Frances Aanyu serves as the Field Operations Lead at Tiko Uganda in Katakwi, where she works closely with young people living with HIV to support their enrollment into ART care and adherence through peer-led programs. She engages directly with communities, empowering them to harness their own resources and capacities to solve everyday challenges, ensuring that interventions are responsive and sustainable.

Frances is particularly proud of her work as a Youth Advisor for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) with the Embassy of the Netherlands, where she influenced global policies promoting meaningful youth involvement and engagement. She also served as President of Youth Engagement at Reach A Hand Uganda, leading and supporting over 2,000 community youth advocates to inspire change in their communities. These experiences strengthened her leadership skills and reinforced her commitment to inclusive youth-focused initiatives.

In her current role, Frances has integrated the Young Adolescent Peer Supporters (YAPs) program into Tiko’s interventions and is excited about collaborating with a network of over 90 private clinics to improve data management and integration into the Ministry of Health’s DHIS2 system.

Frances is committed to promoting meaningful and inclusive youth engagement that responds to the actual needs of young people. She is guided by the belief that “great leaders create systems that live beyond them,” striving to build initiatives and structures that empower communities long after her direct involvement.