Joyce Julian Acoko is an accomplished Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus practitioner, Women, Peace and Security advocate, and localisation champion in Uganda. She serves as Executive Director of Northern Uganda Widows and Orphans Support Organisation-NUWOSO and Advisor to the Charter for Change Uganda Working Group. She champions women’s protection, community-led peacebuilding, and equitable humanitarian systems, driving national and regional efforts to advance the localisation agenda. With extensive experience in post-conflict Northern Uganda, she leads community restoration initiatives and founded the MegoMakwiny Community Restorative Group to promote healing, restorative justice, and community wellbeing. Joyce also serves on the Advocacy Sub-Committee of the Feminist Humanitarian Network (FHN) National Platform -Uganda, championing feminist leadership, and inclusive humanitarian decision-making.

Joyce is an expert in community mobilisation and grassroots movement-building, with over 10 years’ experience leading protection and community resilience programmes. She has strong expertise in coordination and played a pivotal role in uniting Acholi local and national humanitarian actors during the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening collective action and response capacities across the region. She is recognised for her leadership in advancing community-driven solutions, women, peace and gender equality action in Uganda, building strategic partnerships, and steering locally led humanitarian responses in complex and post-conflict settings.