DEVELOPING A COUNTRY PROGRAMME FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT

1. DEVELOPING A COUNTRY PROGRAMME FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT LESSONS LEARNT FROM UGANDA PRESENTED BY STEPHEN MUWAYA UNCCD NATIONAL FOCAL POINT MAAIF

2. Approach of discussion • Background • National Efforts towards SLM • Developing a Country programme on SLM • SLM Workshop • proposed Activities and Outputs for the SLM country process • Way forward • Conclusion

3. Background • Land degradation costs Uganda an estimated 4 to 12 percent of potential Gross National Product (GNP) as a result of environmental degradation • Soil erosion and nutrients loss account for as much as 85 percent of the potential GNP lost (Berry et al., 2003). • The cost of land degradation in Uganda is among the highest in Africa. • 90% of the total population depends on firewood for their energy needs, and a big fraction of the urban dwellers depend on charcoal. • The present level of forestland is only 21% of its value in 1890 as a result of deforestation

4. Uganda’s key development frameworks • Uganda’s central development theme is poverty eradication • The Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) is an overarching strategic planning and development framework. • The Plan for the Modernization of Agriculture (PMA) is a sector wide medium term Plan targeting subsistence farmers in order to transform agriculture. • Government is developing an ENR Strategic Investment Program (SIP). • Other key sectors include Water and Energy

5. Key Land Management problems leading to poverty in Uganda • •Declining soil productivity -Food insecurity, reduced household income • •Vegetation cover loss- Reduced grazing lands and wood fuel • •Reduced water quality- siltation of water bodies, poor sanitation and health • •Nomadism and transhumance- poor access to health and education services • •Conflict - competition for dwindling natural resources, internal displacement, Voiceless

6. Uganda’s Efforts towards SLM • Signed and ratified UNCCD on 21st October 1994 and 25th June 1997 respectively. • Signed and ratified other environment conventions e.g. the UNFCCC and CBD • Developed a National Action Programme to Combat Desertification and taken measures to operationalize it.

7. Some of the Efforts to Operationalize the NAP • The Road Map for NAP implementation and Resource Mobilization (UNCCD Sec and GM) • The Integrated Dryland Development Programme (UNDP) • Mainstreaming of the NAP into National Development Frameworks (GM) • Integrating Drylands Management Issues into District Development Plan (UNDP) • National Capacity Self Assessment (NCSA) of Multilateral Environment Agreements (UNEP) • Formulation of a Rangelands policy (GM)

8. Some SLM initiatives supported by TerrAfrica Partners A number of TerrAfrica partners, are engaged in activities addressing SLM examples include : • National Livestock productivity improvement Project (AfDB) (On-going) • Farm Income Enhancement and Forest Conservation Project (AfDB) (Just Started) • Support to NAADs (World Bank, IFAD) • Formulation of Projects on GEF Medium Size Project on SLM (UNDP) (Under formulation) • Formulation of SLM component of the IFAD funded District Livelihood support project. (GM) (Under formulation)

9. Developing a Country programme on SLM • Uganda has initiated a joint country process, in line with the TerrAfrica approach aimed at : • intensifying dialogue with stakeholders to develop a harmonized country program; and • to align SLM with the Agriculture and ENR Sector Investment Plans (SIPs) and the NAP. • As a first step a national SLM workshop was held on 28th June 2006. • The Workshop introduced TerrAfrica; shared information on current SLM initiatives and discussed output of the review of Public Expenditure on SLM

10. SLM Workshop Workshop’s General impressions of a harmonized country programme: • To minimize duplication of effects and conflicting approaches as well as the irrational use of available resources. • A driving force for inter-sectoral coordination, integrated approaches and cost effective strategies for SLM programmes. • To Contribute to stronger partnerships, increase resource mobilization and transfer of appropriate technology for SLM.

11. Key Workshop Recommendations • MAAIF requested to coordinate the SLM Country Programme development process. • MAAIF to establish a Core Working Committee for the SLM country process. • More data and information is needed ( stocktaking and Gap analysis) on land degradation to strengthen the case for SLM. • Efforts needed to generate a buy-in by sector top managers such as a Ministers.

12. Workshop recommendations Con’t • Prepare a Roadmap for the SLM Country Program process. •   i.  Harmonize the TerrAfrica Approach with the country planning processes. •    ii. Carry out Stocktaking and Gap Analysis •   iii.    Build a country level platform on SLM. •  iv.    Explore diverse partnerships and funding sources for SLM  Monitoring and evaluation scheme should be well defined in the program

13. Proposed Outputs and Activities of the Country SLM Process Output 1: SLM Country Platform established and operational • Establish an Inter Sectoral Core Working Committee on SLM. • Review the TerrAfrica Country SLM Investment Framework (CSIF) development tool taking in to account local approaches and processes • Prepare the activity plan for the country platform

14. Output 1:Con’t • Propose modalities and lines of communication for information sharing, participation and cooperation between key players in developing the country SLM programme. • Prepare a concept paper and a concise road map for operationalizing the Country Programme process. • Hold Country platform meetings to discuss and adopt the concept paper and roadmap.

15. Output 2: Stocktaking and Gap analysis Report Activities. • Review all relevant documents that have a bearing on the goals of the SLM. • Hold consultations with relevant Ministries and others agencies deemed necessary. • Hold consultations with bilateral and multilateral partners whose programmes relate to SLM issues. • Review of Public Expenditure for Sustainable Land Management. (On-going) • Specify those SLM components that remain poorly catered for.

16. Output 3: A harmonized SLM Country Programme • Develop a prioritized list of sector and cross-sector SLM gaps and action areas. • Prepare a phased SLM country programme outlined under the 3 TerrAfrica activity lines • Develop a partnership menu around which each component of the SLM country program. • Propose a monitoring and Evaluation scheme for the SLM Country Program

17. Out put 4: A harmonized SLM Country Programme adopted and Launched • Activities: • Summarize and circulate information on the SLM Country Programme to stakeholders and development partners • Brief top political leadership to enable them prepare and contribute to the mobilization of donor participation in the country level platform meeting. • Hold the SLM country level platform meeting to adopt and launch the Country Program

18. Who will participant in Country SLM Programme Process • Sector Working Groups:- of Agriculture, Environment & Natural Resources, Water, Energy • Government Ministries: • Specialised National Agencies: • Development partner agencies:- especially those represented on the Agriculture, water, and energy and natural resources, donor sub-groups. • Programme managers: - of programmes relevant to SLM. • NGOs/CBOs linked to sustainable agriculture, environment and natural resources management. • Local governments • Private Sector Organisations

19. Way Forward • Establishment of the Core Working Committee in Advanced Stage • Financial and Technical Support to Country Process • On going support of the Global Mechanism • WB support to the ENR SIP Development Process • Dialogue with key actors and stakeholders • Linking on going SLM initiatives to the Country SLM programme process

20. Conclusion • The role of NGOs CBOs, and the private sector in the Country process should be emphasized. • The Country Programme (CP) should be simple, manageable and activity focused • The CP should focus on delivering on the ground actions tied to social economic benefits • The CP should provide the motivation to reverse the overall decline in donor support to SLM