Note: This document may not always reflect the actual appropriations determined by Congress. Final budget allocations for USAID's programs are not determined until after passage of an appropriations bill and preparation of the Operating Year Budget (OYB).
UGANDA
FY 1998 Development Fund for Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49,550,000 FY 1998 P.L. 480, Title II: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,284,000 Introduction
Over the last decade, Uganda has transformed itself from a pariah state into one of the world's best performing economies and a potential model for African development. Strategically located in the Greater Horn of Africa, it has played a critical role in supporting and facilitating U.S. efforts to address multiple crises afflicting the Great Lakes region. With its strong agricultural potential, Uganda is central to U.S. government efforts to promote greater food security throughout the Greater Horn region, thus reducing costly U.S. humanitarian interventions.The emergence of an economically strong and politically responsible Uganda is a recent development. Only ten years ago, Uganda lay in ruins, besieged by internal political upheaval, massive human rights abuses, the expulsion or flight of its most productive citizens, and economic mismanagement. The resulting breakdown, compounded by the AIDS pandemic, left Uganda one of the poorest countries in the world. Since then, the country has made substantial progress, marred mainly by conflicts with two major rebel groups in the northern quarter of the country. In the southern three quarters of the country, a tough structural reform program and natural agricultural advantages have resulted in rising per capita income and halted the deterioration of health and other indicators of human well being. USAID has played a major role in this recovery. As the next century dawns, assisting Uganda to realize its potential as a breadbasket and stabilizing force in the East African region should lessen the need for costly humanitarian and peace-keeping interventions.
The Development Challenge
Landlocked and sharing borders with Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zaire and Sudan, Uganda has a population of 20 million people. The country boasts a rich and diverse natural resource base, a variety of agro-ecological climates and ample rain across three quarters of the country. It is home to half the world's remaining mountain gorilla population and other globally significant animal and plant species. With a per capita income of $220, Uganda is among the poorest countries in the world.Uganda adopted a new constitution in 1995 and held presidential and parliamentary elections to re-establish an elected government in 1996. This progress toward a democratic transition, combined with liberal economic policies and strict monetary management in conformity with an IMF-supervised structural adjustment program, has led to increased security, renewed investor confidence and robust economic growth. In the Government of Uganda (GOU) fiscal year ending June 1996, the economy grew 8.5%, making it one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The liberalization of foreign exchange, payments, and trade systems and the removal of domestic price distortions have paved the way for a more competitive and diversified export sector. USAID resources, in combination with Uganda's adoption of pragmatic policies and priorities, have leveraged this strong comeback and set the stage for expanded U.S. trade and investment and an improved standard of living.
Severely indebted, Uganda has a debt stock equivalent to 60% of its Gross Domestic Product. The resulting debt service consumes 25% of domestic revenue and is expected to increase substantially over the next three years. This staggering burden is compounded by the cost of troop re-mobilization to fight the Sudanese-sponsored insurgency in the North and to protect the country's western flank from new rebel incursions from Zaire. Still, the combination of the low starting point of Uganda's development drive, its strategic location in a troubled region and its adherence to a sound development program argue persuasively for continued United States support to the country. Already, USAID's assistance has been instrumental in establishing a $100 million a year non-traditional agricultural export sector, rehabilitating 9,000 kilometers (km) (approximately 40 percent) of agricultural feeder roads,reclaiming endangered habitat resulting in a surge in eco-tourism, reducing both fertility and HIV transmission, revitalizing the primary education system, and making the first measurable steps toward democratization. Relative stability and sound economic policies have brought growth that has enhanced chances for completing this transition to a full democratic system of government. This environment is attracting substantial private investment. Maintaining momentum is an enormous challenge but Uganda's record over the past five years offers strong encouragement.
Other Donors
Uganda's track record as a good development partner has enabled it to finance a high percentage of its development budget, but the country will require external assistance for at least the next ten years. Currently, approximately one-third of public expenditure is externally financed. Donors collectively pledged $750 million dollars at the annual donors meeting convened by the World Bank, Uganda's largest donor, in November 1996. In 1995, the United States was the fifth largest donor overall and the third largest bilateral donor behind the United Kingdom and Denmark. With its strong on-the-ground presence and excellent ties with key ministries, USAID is an acknowledged leader in every sector in which it is active. Donor coordination is good and USAID provides parallel financing for major health and education sector reform programs with the World Bank.FY 1998 Program
The foundation for sustainable growth is getting stronger. USAID will continue to build on its investments in economic growth, basic education, health, environmental management and democratic pluralism in an integrated and mutually reinforcing program. Broad-based, agriculture-led, market oriented economic growth is the linchpin of the program. Without economic growth, people will not have the income, nor will there be sufficient tax revenues, to sustain improvements in health and education. Rising incomes will also give people an incentive to maintain peace and stability. Healthier and better educated people are more likely to be active, productive members of a pluralistic society. Better management of the country's natural resources, combined with reduced population pressure, increases the likelihood that the land, water and other resources upon which the country depends for economic growth are not depleted or contaminated.Given the acknowledged leadership role that USAID plays in the five sectors, any reduction in funding levels could seriously unravel much of the progress Uganda has made over the past decade. Specifically, a reduction would mean training fewer primary teachers and health workers; denying desperately-needed equipment for schools; reducing credit for poor rural business people; and scaling back support to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in family planning, AIDS and maternal health. Ultimately, if Uganda fails to sustain and build on the progress it has made, political instability, fostered either by externally supported insurgencies or internal dissension, could undermine the investments the U.S. has already made and require more costly humanitarian interventions.
