Turning advocacy into action: A spotlight interview with Tebogo Suping

"Sometimes, it feels like we're building castles in the sky. We write the frameworks, attend the summits, craft the polices and yet the lives of young people in our communities stay the same. That's what pushed me to join the Africa  Sustainable Development Academy. I needed something different. Something  that would help us connect policy with people."

With 15 years of experience in the civic and sustainable space, Tebogo Suping is a South African activist engaged in youth advocacy, food security and capacity building. As the former Executive Director of Activate Change Drivers – a multisectoral youth development programme initiated in 2012 – she has empowered thousands of young people to see themselves as solution drivers to the challenges they face by helping them connect to resources, opportunities and networks.

In November 2024, Tebogo joined the Africa Sustainable Development Academy (ASDA) − a programme designed by UNSSC to empower African leaders to address the complex challenges of climate change, conflict and economic instability. Since ASDA, she has registered a nonprofit focused on food security and civic engagement and is now advocating for sustainability policies at the national level.

In this Spotlight Interview with Paulyn Duman, Tebogo reflects on her experience at ASDA and shares how the programme has contributed to her mission of turning advocacy into action.

Paulyn: Welcome to this interview, Tebogo. Could you tell us what motivated you to join the Africa Sustainable Development Academy (ASDA)?

Tebogo: I was frustrated.

I’ve been active in public policy since 2015. I have contributed to the National Youth Policy in South Africa, participated in the review and validation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Youth, and continue to engage in the consultative processes of developing and reviewing the UN–South Africa country framework. But what I’ve realized is this: sitting in rooms and talking about sustainable development doesn’t guarantee change.

And we don’t have the luxury of time.

The challenges Africa faces – climate change, food insecurity, poverty – aren’t theoretical. They are daily, lived realities. We need to fast-track action, and to do that, we need to do three things:

First, re-educate and depoliticize. Sustainable development is still treated like an ideological position instead of a practical necessity.

Second, align our policies. I once sat in a local government policy forum about food security while just outside, a group of youth activists were protesting for access to land and service delivery. Neither group knew what the other was doing and the protest turned violent. That's when it hit me: we're working in silos and its hurting our communities!

Third, bring the discussion at community level. What we often don’t realize is how much people at grassroots levels want to contribute and, by not creating room for them in decision-making platforms, we are missing out on a huge opportunity.

When I learnt about the Africa Sustainable Development Academy (ASDA), I jumped at the opportunity. ASDA was a much-needed reflection space for me. It was a chance to unpack, understand and synthesize complex topics – for example, what we mean when we talk about the green economy – and to break down the key thematic areas – with sustainability at the forefront – to solve the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality within the region and across the world.

Paulyn: You mentioned the need to “connect the dots” and engage people at the community level to fast-track change. To what extent has the academy managed to provide support in these areas?

Tebogo: Before ASDA, I often felt like I was trying to solve a thousand-piece puzzle but without the picture on the box. We all had pieces: civil society, policymakers, community leaders. But no one was stepping back to see how they fit together.

ASDA changed that for me.

From the very beginning, the programme didn’t rush into climate jargon or sector-specific silos. Instead, it zoomed out. It made the connection between climate change and its human, economic, and developmental impacts. That broader framing was powerful and it helped me and others realize this isn’t just a coal conversation or a renewables debate. It’s about people. About dignity. About development that actually reaches those who need it most.

One of the key questions I came into the programme with was: How do we reposition the sustainable development message so it resonates, so it sticks, so it mobilizes action? I kept thinking, well Coca-Cola manages to repeat and reinforce its message in every corner of the world. Why can’t we do the same for sustainability?

After taking part in the programme, I am now able to see that there is room for unconventional partnerships at all levels, which are going to be needed to take this process forward.

ASDA was also a great platform to get exposure to the investment in sustainable development that is being done. Often, because we are surrounded by so many challenges, the perception at grassroots level is that nothing is happening, that the people at the top don’t care. This is worrying because – as a continent – we have this huge demographic dividend that we can derive value from and capitalize on.

Which brings me to another realization I had during the Academy: it’s all about how we scale the small things that work. We don’t need one solution for all countries or all people across the globe, but we must start from somewhere. It can be the smallest thing, like planting trees, but they are some of the things that, for instance, don’t exist in South Africa.

Moving forward for the Sustainable Development Agenda, I ask myself: Where do I begin? What is my contribution? What can I do to bring others along? Programmes like ASDA are crucial to plug knowledge into people who, then, can become champions of this work at the various levels.

Paulyn: Was there any specific session, topic, or speaker that you thought really helped you think through these questions you’ve been having?

Tebego: For me, it was definitely the session on design thinking.

I learnt that it’s not about how to get the best or one-size-fits-all solution – it's about context, iteration, and small wins. This kind of thinking made what sits in my head practical, and it let me know that the solutions are quite attainable. It also made me see that multiple perspectives can coexist in crafting the solutions and establishing the vision we have for the Sustainable Development Agenda.

I really appreciated the facilitators, whose expertise, passion and investment in this kind of work was evident. I also appreciated the structure of the programme. Although the sessions were packed, there was space for critical thinking, listening, and exploring the incredible wealth resources at our disposal. The opportunity to interact, collaborate and network with people from different avenues and with different skill sets was also extremely useful. It helped me see that – at the end of the day – the Sustainable Development Agenda has room for all of us.

This programme has given me new impetus. Before ASDA, I felt stuck in cycles of talk without action. After ASDA, I walked away thinking, ‘Let’s go. Let’s do it.’ It wasn’t only about knowledge. It was fire that inspired me to take the next step. I have recently founded the FiveLoaves Foundation – a nonprofit dedicated to educating people at grassroots community levels on their understanding and experience of climate issues as well as how to feed themselves while contributing to the localized sustainable agriculture ecosystem. This foundation is all about leading people for the things that matter to them, finding the softer, critical skills that are needed, and identifying the small solutions that can be crafted with members of society.

Is it rocket science? No.

It is being done? No.

So I am going to empower the youth, particularly young women, to start food gardens in 2025.

Paulyn: Are there other ways in which participating in this programme has changed your perspective?

Tebogo: My perception of the UN has changed. I have collaborated with them a lot and I used to criticize them, because it felt like they were in an ivory tower up in the sky. Having participated in this programme, I applaud the UN for not wanting to be the sole runner in this race, but investing time in creating a platform to bring people with different skill sets and from different levels on board to tackle together the issues for which doing nothing is no longer an option.

I definitely feel much more in power. Much more informed.

The beauty of ASDA was that it spoke to real needs. It was a great learning avenue for continuing to advocate at high levels, while beginning to act at localized levels.

I’ve always envisioned a world where we could all break from our silos and come together to have a collective conversation – driven by a common purpose and a shared dream. After ASDA, I believe it’s not only possible but it’s within reach.

We just need to be willing to experiment a little.

Yes, it’s overwhelming. But it’s also exciting. Because now, I don’t just see the problem. I see where I can start.

I’ll leave you with the question I keep asking myself: What would happen if we all stopped waiting and simply decided to begin right where we are, with what we have?

Want to bring the UNSSC Sustainable Development Academy to your country or region?

We specialize in tailoring programmes to local and regional priorities. To explore how we can co-design and deliver an SD Academy with you, get in touch at sustainable-development@unssc.org.