Lydia has a bachelor’s degree in social work and social administration from Uganda Christian University before furthering her studies at the Open University in the UK, where she earned a Postgraduate Diploma and a master’s degree in development management.
With over 18 years of experience, Lydia has worked with national and international organisations, including the United Nations, shaping her career as a humanitarian and development professional. She specialises in program design and implementation, project management, strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and innovative solutions. Her expertise spans food systems, refugee livelihood & resilience programming, and youth empowerment. At the national level, she successfully served at Kabarole Research and Resource Centre, leading programs such as the Refugee Self-Reliance Model, Agriculture and Market Support Program, and Youth Empowerment Support Program. Internationally, she served large-scale initiatives at the United Nations World Food Programme and Save the Children International. She coordinated multi-stakeholder partnerships involving government agencies, UN organisations, the private sector, academia, and local organisations to enhance food systems and market-driven interventions aligned with national development priorities.
Lydia joins the CIYOTA board of directors with her rich experience and passion for creating lasting impact and contributing to sustainable development.