Agency Goal: Encouraging Broad-based Economic Growth
Political stability and broad-based economic progress underlie sustainable development in Uganda. Two of USAID's five strategic objectives foster increased participation of Uganda's rural population in economic growth.Strategic Objective (SO) 1 aims to increase income from on-farm activities, primarily by increasing non-traditional agricultural exports, and from off-farm activities by encouraging the growth of micro and small enterprises and improving the overall business environment. Increasing non-traditional agriculture exports can benefit thousands of marginalized farmers. For example, USAID has had a tremendous response from smallholders to a program that provides improved seeds for maize and beans and then links the producers to exporters. In one district, over 4,000 women farmers are now exporting beans, raising their incomes and contributing to regional food security. This program is being replicated inother parts of Uganda and is expected to reach tens of thousands of smallholders during the next five years. We expect increasing access to rural financial services to have a similarly widespread impact. During the next two years, grants to U.S. PVOs will provide small loans (averaging $110,) to over 12,000 mostly women borrowers. These loans are used to finance small businesses and to pay for health care, school fees, and other family priorities. It is anticipated that between five and seven of these PVOs will be operationally self sustaining with four years. The P.L. 480 Title II program, an integral part of SO 1, will increase food security by improving rural infrastructure and revitalizing the Cooperative Bank, an indigenous privately-held bank (soon to be traded publicly) with the second largest branch network, is the only formal financial institution active in agricultural credit. While estimates regarding available lending compared to the need are difficult to assess, loans to the agricultural sector total more than $20 million annually and meet only a small percentage of current need.
The Africa Food Security Initiative
.In addition to the ongoing economic growth and food security activities described above, USAID/Uganda will be part of the first pilot year of the Africa Food Security Initiative. Uganda's track record in expanding economic opportunity and USAID's experience and established relationships with institutions spearheading efforts to increase food security, favorably position Uganda to make good use of funds under this initiative. The additional funds would be programmed to expand food security activities in vulnerable areas of the country, especially in food insecure Northern Uganda.
The key to improving food security in Uganda, both in the north and other areas, is to provide appropriate technology, inputs and information to farmers at the grassroots level. The Mission has first hand experience that this works through activities such as the Investment In Developing Export Agriculture Project and various NGO programs supported through P.L.480 resources. Farmers will respond in a dramatic fashion given this type of support. Food crops such as maize, beans,cassava and others can be increased through technology transfer programs carried out by extension and research staff at the farm level. This concept blends well with our other on-going programs and our newly designed Country Strategic Program. The approach of strengthening field level extension/research programs will be supported by and expand the impact of programs such as IDEA and Post Harvest Handling. This initiative will also build on proposed P.L.480 activities directed toward food security. In addition to this emphasis on technology transfer programming, adaptive and applied field research on a number of food crops will also receive emphasis. A portion of these additional funds would be used to finance U.S. and local NGO's to initiate activities to increase production of stable food crops such as maize, beans and mosaic-tolerant cassava. The private sector would be involved as appropriate, particularly in areas such as input distribution.
The following development results would be achieved:
10,000 smallholders in selected areas adopt improved maize and bean seeds and improved production techniques for mosaic-tolerant cassava plantings.
Extension packages developed and disseminated for 3 selected food crops.
5,000 farm families significantly improve food security situation measured by approved nutrition standards.
SO 3 (see below) responds to the long-term need for literacy and other basic skills in order to raise productivity and provide an informed and responsible electorate. USAID's policy dialogue has influenced the Government of Uganda's adoption of policies leading to wholesale reform of the primary education system. These new policies have resulted in the construction of hundreds of classrooms, the removal of thousands of redundant, untrained teachers from the payrolls, a nine-fold increase in teachers' salaries, in-service training for 8,000 thousand teachers and the purchase of 1.5 million textbooks. During the last year alone, the percentage of untrained teachers in the classroom fell from 40% to 30%.
Strategic Objective 1: Rural Household Income Increased
Strategic Objective 3: Quality Basic Education for an Increased Percentage of Ugandan Children Agency Goal : Stabilizing World Population Growth and Protecting Human Health
Of the total funding requested in FY 1998 for the population and health strategic objectives, $6,400,000 is planned for population activities, and $10,310,000 is planned for health activities.Uganda was among the first countries in Africa to be hit hard by the HIV pandemic. As much as 10% of the total population may be infected, with most cases among adults in the prime of their economic lives and those about to enter this age group. Sexually transmitted infections or diseases (STDs), a large and generally unattended problem, is probably a significant contributor to continuing HIV incidence.
With one of the highest fertility rates in Africa, Uganda has a serious population problem: at current rates, the population will double in about 21 years. This results in a disproportionately large number of children dependent upon a correspondingly small number of adults; over 50% of the population is under 15 years old. Women have an average of 6.9 children and the number and spacing of these births along with the young age of the majority of mothers poses a significant threat to the health of both women and their children. Maternal and under-five mortality are high, although not notably so by African standards. Poor child-spacing, and child feeding practices contribute to the poor nutrition which probably underlie a substantial portion of infant and child mortality.
