Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
2
Uganda launches Water Resources Training Institute
3
Talanoa Dialogue Sessions Could Democratise Global Climate Change
Negotiations, National and Subnational Discussions
4
CSOs call for promotion of pro-poor low emission solution in the NDCs of Tanzania
Participants including CSO members attending the Sustainable Energy Forum in Kigali Rwanda.
5
Various Business Models that attract Energy Investment are needed to close energy
access gap as EACREE is set to provide energy access to EAC
6
Tanzania Ratifies the Paris Agreement
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Tanzania Ratifies the Paris Agreement
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Pro-poor Energy Access is a Necessary Climate Change Action in Uganda
Pro-poor energy provision is therefore National Energy Consumption, and with an overall goal to increase the use of modern
of global concern as evidenced in renewable energy from 4% to 61% of the total energy consumption by 2017, remains a
declarations and commitments in the mirage. Part of the challenge is that currently, the end user tariff for domestic consumers
2030 Agenda (SDG7), the Sustainable is, one of the highest in East Africa making it unaffordable for many potential users at
Energy for All initiative and the Paris the moment. Unfortunately, according to Uganda’s Electricity Regulatory Authority as
Agreement, among others. quoted by the Daily Monitor Newspaper of Thursday April 9, 2018 (http://www.monitor.
co.ug/Business/Electricity-tariffs-stay-high-ERA/688322-4487918-vnkea/index.html);
In their report titled ‘The stories behind ‘the cost of electricity is expected to remain high due to low consumption and high
the data (2017)’, the Bill & Melinda Gates capital investments (in terms of loans)’
Foundationwarn that theSustainable
Development Goal (SDG) targets will not But there are opportunities that can be explored to foster pro-poor energy. As noted by
be achieved based on the current course the German Ambassador to Uganda Dr. Albrecht Conze in a recent Commentary in The
of action by world leaders. One of these Monitor Newspaper noted that “Despite the liberalisation of the power sub-sector that
goals is ensuring access to affordable, now attracts some of the largest private investments in the country both in generation
reliable, sustainable and modern energy and distribution of power, Uganda has to act on at least 3 issues which are: The grid
for all by 2030. with almost 80% of the population mostly in rural areas has no access to electricity:
Off grid where there is more need to be done to promote decentralised, off-grid
Uganda meets more than 93% of its electricity supply from renewable sources leveraging private investments to this end is
energy demand with biomass, 6% with essential; implement a policy of no more charcoal use as new solutions for cooking are
fossil fuel combustion and only 1% with a prerequisite for stopping further deforestation and thus ensuring food security in the
electricity from hydro and fossil fuelled future.
thermal power plants. Only about 10% of
the population has access to electricity, What needs to happen to secure pro- poor energy in Uganda?
and in rural areas, it’s less than 5% (EnDev Since Uganda has liberalised the power sector, there is need to develop clear policy
Uganda, 2018). Without reliable access to incentives to support private sector investment in energy services for the poor.
modern power, many homes are left with Government must therefore identify and develop clear policy incentives for increased
the option of utilizing other dangerous private sector participation in the delivery of off-grid power and clean cook stoves.
forms of energy such as kerosene, charcoal In the same way, Uganda should use part of the Environment Fund devoted to addressing
and wood burning, whose harmful effects environmental problems, to strongly promote pro-poor energy interventions that benefit
on the environment are of global concern. millions. Since firewood is the primary source of cooking fuel for a majority of Ugandan
households and contributes to deforestation, a proportion of the Environment Fund
What is at stake? should therefore be set aside for clean cooking energy.
