Transcript Document

Trade Policy Making process
in Uganda: the role of the
Civil Society
Jane S. Nalunga
SEATINI (Uganda )
FEATS Inception Meeting
15th Oct 2008, Kampala, Uganda
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Structure of the presentation
Introduction
Trade Policy Making process-theory
Trade policy making in Uganda
The Role and Influence of CSOs
Way forward
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Introduction
August 2007 the Government of
Uganda came out with the National
trade policy
The policy was entitled “Trading out
of poverty into wealth and
prosperity”.
My presentation is based on the
experience of my organisations’
involvement in this process.
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Trade policy making –The theory
Very complex & dynamic.
Rich Interplay between trade and
other policies/issues
Response to specific & broad
challenges facing the
country/economy/people
Specific & broad aspirations
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Trade policy making in Uganda
Response to calls for one coherent &
comprehensive trade policy.
Recognition of the centrality of trade
in development.
Appreciation of the complexity of
trade negotiations and need to have
guidelines .
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Trade Policy making in Uganda :
The Process
Agenda setting
Lead agency –Uganda government
represented by the Ministry of Tourism,
Trade & Industry (MTTI)
MTTI tasked with consulting the
stakeholders through the InterInstitutional Trade Committee (IITC) and
also directly.
IITC discussed the TOR for the
consultant.
6
Cont.
Consultants major role:
Collect the scattered trade policies
collect stakeholder views
Resultant document discussed in IITC
& in Stakeholders Conference.
Final draft presented to cabinet
7
Cont.
The final out comes:
Trade policy doc.
Implementation plan -The National Trade
Sector Development Plan (NTSDP) 2008/92012/13”.
5 year rolling plan
Spells out short, medium and long term activities to
be implemented to achieve the aspirations in the
policy
Indicates specific players /lead agencies
Indicates expected outcomes.
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The Role & influence of CSOs
some CSOs members of the IITC
good entry point to influence the
Trade policy BUT
IITC membership and invitation ad
hoc
Participation of CSOs haphazard
CSO participation in the trade policy
process through the Civil Society
Working Group on Trade ( CSWGT)
9
Cont.
And the Food Rights Alliance
CSOs had clear aim/objective for
participating:
To ensure a pro-human development
trade policy
Bring the aspirations of the people esp
the most vulnerable i.e rural women onto
the policy
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Cont.
Shared/ agreed objective was important
to use as a yard stick to assess the gaps
and the efficacy of the positions in the
draft policy
2 meetings organised by CSWGT for
capacity building of CSOs in trade policy
making
Other meeting held to discuss the draft
2 meetings with the consultants to
present their views.
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Influence
CSOs actively participated
Campaigned for the issue of inclusion
of domestic trade in the trade policy
Promotion of domestic trade critical to
poverty eradication and as a stepping
stone for international trade .
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Challenges
Lack of continuity in engaging in the
process
Ad hoc nature of the CSWGT
Low inclusiveness i.e Kampala affair
of CSOs working on Trade.
No systematic analysis of the policy
after cabinet approval.
Minimal participation in the NTSDP
yet CSOs given some responsibilities.
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Way forward: some proposals
Trade policy making is dynamic
CSOs should get back on board
Assess the final document -can it enable
people to trade out of poverty?
Actively participate in the implementation
and monitoring
Strategise for the review in 2012/13.
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END
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
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