Fertility has dropped in many areas of the country since 1989. While the causes for this decline are complex and its extent uncertain, the use of modern contraception has tripled since 1989, from 2.5% to 7.8%. USAID's support for family planning/maternal health programs has been an important contributor to this increase. There is also strong evidence that the HIV epidemic in Uganda has peaked and that new infections are declining, perhaps dramatically in some urban populations. This decline seems due primarily to changes in sexual behavior, including condom utilization, especially among young people. USAID has been a major supporter of education and counselling programs aimed at behavior change, and it's contraceptive social marketing program is a major source of condoms nationwide.
Strategic Objective 4: Increased Service Utilization and Changed Behaviors Related to Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health in Selected Districts Agency Goal: Protecting the Environment
Uganda, one of USAID's Bio-diversity Priority Countries, contains unique, essential ecosystems critical to the conservation of globally important bio-diversity. Uganda's unique bio-diversity is at risk due to increasing population pressures, poverty, unsustainable natural resource management practices, and continued conflict. This Strategic Objective addresses the challenge of bio-diversity conservation by assisting Uganda to responsibly manage targeted bio-diverse ecosystems.USAID emphasizes improving natural resource planning, strengthening management of protected areas, and supporting NGOs that are engaged in activities which integrate conservation and development in and around protected areas. Uganda successfully completed a National Environmental Action Plan in May 1995 with the passage of landmark implementation legislation. The new legislation defines both needs and guidelines for bio-diversity conservation. Management of Uganda's protected areas by the Uganda Wildlife Authority has improved markedly through strengthened management capacity, improved infrastructure, and higher revenues from eco-tourism. In addition, the incentives and ability of local communities to conserve bio-diversity have grown due to new revenue-sharing policies, access to resources, and ongoing conservation education. The decentralization of environmental management along with partnering with local communities contributes to democracy and governance objectives byempowering local communities to manage and control natural resources, fostering opportunities for local economic growth along with increased community cooperation and stability.
Strategic Objective 2: Critical Ecosystems Conserved to Sustain Biological Diversity and to Enhance Benefits to Society
Agency Goal: Building Democracy
Uganda is at a crossroad in its journey towards becoming a free, stable, and participatory society. Hailed as one of the continent's best economic performers, the country's remarkable economic success has tended to overshadow slower progress in establishing genuinely democratic governance structures and effective representative institutions. The promulgation of a new constitution, the election of a government by universal adult suffrage, the devolution of authority and resources to local government, and a reduction of state-sponsored human rights abuses are important steps in the right direction. But these achievements are diminished by restrictions on free competition among political parties and institutions, including the Parliament, the judiciary, the press, and citizen advocacy groups, that have not yet developed sufficiently to meaningfully affect the checks and balances included in the new constitution.
U.S. leadership consists of an unwavering policy commitment to a political system embodying full respect for human rights and USAID-sponsored technical assistance and operational costs. This has helped Uganda move towards a more democratic government. Building on the progress made so far, this Strategic Objective (see below) will contribute to better government accountability by strengthening legislative and judicial capacities to perform constitutionally mandated functions and helping citizens to be better informed and to participate in decision-making at the local level. USAID anticipates funding activities which: 1) increase citizen participation in public decisions and oversight functions through citizens' action groups and lobbies; 2) strengthen the institutional oversight of executive functions through a more informed and effective Parliament; and 3) improve access to and effectiveness of the justice system. These activities will help more Ugandans, including those at the grassroots, to participate in and benefit from a freer, more transparent and accountable democratic government. The results achieved under this SO impact on all sectors.
Strategic Objective 5: Demand for Constitutional Checks and Balances Institutionalized Agency Goal: Humanitarian Assistance
Uganda, generally considered as having the potential for becoming the bread basket of the region, nevertheless suffers from localized food shortages due to localized droughts, an influx of refugees from troubled areas in the Great Lakes region, as well as displacement of farmers and disruption of food production due to rebel activities in the north.U.S. commitment to humanitarian relief and concerns of internal food security lead to a set of complementary activities intended to increase production of basic food and livestock products and address specific problems such as linking relief and development in parts of northern Uganda which, in turn, will also complement Uganda's export program. These activities, financed in part through USAID's Title II program, will target staple foods that make up a significant part of household food consumption. Although limited in scope, these activities help to maintain competitive prices for these products, so that increases in household income from export activities will not be eroded by shortage-induced higher food prices. These activities will address the food security concerns of Ugandans and the GOU for "at risk" population groups. Support for increased production and distribution of new disease-resistant strains of cassava, edible oilseeds, and maize and beans, and limited technical assistance to diary producers and processors are examples of the type of activities envisioned. Technical assistance from a new regional FEWS office in Kampala will help to ensure sensitivity to domestic food security and build local capacity for famine early warning, monitoring and analysis ofinternal food security conditions. Analyses of food access will be integrated into assessments of food availability. Information and reporting will focus on national and regional food availability -- especially areas of deficit -- and areas of food surplus for commercial and donor procurement.