According to World Wild Fund-WWF
Uganda, Uganda loses nearly 5,400 (Five At a policy level, Uganda needs to put in place a more firm enabling environment to
thousand four hundred) of natural forest enhance public private partnerships for investments in decentralized and distributed
every month due to dependence on wood generation systems to increase rural electrification, energy efficiency and sustainable
fuel. At this rate, unless some drastic and inclusive industrialization.
corrective action is taken by 2050, the
percentage forest cover is on a high level In relation to inclusive growth, Uganda and its Development Partners need to support
of depletion. gender-inclusive programmes specifically those aimed at empowering women, youth and
the disadvantaged in sustainable energy entrepreneurship, productive uses of energy
While Uganda’s Renewable Energy Policy and strengthening their involvement in sustainable energy development leadership and
(2007) that had a vision to make modern workforce.
renewable energy a substantial part of
9
Implementing the Paris Agreement in Tanzania and its Implications to the East Africa Region
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Implementing the Paris Agreement in Tanzania and its Implications to the East Africa Region
Development in Southern Part of Tanzania, Upgrading existing oil products pipeline from ↘↘ The role and contribution of CSOs
Mombasa port to Eldoret and Kisumu in Western Kenya, construction of a new pipeline in the development of the NDCs
from Mombasa to Nairobi and between Sinendat and Kisumu as capacity enhancement should feature categorically and be
for the Eldoret depot. All these are intended to boost economies of the EAC states.
acknowledged either in the preamble
However, with all these efforts, EAC states should find a way to ensure Paris Agreement
is implemented in the region and benefit both rural and urban areas. or in the Means of Implementation of
the final document.
The CSOs regional efforts through a project for Promoting Implementation of the Paris
Agreement on Climate Change with focus to low emissions (PIPA), have highlighted Apart from contributing to the emission
different areas and missing links of NDCs of EAC states that require improvement. Some reduction of 10 to 30%, the INDCs
initiatives such as regional and national policy briefs highlight forgotten issues such as for Tanzania should as well be able to
poverty, livelihood improvements, amnon others. The discussion with stakeholders in improve livelihoods and reduce poverty
energy related sectors identified gaps in the Tanzania INDC in line with the objectives by integrating climate change initiatives
of the climate change measures required to contribute to the Paris Agreement through in the national development programmes
INDC. Some of the recommendations put forward by stakeholders include: such as the ‘Big Result Now’, Electricity
Grid Extension, Industrial Development
↘↘ Need to revise the INDCs, the DNA office should consider prioritizing energy and Initiatives, Sustainable Energy for All
forestry sector under mitigation actions as seems to have high impact to the (SE4ALL). This will enable to implement
reduction of GHG emissions, poverty alleviation and communities’ livelihoods. those programmes at the same time
reduce emissions; therefore contribute
to growth of the regional economy, while
↘↘ The Ministry of Energy and energy regulator (EWURA) should recognize and place
implementing the Paris Agreement.
biomass, charcoal and fire wood as sources of energy and not the by-products in
the existing policies, programmes and actions. In line with this, it was also suggested
and recommended that, serious efforts should be taken in the harmonization of
different legislative pieces existing in the country on how issues of biomass can be
collectively sustainably administered and managed.
↘↘ Non State actors including the CSOs should continue raising awareness and build
capacity to communities on human activities and climate change, particularly on
how unsustainable production and utilization of biomass energy contributes to GHG
emissions and climate change. This process should be made across scales and levels
across the country
11
Water and Sanitation: How Can the Poor Cope
Walking through Kampala-city informal settlements of Mengo-Kisenyi, Katwe-Kinyoro, toilets after feeding”, he says. His fears are
Nabisalu gives you the impression of inhabitants who are busy occupied with myriad the same elsewhere in the up-scale areas
of tasks to settle before dusk and may be before dawn as well Similarly, one can’t paint where people on the domestic tariff pay
the picture any different when in Kibera settlement in Nairobi, Ubunga in Kisumu and in for water and also for sewerage services
Kikoromojo-Masese in Jinja. These expansive settlements give you the understanding of which is 70% of the water monthly bill.
the urban poor who live among the rich in cities. But how do we decipher the pro-poor
notion. Who determines what poverty is and how is it measured. That enigma aside, The challenge of poverty amidst climate
areas of concern for communities in informal settlements is water and sanitation. How variability is tough.Because of the failing
do they keep clean with small streams of dark-grey waste water meandering in front of crop seasons, many youth have opted
makeshift houses and children playing in dirty areas. Where do they go for a bath, where to come to urban centers to eke a living
are their toilets and where do they obtain drinking water from? from petty jobs ranging from car brokers
at the bus and taxi parks to wheel burrow
These are questions that preoccupy my mind as I walk through these settlements. “No transporters but the poverty bites harder
one will understand the life here unless they traverse these settlements. People are due to utility costs and feeding costs.
