
Fred is passionate about building strong programs that empower young people, strengthen local organisations and create sustainable opportunities for communities. His work has contributed to life-saving humanitarian support, the reintegration of street-children, expansion of family-based care models, strengthening of community savings groups, and development of sustainable livelihood programs for vulnerable populations. At Action in Africa, he works closely with teams and partners to strengthen program effectiveness, promote innovation and expand the organisation's impact.
He loves working with children and young people, supporting them to believe in themselves, jointly develop solutions to their every-day challenges, have dreams which they work collaboratively to achieve and facilitate their growth to become useful and productive citizens of the country.
He holds a Master of Science in Development Management from the Open University (UK) and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work at Kyambogo University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and several postgraduate qualifications in project management, community-based rehabilitation, and development practice.
Fred is a family man, married with two sons. During his free time he loves playing badminton, taking evening walks or listening to music. He is also an ardent fan of football, a game he actively played during his youthful days.