Strategic Objective 1: Rural Household Income Increased
UGANDA
FY 1998 PROGRAM SUMMARY
Encouraging
Broad-based
Economic
Growth
Stabilizing
Population Growth &
Protecting
Human
Health
Protecting
the
Environment
Democracy
Building
Humanitarian
Providing
Assistance
Totals
USAID Strategic Objectives 1. Rural Household Income Increased - Dev, Fund for Africa
- P.L. 480, Title II
15,400,000
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
5,284,000
15,400,000
5,284,000
2. Critical Ecosystems Conserved to Sustain
Biological diversity and to Enhance Benefits to
Society
- Dev. Fund for Africa
---
---
6,300,000
---
---
6,300,000
3. Quality Basic Education for an Increased
Percentage of Ugandan
Children
- Dev. Fund for Africa
9,140,000
---
---
---
---
9,140,000
4. Increased Service Utilization and Changed
Behaviors Related to
Reproductive/Maternal and Child
- Dev. Fund for Africa
---
16,710,000
---
---
---
16,710,000
5. Demand for Constitutional
Checks and Balances
Institutionalized
- Dev. Fund for Africa
---
---
---
2,000,000
---
2,000,000
Totals - Dev. Fund for Africa
- P.L. 480, Title II
24,540,000
---
16,710,00
---
6,300,000
---
2,000,000
---
5,284,000
49,550,000
5,284,000
USAID Mission Director: Donald B. Clark
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: UGANDA
TITLE and NUMBER: Rural Household Income Increased, 617-SO01
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $15,400,000 DFA; $5,284,000 P.L. 480, Title II
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2001
Purpose: To increase the income of rural families by promoting non-traditional agricultural exports and the start-up and expansion of small and micro-businesses.
Background: From the mist-shrouded islands of Lake Victoria to the Mountains of the Moon along the Zairian border, Uganda is a land of vast potential. Although Uganda is blessed with a combination of fertile soils,abundant rain, and a mild climate, much of its potential is unrealized as a result of low productivity, weak infrastructure, and a poorly developed market environment. Most people in the rural areas live well below the poverty line, however defined, and even at a reasonably high 5% annual rate of growth, it will take 18 years to double gross domestic product (GDP) per capita which, at $220, is one of the lowest in the world. Food security is a problem for many, especially in the more arid and conflict-prone North. The country is highly dependent on coffee, the cash crop that accounts for approximately 70% of export earnings. Regulations that impede business start-up and growth and lack of savings continue to impede rural development in general, and small businesses, in particular.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: Against this background there is hope and progress. Over the past five years USAID, as one of Uganda's principal donors, has made crucial contributions to improving the agriculture and business environment, and farmers and entrepreneurs are responding. Over 100,000 new small and micro business have been established in the past five years, and the agricultural sector has rebounded with annual growth exceeding 5% since 1991. The cash crop sector, dominated by coffee, grew 16% in 1995. High value non-traditional export commodities have grown even faster at 26% per year. From 1990 to 1995, the annual value of non-traditional and basic food crop exports increased from $39 million to $150 million. USAID has helped Uganda expand food crop exports such as maize and beans to take advantage of Uganda's position as the only consistent food surplus country in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA). P.L. 480 Title III resources have financed the rehabilitation of 6,500 kilometers of rural feeder roads, increasing farmers' access to market centers. USAID has been a partner in the GOU's efforts to achieve fundamental macroeconomic reforms. In this environment, investments directed at easing the constraints to agriculture productivity and rural business offer realistic prospects for achieving long term gains in rural living standards.
Description: To continue the recent rapid pace of development and to accomplish the objectives of SO 1, USAID will assist the Government of Uganda to : (1) move beyond the successful resolution of macro-economic policy issues and tackle "second tier" regulations that continue to impede business development; (2) increase productivity of land and labor; (3) improve the efficiency of commodity markets; (4) expand rural financial services; and (5) assist in rehabilitation of the rural road network. USAID is well positioned to assist in overcoming these constraints. The Investment in Developing Export Agriculture (IDEA) activity helps to expand and diversify Uganda's export base, by increasing food crop exports such as maize and beans to the Greater Horn of Africa and high value commodities to European markets. The Private Enterprise Support, Training and Organizational Development (PRESTO) activity is expanding rural financial services to microenterprises through U.S. privatevoluntary organizations (PVOs) and local financial institutions and tackling policy and regulatory constraints to business development. The Agricultural Non-Traditional Export Promotion (ANEP) activity increases food crop productivity by improving crop handling and storage methods (reducing losses by up to 30%) and also aims at strengthening analytic and policy-making capacity. Through the use of P.L. 480 resources and the activities of the Cooperative Agriculture and Agribusiness Support (CAAS) project, the Cooperative Bank, the only formal financial institution with a viable rural banking network, will be restructured to achieve long-term sustainability, and rural feeder roads will be rehabilitated and maintained. The new Africa Food Security Initiative will help the mission to extend agricultural technology and inputs to vulnerable regions of the country, and expand linkages between food aid and development programs.
The tools are in place - the challenge is to use them effectively to tap Uganda's potential, and as a result increase rural household income and reduce poverty.
