BetterLife is led by an African team working to strengthen food security, bringing together expertise in agriculture, community development, climate action, law, finance, monitoring, communications and youth leadership.
Our country and programme teams bring professional knowledge together with a close understanding of the communities where we work.
Three things shape who leads BetterLife, and how we work alongside communities to strengthen food security.
Founded and led by Denise Ayebare. Women hold 1 of our 3 executive leadership roles and 1 of 5 board seats.
As a refugee-led team, we had grown up experiencing many of the challenges facing the communities we wanted to work alongside. That lived experience is where BetterLife began.
Denise Ayebare founded BetterLife International in 2021, at nineteen, with a small team of young people. It remains a youth-led organisation.
Our people lead beyond BetterLife too
Denise Ayebare is a Ugandan lawyer, climate justice advocate and youth leader who founded BetterLife International at nineteen. She currently serves as Secretary for External Affairs of Uganda's National Youth Council and has represented young people in regional and international climate-policy processes.
Ahabwe Samuel serves as Head of Finance at BetterLife International, supporting the organisation's financial planning, accountability and responsible use of resources.
Douglas Drake Onen is a legal professional and governance advocate serving as Chief Operations Officer at BetterLife International.
Our Regional Director works across all five countries, and country managers lead programmes, partnerships and community relationships in their own, so solutions are shaped by the people closest to the challenges.
The people who coordinate the work, track what changes, keep the organisation running and carry community voices to a wider audience.
Our board provides oversight, experience and accountability as the organisation grows.
With over two decades of experience, Felicia Davis has been at the forefront of integrating sustainability into educational institutions.
In 2008, Nasheed became the first democratically elected president of the Maldives.
Pamela Musimenta is a Ugandan water resources engineer, environmentalist and climate justice advocate working with the Ministry of Water and Environment.
As Commissioner for Climate Change in Uganda's Ministry of Water and Environment, Bob Natifu coordinates national climate response strategies and serves as a UN CC:Learn Ambassador.
Want to join the BetterLife team? We are always looking for passionate people to work with us.
