Freda Bella Anek is Skills Development Fund Manager with Enabel in Uganda since 2016. She oversees the implementation of this EU Emergency Trust Fund which aims to enhance livelihood and labour market relevant skills for youth, women and girls of refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda and Kiryandongo. More specifically, the Fund supports refugees from Southern Sudan and the host community to acquire sets of vocational and entrepreneurship skills, targeting youth, women and girls aged 15 to 35.

Born and raised in Kitgum District, Uganda, Freda has 18 years of experiences in development and humanitarian work and has hands on experience of working with rural communities, youth, women and refugees. She is also an advocate for women’s empowerment.

She worked with Oxfam GB in Uganda as coordinator of the “we can” campaign to mobilise communities and development partners to address gender issues at the workplace, domestic violence and women’s rights. She coordinated the implementation of the Livelihoods and Youth Development Programme of Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO), to create employment through vocational skills training, youth engagement and entrepreneurship for underprivileged youth in Greater Northern Uganda. And she worked for DanChurchAid’s Right to Food & Humanitarian Emergency Response project, providing humanitarian support to refugees from the DR Congo and providing inputs and training to sustain refugees’ settlement and start agricultural activities for self-sufficiency.

Freda has a Masters’ Degree in Management of Rural Development of Larenstein University (Wageningen, The Netherlands).