Host Country and Other Donors: Alleviating poverty is the Government of Uganda's (GOU) highest development priority. In summarizing its 1996 budget priorities the GOU stated that "our economy is dominated by agriculture, and remains dependent on growth in the agricultural sector." Equally important is the Government's commitment to creating a business-friendly environment through continued adherence to structural reforms and liberalized trade and payment systems. In addition to the GOU and the Ugandan private sector, USAID's partners in the sector include the World Bank, the European Union and bilateral donors such as Denmark and the United Kingdom. Overall, donor assistance to economic growth activities is projected at $710 million over the years 1995 to 1997.
Beneficiaries: 10% of Uganda's rural households, or approximately 1,700,000 people are expected to have increased incomes and improved food security as a result of USAID's program. Based on current experience as many as 80% of the smallholders who grow non-traditional agricultural exports (NTAEs) are expected to be women. Women are also expected to comprise more than half of borrowers in USAID-supported micro-credit lending programs.
Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Activities contributing to the achievement of SO 1 are implemented by a number of U.S. contractors and PVOs. These include Chemonics International, Agricultural Cooperative Development International (ACDI), VOCA, FINCA, Land O' Lakes, and Mississippi State University. A U.S. firm is currently being selected to implement the PRESTO Project.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target Average household expenditures (1998) Central Region $52 (1992/93) $98 Western Region $46 (1992/93) $62 Eastern Region $43 (1992/93) $52 Increase in NTAEs Low Value (MH) $74 (1995) $89 expressed in millions Low Value (FH) $47 (1995) $58 of dollars High Value (MH) $83 (1995) $96 High Value (FH) $67 (1995) $80 Fruits & Vegetables $50 (1995) $62 Increase in rural savers and borrowers 5,000 (1995) 11,200 Repeat rural borrowers/savers 48,000 (1995) 75,000 in USAID-supported programs
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: UGANDA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Critical Ecosystems Conserved to Sustain Biological Diversity and to Enhance Benefits to Society, 617-SO02
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $6,300,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1997; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2001
Purpose: To maintain the integrity of bio-diverse, economically important ecosystems through strengthening appropriate management entities; reducing destructive pressures on the ecosystems; and promoting an environmental policy framework compatible with conservation.
Background: Uganda is one of USAID's Key Bio-diversity Countries because ecosystems critical to the conservation of globally important biological diversity lie within its borders. Improper or inadequate management of these ecosystems, together with external pressures due to poverty and population growth, have placed Uganda's unique biological diversity at risk. Managed wisely, these ecosystems can provide the foundation for sustainable economic growth in Uganda. The economic vitality of each component of the country's agricultural sector - livestock, fisheries, food and cash crops - hinges on the health of these natural resources. USAID assists Uganda in conservation of targeted biologically diverse and economically important ecosystems through the Action Plan for the Environment (APE), the principal component of this strategic objective (SO).
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: At the national level, USAID has strengthened Uganda's policy and institutional framework for environmental management.. At the local (e.g. protected area) level, USAID assists the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) -- the organization responsible for managing protected areas such as national parks -- non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local governments and communities to better manage and protect biological diversity. USAID's efforts have led to major improvements in the policy and institutional framework. A National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) has been adopted and landmark enabling legislation passed. Six new national parks have been created since 1991, bringing to ten the number of parks within Uganda's protected area system. These parks represent the core of USAID's target areas for conservation in Uganda. Important progress has been achieved in these areas. Nature-based tourism continues to increase and national park user fees increased by over 40% last year. This increases the prospects for long-term conservation of these areas. Privatization of formerly state-owned tourism concessions, completed this year, together with numerous small tourism ventures launched by local communities to capitalize on increased numbers of tourists, have been important factors in boosting tourism, revenues, and employment.
New policies for sharing the benefits of improved conservation with neighboring communities, including revenue sharing and access to resources within protected areas, have encouraged communities to embrace conservation of park resources. Finally, through the expertise of a U.S. private firm, USAID assists the GOU in its response to the uncontrolled spread of destructive water hyacinth plants in one of the most important ecosystem in the region, Lake Victoria, the second largest fresh water lake in the world.
Description: At the national level, USAID assistance focuses on development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to address environmental issues through policy, legislation and institutional reform matters encompassed in the NEAP. USAID provides technical assistance and training to strengthen and build capacity with the institutions charged with implementing the NEAP. At the local level, USAID supports the work of the GOU and U.S. and local NGOs to better manage ecosystems through environmental-management, capacity-building among GOU agencies, local NGOs and community-based organizations. Creating conservation incentives for local communities results in more broadly shared benefits from conservation, and increases public awareness. USAID also supports management-oriented research designed to better inform the decisions of ecosystem managers.
Host Country and Other Donors: USAID works most closely with Uganda's National Environment Management Authority on broad policy and institutional issues, and with the UWA on protected areas management. USAID collaborates with other donors, including the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, European Union, German Technical Cooperation, and Danish International Development Agency to ensure overall donor coordination in natural resource management. The Mission also collaborates with the U.S. Peace Corps and Department of Interior.
Beneficiaries: Loss of biological diversity presents a threat to the global environment. Within Uganda, activities implemented under this SO benefit the nation as a whole by increasing the efficiency of management of natural resources and by increasing foreign exchange and employment from the growing nature-based tourism industry. Activities implemented by NGOs in areas adjacent to national parks benefit rural communities. Water hyacinth control activities directly benefit Kenya and Tanzania.
Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Activities contributing to the achievement of SO 2 are implemented by U.S. contractors, private for-profit companies, and U.S and host country private voluntary organizations (PVOs) and NGOs. These include Associates in Rural Development, Aquatics Unlimited, Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance, Agricultural Cooperative Development International, Consortium for International Development, Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere (CARE), World Wide Fund for Nature, and African Wildlife Foundation.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target Annual park user fees revenues $67,000 (1990) $3 million(2001) # critical ecosystems operating under management plans 3 (1991) 22 (2001) Area under highest level of protective status (km2) 7,540 (1991) 11, 023 (2001) Population of key indicator species: Mountain Gorilla 280-300 (est. 1990) 300 (2001) Area of water hyacinth covering Lake Victoria (ha) 6,000 (1995) 1,750 (2001)
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: UGANDA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Quality Basic Education for an Increased Percentage of Ugandan Children, 617-SO03
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $9,140,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY2001
Purpose: To improve quality basic education for an increased percentage of Ugandan children by continuing the development of delivery systems to improve school quality and addressing issues of equity, specifically measures to increase girls' persistence in primary education.
Background: Uganda's ability to build a free democratic society relies on the knowledge, attitudes and skills of her citizens. This ability is severely constrained by the poor quality and limited availability of basic education. Decades of civil strife left the Ugandan education system in shambles. Although improvements have been made since 1992, 45% of school-aged children are not in school. Sustaining Uganda's remarkable economic recovery, and spreading its benefits, requires a more accessible, effective education system. Evidence from other developing countries has convincingly demonstrated the link between investments in basic education and agricultural and manufacturing productivity, reduced fertility and poverty, improved income distribution, and the establishment and functioning of non-governmental institutions in civil society. USAID's decision to support primary education in Uganda is based on recognition on the role education will play in the country's continued revival and the links between human resource development and the achievement of the Mission's other strategic objectives.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID's Support to Uganda Primary Education Reform (SUPER) Program finances key elements of the GOU's education reform program. After four years, significant results have been achieved. Some 8,000 principals, teachers, and tutors, representing 11% of the primary teaching force, are currently enrolled in USAID-sponsored in-service training programs. As a result of USAID policy dialogue, GOU spending on primary education has tripled between 1992 and 1996 (from the equivalent of $30 million to $90 million) and teachers' salaries have increased nine-fold from the equivalent of $8 per month to $72 per month. The instructional materials and textbook market has been converted from a government monopoly to a competitive market, in the process eliminating an area of corruption. This policy has led to the growth of vibrant local publishing and printing industries and the growth of the local retail book market. Individual schools are now able to select the materials they need most. Over 1.5 million textbooks have been distributed to schools and at least that many more will be purchased over the next two years. Research on school quality is providing insights into the impact of educational reform activities and suggesting new approaches.
Description: USAID's education program targets five policy objectives as precursors to establishing an environment in which primary education can flourish for a majority of Ugandan children. First, USAID will work with the GOU to establish and promote a policy framework that enables all children to go to primary school. A related objective is to work with the GOU in formulating policies to govern critical financing decisions supporting universal primary education (UPE). Although the GOU has tripled its allocations to primary education over the past four years and parents have also increased their support, the cost of UPE exceeds current levels of financing. A third objective will be to continue improving the quality of instruction by expanding in-service teacher training programs to the remaining half of the country and sustaining policies which improve teachers' terms and conditions of service and provide instructional materials on a continual basis. Fourth, USAID will continue to actively promote analysis, dialogue and programs that improve girls' participation and achievement in primary school through community awareness programs. Finally, as the GOU's policy of decentralization places management responsibilities for primary schooling with local government, USAID will support activities that strengthen the institutional capacity of district administrations and promote the formation of civic organizations in order to effectively lobby for improved education services and increased accountability.
Host Country and Other Donors: Donor participation in the education sector has increased significantly since 1992 due to the GOU's proven commitment and because the GOU's education reform program provides an effective framework for coordinating external finance to the sector. USAID is the largest donor in the sector. However, USAID's resources are complemented by those of other donors. The education programs of USAID and the World Bank were designed simultaneously to ensure integrated support to primary education reforms identified by the GOU. Based on the results being achieved, other donors are now interested in entering the sector. The Dutch Government and the British Overseas Development Agency (ODA) have expressed an interest in financing expansion of educational reform activities to currently unserved areas of the country. The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the German Government, ActionAid (a U.K. NGO), two Dutch Church non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and various other NGOs have been active in the area of education for teachers, adults, the handicapped, and disadvantaged groups such as AIDS orphans. UNICEF has a program to educate out-of-school girls through non-formal approaches.
Beneficiaries: 2.7 million children out of a total population of 5.5 million primary school aged children and 75,000 (100%) primary school teachers directly benefit from USAID's program.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: Activities contributing to the achievement of this strategic objective in basic education are implemented by a number of U.S. institutions. These include the Academy for Educational Development (AED), the Institute for International Research (IIR), Creative Associates, the University of Massachusetts, and the Research Triangle Institute.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline Target Grade 4 completion rate 63% (1995) 83% (2002) Grade 7 completion rate 35% (1995) 60% (2002) Number of years of school 32 yrs (1990) 16 yrs (2002) provided primary school graduate Gross enrollment ratio 73% (1995) 85% (2002) (Number of students as % of total school age pop.)