very many here, from different parts of Uganda but majority are from Karamoja. Some
work in the day, afternoon, evening and in the night”, says Ekorim Paulo a resident of Isabirye Jamada from Kamuli moved
Kikoromojo in Masese-Jinja. Paulo ushers me to a seat in a bar that is already busy with to live in Bugembe Jinja town with the
patrons some dancing to Lingala tunes of blaring musicat 11:46 a.m. hope of finding a job and now finds life
very hard.” I will return to my village in
Paulo happily extends an alcohol drinking straw for me to join his team of malwa Kamuli next year. I have tested life in
(fermented millet brew taken from a pot mixed with hot water). I appreciate his town and it is useless if you do not have
hospitality, and I explain to him the reason I was visiting Kikoromojo. Luckily for me I had money. I once was tempted to join a gang
worked with Jinja National Water and Sewerage Corporation, so I knew many contacts of thieves because I needed money for
of stakeholders in water. Paulo is a Public Stand Pipe (water stand point) operator in food and rent. In this place you pay for
Masese. everything from rent to toilet use, which
is not the same in the village. But how can
I start off with the introduction of WACOCO-the Water Community Communication life go on like this”, he says. The 22 year
Clubs- a platform of local leaders who interact with communities on water and sanitation old man hopes to return to farm in his
issues working with the National Water and Sewerage Corporation. He gets grounded and village. They told me that last season was
confident to speak with me, walk with me and explain to me the dynamics of water and good because people harvested plenty of
sanitation in his area. “We have many public stand pipes in the community, people now maize, I will go back in time for the next
buy water and few still fetch water from Lake Victoria (close reach to the community). season, am waiting to save money to buy
Our challenges are many but mostly because of poverty. There are few latrines here and a motorcycle then I return to the village”,
this is a challenge because at night people dispose human waste in open areas. It is a he adds.
challenge living in towns with low income because one has to buy food and also pay for
12
Water and Sanitation: How Can the Poor Cope
In Kenya, walking through Ubunga bio-gas for lighting only was the bait and structured its customer profiles to cater
settlement in Kisumu and in the Kibra later using the bio-gas for cooking was for commercial, institutional, domestic
expansive settlement in Nairobi gives gradually accepted. But the communities and public pipe stand pipes.” The costs of
you an imagination of how do the people are having become proactive and with water have reduced for the low income
here live, how do they keep clean, and the influence of the duty bearers which earners who now buy a 20 litre jerry can
how do they expose off their waste. is helping the up-take”. She adds that the of water at only 50/=, which is a good
The same questions pop up all the time. basic sanitation coverage is less than 50- boost for hygiene and sanitation. This will
These communities carry out multiple 33 % in some places which is worrying, so enable people who cannot afford to have
businesses in their settlements and seem Umande Trust is contributing to improve water directly in their houses buy water
to be happy and fond of their habitat. this to attain the SDG 6 and 7.We are at least for drinking, cooking and bathing”,
They have money in spite of living ion taking the challenge to the door steps says Rev. Nabetta the Speaker of Masese/
shanty houses, so who underpins them as of the duty bearers so that they plan Walukuba Division in Jinja.
poor? Are they those that live below the better for their people to reduce the
1 dollar perday or is it an attitude from number of people who cannot access Working on sewerage and bio-gas services
people who do not live in slum areas? sanitation”. Regarding the issue of clean has reduced the levels of open defecation
water supply, she says the Athi River water that is a main source of water borne
“People who live here are poor people, service board is working with Umande diseases.”50% of people in Nairobi live in
some may not even afford to buy a jerry Trust in Nairobi informal settlements to informal settlements so sensitization and
can of clean water that costs 50/=Uganda provide clean water to the communities. availing of the bio-centers have helped
shillings. They also may not afford to pay According to the budget estimates, 5% people access bio-gas in their homes
for pit latrines”, says Paulo. should be for water and sanitation at the for lighting and cooking and so far the
County but it is still low. Umande Trust demand is high.
