MID-TERM REPORT FOR THE UGANDA IAP PROJECT

By Telly Eugene Muramira Director; Policy, Planning and Information NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHRORITY (NEMA)

Background Information

• conceived in light of the need to integrate environmental considerations in national planning processes; • specifically the new trade policy and trade sector strategic plan; • the global context also addressed WSSD Plan of Implementation regarding need to support governments to take holistic and inter-sectoral approaches to sustainable development; • the project reflects a lot of collaborative effort between us and UNEP and other national and international initiatives e.g. HELI etc.

Objectives of the project (overall)

• focuses on an integrated assessment and analysis of the new trade policy; • to integrate key social, economic and environmental issues; • to ensure that the final version of the policy reflects and appropriately addresses the linkages between trade, the environment and health.

Specific objectives include

• raising awareness of the linkages between trade, health and environment; • guiding and informing the design of an integrated National Trade Policy and National Trade Policy Strategic Plan; • building capacity in integrated assessment and planning and design of integrated trade policies, programs and plans; • providing a basis for conducting integrated assessments through among other things, broad stakeholders participation and consultations; • contributing to Uganda’s commitment to achieve the goals set out in the WSSD Plan of Implementation on the issues of trade, poverty and sustainable development.

Organization of the Project

• multi-sectoral initiative involving a wide range of stakeholders; • include NEMA and EPRC who jointly signed the project MoU with UNEP and the MWLE, MTTI, MoH, MFPED, NPA, PMA Secretariat, ACODE who are members of a national technical steering committee.

Description of the Project Process

• Preparatory meeting in February 2003 in Geneva; • Launch of initiative in June 2003 in Geneva; • Review meeting in March 2004 in Korea ahead of the UNEP GC meeting; • National project launch in Uganda 7 – 8 September 2004; – Discussed the background and objectives of the project – key elements of selected planning process etc.

– questioned the sustainability of the Ugandan PEAP as the selected planning process and agreed that the new Trade Policy Review Process be analysed instead

Description of the Project Process (Continued)

• have therefore undertaken another background study of the Draft National Trade Policy process; • work is coordinated by the NTSC which meets frequently to technically guide the work (10 times); • have met the consultants, ENR-SWG, Trade SWG, line ministries, NGOs etc.

Activities undertaken so far

• project successfully launched in September 2004 • background study on the project process and the PEAP completed • several consultations done • new background study focusing on the trade sector strategic plan and • trade policy near completion • comprehensive work plan also done – as will be presented later

Stakeholder involvement

• key stakeholders drawn from a rather wide background • include the National Technical Steering Committee of 9 • list of stakeholders including ENR-SWG, PQAD, PMAU, PMA Sub-committee on NRs, EPRC, ULAA, line ministries, PSF, Private Sector Donor sub-group

Methods for stakeholder involvement

• main modality is National Technical Steering Committee • Direct consultations on background papers and other execution of the project • National workshops and the planned regional sensitization workshops

Description of the Planning Process

• planning process is the National Trade Policy and National Trade Strategic Plan • Key stakeholders include government line ministries and the private sector • Initial concern was updating the National Trade Polices/Laws with new issues pertaining to the Multi-lateral Trading System (MTS) in 1999.

• the original impetus came from a Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Program (JITAP) focusing on MTS issues • this has evolved into the Inter-Institutional Trade Committee (IITC) covering all trade policy issues • The IITC with DFID support undertook a Uganda Trade and Poverty Program to link trade policy reforms with poverty reduction • This generated a zero draft of the Pro-poor National Trade Policy for Uganda which is the raw material for the IAP process in the country

Key gaps of the substance of the planning process

• issues raised here are based on the trade policy background study done as part of the IAP process • the draft policy focuses on WTO requirements, and gives less attention to local environmental and health considerations • thrust aimed at impressing foreign investors – potential watering down of local environment and health requirements • focus on government/public sector civil society relationship without duly addressing the private sector • the draft is generally weak on health, environment and general sustainable development issues

Key gaps of the process undertaken

• inadequate consultations and studies on key issues on trade and sustainable development • little opportunity for public representation and influence

Tools and methods to overcome weaknesses

• embodied in a proposed framework of five actions including • identification and bringing board all relevant stakeholders • defining the indicators of sustainable development that will inform the IAP process • assessment of the contribution of the policy, plan or program on sustainable development • analysis of actual/planned actions under the policy • recommendation of actions under the IAP process

Key Economic, Social and Environmental issues

• the background paper on the Trade Policy touched on some issues though in passing sustainability of the environment and natural resource base – pollution control – environment policy processes

Preliminary results of the IAP process

• procedurally the Trade Policy process is now more consultative and participatory • involving more stakeholder discussion through the ENR-SWG, Trade SWG, IAP team etc.

• In terms of substance, the draft now covers more area to include environment, health and sustainable development issues

Key Challenges

• Cost of time and financial resources in view of the greater participation envisaged through the IAP process • Harmonization of rather non-convergent views

Planned Activities and Next steps

• Outlined in the country paper but key highlights include; • Completion and wide discussion of issues raised in background document • Seminar with parliamentary sessional committee on trade • Regional sensitization workshops • Development of guidelines and relevant sustainability indicators for the trade sector • Recommendation of indicators for integration in policy document • National consensus workshop and final reporting.