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: UGANDA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Increased Service Utilization and Changed Behaviors Related to Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health, 617-SO04
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $16,710,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1999
Purpose: To reduce fertility, the transmission of HIV and maternal and child mortality by improving the availability and quality of health services; increasing knowledge and changing attitudes related to reproductive, maternal and child health; and enhancing the financial sustainability of primary health care services.
Background: Though declining, both fertility and mortality rates in Uganda remain high. The average woman has 6.9 children - a constraint to development across all sectors - and about one child in seven dies before the age of five. Maternal mortality is also high at an estimated 506 deaths/100,000 births; many observers feel that actual mortality is much higher. Two-thirds of Ugandan women say they want to delay their next pregnancy by at least two years, but only about 8% are using modern family planning, which reduces fertility, maternal mortality and childhood death. For expectant mothers who use improved maternal health services, both maternal and infant mortality are substantially reduced. Although new HIV infections are declining, AIDS remains a very serious problem, with upwards of 15% of the adult population in some urban areas infected. In addition to being the most common cause of adult mortality, HIV is also a significant component of child mortality. Nearly all babies infected at birth die before the age of five, and even infants of infected mothers who do not become infected themselves have a substantially increased risk of death during childhood. Although improved maternal and child health is a GOU priority, resource constraints severely limit the government's ability to improve basic services. Annual GOU recurrent health expenditures are about $3.60 per capita per year, a large portion of which is allocated to hospital based, curative care.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID is the most significant donor in maternal and reproductive health in Uganda, both in terms of the amount of resources provided and their impact. Over the past several years, USAID has been responsible for major, continuing initiatives in upgrading the skills of health care providers in family planning and maternal health, mass-media communications, community education, contraceptive social marketing, and HIV testing and counselling. Recently, USAID has increased its emphasis on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), a major factor in HIV transmission, and health-care financing. These efforts are being implemented under the bilateral Delivery of Improved Services for Health (DISH) project and through several Global Bureau cooperating agencies.
Although cause and effect is difficult to establish, it is likely that USAID's efforts have played a significant role in declining rates of fertility, mortality, and HIV transmission. Since 1989, fertility has declined from 7.3 to 6.8 in the two thirds of the country where comparative data exist, and infant and child mortality have declined by about 20% and 17% respectively. New cases of HIV among 15-19 year-old women may have declined by as much as 50% in some urban areas since 1992, probably due to reductions in high-risk sexual behavior.
Description: USAID's greatest potential for reducing mortality, while lowering high fertility which adversely affects health and development, is to remain focused on those areas where USAID has established a comparative advantage, i.e., on those significant components of adult, maternal and child mortality associated with childbirth and high-risk sexual behavior. USAID will continue to fund the types of activities noted above to (i) increase the availability and quality of health services related tofamily planning, HIV and other STDs, and care of mothers and infants; (ii) encourage the adoption of behaviors which will reduce the risk of acquiring HIV, of unwanted pregnancy, and of maternal and child death; and (iii) enhance financial sustainability of maternal and child health services by increasing revenue generation at public facilities and increasing the private-sector provision of care. USAID assistance will remain focused on district level activities, rather than central-government support.
Host Country and Other Donors: Donors of direct relevance to USAID's program include Britain's Overseas Development Agency, the UN Population Fund, and the World Bank. Representatives of each are members of the strategic objective team in health. The World Bank is the largest donor in the sector with active projects related to STDs and the delivery of basic health services at the district level. A nutrition project is being planned. Other major bilateral donors include Denmark, which provides significant funding for essential-drug supply and management, support for the Ministry of Health's training and planning units, pre-service training, and improved primary care in three districts for people with AIDS. UNICEF and WHO provide assistance in child survival and maternal health, mostly at the central level.
Beneficiaries: USAID-funded programs are active in 13 of Uganda's 39 districts which include about 35% of the country's population. Thus, about 7 million people are potential beneficiaries of our health activities, including about 1.5 million women of reproductive age. In addition, the contraceptive social marketing program serves the commercial market for condoms nationwide.
Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: U.S. NGOs: Pathfinder International, African Medical and Research Foundation, CARE, The Association for Voluntary and Safe Contraception (AVSC International); U.S. Universities: Johns Hopkins University, University of North Carolina; U.S. firms: E. Petrich and Associates, The Futures Group, John Snow International; Ugandan NGOs: The AIDS Information Center, The AIDS Support Organization.
Major Results Indicators: Baseline TargetsContraceptive Prevalence 12.5% (1995) 15% (1998)
Mothers with >3 antenatal visits 47% (1995) 56% (1998) Exclusive breastfeeding, 4-6 mos. 34% (1995) 45% (1998) Condom sales 9.5 million/yr (1996) 15 million/yr HIV testing/counselling 55,000 people/yr 75,000 people/yr (1998)
ACTIVITY DATA SHEET
PROGRAM: UGANDA
TITLE AND NUMBER: Demand for Constitutional Checks and Balances Institutionalized, 617-SO05
STATUS: New
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 1998: $2,000,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1997; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2003
Purpose: To increase the demand for constitutional checks and balances in the Ugandan political culture in order to make government more accountable to its citizens.
