United People Global Ignites Grassroots Leadership for a More Sustainable World.
By Raymond Enoch
At a time when the world faces mounting challenges—from climate change and economic instability to social inequality and displacement—United People Global (UPG) is leading a people-powered movement that places everyday citizens at the heart of sustainable transformation.
Headquartered in Geneva, UPG is a global nonprofit initiative committed to advancing inclusive leadership and community-driven action aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since its inception, the organization has trained more than 2,742 Sustainability Leaders and reached over 86,000 individuals across 149 countries, reinforcing its core belief: that real change doesn’t belong solely to institutions—it belongs to individuals.
UPG’s global impact is anchored in four strategic pillars:
Raising Awareness of global challenges and community-based solutions,
Strengthening Belief in the power of personal contribution,
Facilitating Collaboration across borders and sectors, and
Fostering Community rooted in shared values and common goals.
Through these pillars, UPG delivers its flagship initiatives. Chief among them is the UPG Sustainability Leadership Program, which equips young changemakers with the tools to design and implement impactful sustainability projects within their communities.
Another cornerstone initiative, UPG Biashara—“biashara” meaning “business” in Swahili—empowers grassroots entrepreneurs to transform ideas into viable, sustainable enterprises. Complementing this is the Goodwill Vows program, which enables individuals and organizations to commit long-term support to causes they care about, making philanthropy accessible to all.
Beyond development programming, UPG has mounted humanitarian efforts that respond to urgent crises. The United for Ukraine Campaign and the Peace for Palestine Initiative have raised awareness, mobilized solidarity, and channeled aid to conflict-affected communities, exemplifying UPG’s commitment to global citizenship.
A compelling example of UPG’s grassroots impact is Patience Shimadoo Ukange, a Nigerian climate advocate and gender rights activist. A proud alumna of the UPG Sustainability Leadership Program—and a current program applicant—Ukange embodies the spirit of community leadership that UPG nurtures.
As the founder of The Confident Woman Africa Initiative, Ukange has empowered over 3,000 women and girls through sustainability education and skills training in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and rural communities across Nigeria. Her work bridges two critical priorities—climate resilience and gender empowerment—both deeply aligned with UPG’s mission.
Ukange’s leadership has earned her recognition on global platforms, including the Vital Voices Visionaries Summit in Washington, D.C., the upcoming World Bank Summit (2025), and the Gender and Inclusion Summit (2024) in Abuja.
What sets United People Global apart is its unwavering belief that meaningful change begins with people—not privilege. By engaging individuals from diverse backgrounds and geographies, UPG cultivates a truly inclusive movement where everyone has a role in building a better world.
Facilitated by the United People Global Foundation, a non-political, non-religious nonprofit, UPG is grounded in neutrality, inclusiveness, and long-term impact. As global challenges continue to evolve, UPG remains steadfast in its mission: to turn good intentions into bold, tangible actions.
“The world we want won’t happen by accident—it will happen because people choose to build it.”