Background: Uganda is at a crossroad in its journey towards becoming a free, stable, and participatory society. The country's remarkable economic success has tended to overshadow slower progress in establishing genuinely democratic governance structures and effective representative institutions. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) government that seized power by force in 1986 has orchestrated the promulgation of a new constitution, the election of a government by universal adult suffrage, the devolution of authority and resources to local government, and a reduction in state-sponsored human rights abuses - all important steps in the right direction. These achievements are, however, diminished by restrictions on free competition among political parties, and institutions, including the Parliament, the judiciary, the press, and citizen advocacy groups, that are not yet effective in enforcing the checks and balances included in the new constitution. The net result is poor accountability in government.
Without the checks and balances imposed by full and open political competition, the executive branch has free rein to act as it sees fit. The justice system and citizens' groups take a low-profile, non-public route to influencing government's decisions. To establish accountability, these plural voices and institutional checks and balances must be brought into the public arena. Uganda is at a critical juncture where it must build demand for effective application of carefully-crafted constitutional checks and balances. Failure to do so and to move towards pluralism would waste the opportunity presented by the completion of the constitution and the transition to an elected government.
USAID Role and Achievements to Date: United States support for Uganda's electoral process over the past three years helped ensure that elections for the constituent assembly, the presidency, and parliament were effectively administered by an independent election commission and that the results, although flawed by limitations on the freedoms of association and assembly, were accepted as valid by the majority of citizens and the international community. Targeted training increased the number of women who ran successful parliamentary campaigns. USAID has strengthened the media and human rights organizations while providing the impetus for legal reform through the codification of Uganda's existing laws and regulations (an exercise last done in the 1960s.) The U.S. Congressional committee system was studied and embraced by the Ugandan Parliament. Finally, U.S. assistance has been critical in the demobilization and reintegration of 37,000 soldiers and the expansion of civic education.
Description: Improved governance, adherence to the rule of law, and pluralism underpin sustainable economic and social development. The strategic objective recognizes that Uganda's recently elected government, though operating under a new and participatory constitution, is as yet untested. USAID will use four related approaches to achieve this SO: 1) Build Parliament's capacity to be a more effective check on executive authority. All members of Parliament (MPs) are recently elected and many have not previously held public office. To compound this limitation, they are operating with a new constitution and committee system and have no reliable access to the types of information required to make informed decisions. USAID proposes a series of workshops and seminars on a variety of topics from rules and procedures to budgeting, legislative drafting and revenue generation. Concurrently, USAID plans to assist Parliament in establishing and expanding a research capacity and library which will be available to all MPs with an emphasis on serving the standing committees. 2) Regularize the legal framework. Because statutes have not been revised in decades, contradictory laws andaccompanying regulations abound. Further, there is no compilation of statutes which is universally available to either the bar or the judiciary. This means that access is random and consistency is virtually non-existent. In some cases, bills have been drafted only to discover that the law already exists. USAID will continue to support the Law Reform Commission to compile all existing legislation and applicable regulations and prepare draft legislation that is coherent, current, and non-contradictory. This activity has special relevance for the attainment of results under SO 1. 3) Build local government capacity. Local governments have recently been given substantial budgetary resources and authority to provide a wide variety of services. USAID will help to develop the planning, budgeting and financial management skills of local government officials to promote both financial and political accountability. 4) Strengthen civil advocacy groups. USAID will build the capacity of citizen interest groups (including political parties) to: promote access to justice (particularly for women), monitor and participate in electoral processes, protect and expand individual liberties under the constitution, and increase the demand for accountable national and local government. USAID will work with sectoral and cross sectoral organizations that can effectively monitor program impacts and budgets in individual districts and at the national level and influence decisions at the statutory and policy levels as well as during implementation. This is a complex undertaking which requires considerable effort to insure any degree of success. It is, however, crucial to the achievement of USAID's objectives in all sectors.
Host Country and Other Donors: Ugandans and other donors view the United States as being at the forefront, in both experience and innovation, in promoting pluralism and good governance. Other donors tend to take their cue from USAID's lead. Donor participation in the democracy and governance sector is increasing significantly due to Uganda's progress over the last few years. The GOU's commitment to the decentralization of functions and the devolution of power and resources to local communities provides a unique opportunity to improve the allocation and administration of public sector funds. GOU priorities include successfully completing local council elections in 1997, building the capacity of Parliament, increasing the efficiency of the justice system, particularly in regard to commercial disputes, addressing infrastructural needs, and implementing decentralization. Decentralization, a massive effort, will require substantial external support if it is to succeed.
Beneficiaries: Parliamentarians, local councils, women candidates and office holders at all levels, potential litigants who benefit from legal codification, citizens' advocacy groups, and voters.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: Activities contributing to the achievement of this strategic objective will be implemented by a combination of U.S. and local institutions and NGOs. U.S. contractors and/or grantees will be competitively selected.
Major Results Indicators: As this SO is in the design phase, indicators are still being developed and finalized. Likely indicators are:
Baseline (1996) Target (1998)Parliament initiates None One sectoral reform initiated major legislation More women legislators 20% 25% Uniform sectoral legal codes None Coherent legal codes in place established More effective civil advocacy None Civil groups network to affect policy formulation and implementation in one sector
![[USAID Home]](/images/usaid.gif)
[USAID Home]
[CP 98 Home]