Benazir Omotto from Umande Trust, a trains communities in the settlements on
Non- Governmental Organization working budget tracking and for settlements with According to Alison Dittmer of Water Aid,
on water, sanitation and energy with in in Nairobi, using the score card for their Sustainable Development Goal number
informal settlements in Kenya attests representatives and duty bearers is their 6 on water and sanitation is more crucial
to the issue of poverty. She confirms way of pushing for more resilience to today than before because water scarcity
that people in Kibera and Ubunga in attain water and sanitation services . affects more than 40% of people around
Nairobi and Kisumu cities respectively the world. This is an alarming rate that
have income challenges that affect their Urban poverty presents its face in various is projected to increase with the rise of
sanitation, lighting and cooking energy ways because of the loose social fabric global temperatures as a consequence
needs. that exists in communities of people from of climate change.Although 2.1 billion
various backgrounds and ethnicity, money people have gained access to improved
Umande Trust employs a Human Rights would solve many challenges yet money water sanitation since 1990, dwindling
Based Approach by advocating with is scarce and so there are few options for supplies of safe drinking water is a major
the citizens to demand for services these people to stay afloat in the midst of problem impacting every continent.In
from their duty bearers. In Ubunga and climate change and changing economics 2008 the African Union (AU) adopted
Kibera settlements together with the of urban areas as well as social pressures the Sharm EI-Sheikh commitments, for
communities, they have constructed bio- that drive livelihood options today. accelerating theachievement of water and
centres where toilets and bathing facilities ”When poor people fall sick in the urban sanitation goals in Africa. Alison Dittmer
are availed to people at a subsidized fee settlements, it is a challenge for the entire (2008). These commitmentsrelate to
and the waste is used as a bio-gas for household. So they have to keep clean importance of water and sanitation for
cooking. The recent is the making of and have the basic hygiene practices in social, economic and environmental
charcoal briquettes from the bio-slurry. check that is using clean and safe water developmentin Africa. It was a response to
“We offer sanitation as a service and the and have proper areas for waste disposal”, the under-utilisation and uneven sharing
facilities are running optimally. Using the says Steven Wante the Chairman of of water resources inAfrica and how this
bio-gas goes to the efforts to reduce tree Bugembe Town Council in Jinja. affects the attainment of food and energy
cutting and so far many households with securities.
in the settlement cook with the bio-gas at The National Water and Sewerage
a subsidised fee as well.In thebeginning Corporation (NWSC), the main water and SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDG)
there were attitude issues so using the sewerage utility provider in Uganda has number six (6) on water and sanitation is
more crucial today thanbefore because
water scarcity affects more than 40%
of people around the world, which
is analarming figure that is projected
to increase with the rise of global
temperatures as a consequenceof climate
change. Although 2.1 billion people
have gained access to improved water
sanitationsince 1990, dwindling supplies
of safe drinking water is a major problem
impacting everycontinent Alison Dittmer
(2008).Water as a basic need is increasingly
becoming scarce on account of high
demand for it fordomestic, agriculture,
and industrial use on one hand, and
climatic change impacts leading towater
level reduction on the other hand.
Tosha II Bio-centre in Kibera slum in Nairobi
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Options for Pro-poor small holder Farmers to cope with climate change
14
The Power of People United to Restore a Forest
15
The Power of People United to Restore a Forest
developments also continued to encroach a group known as Oloolua Forest have become slower. Mama Benedicta
the forest boundaries contributing to Management Participatory Group, a user Wanjiru laments of the reluctance of the
massive deforestation. The deforestation group within Ngong Forest Association. An younger people in joining them to save
greatly contributed to habitat loss and interesting dynamic of the group is that it their environment and to provide the
damage and ecological alteration. Before comprised mostly of elderly women who much needed workforce. She is also quick
it was encroached, the forest was home to also yearned for change and the desire to to point out that perhaps the younger
a number of wild animals such as giraffes, restore their forest to what it was before generation needs to be enticed with
antelopes, and elephants. the quarry. income-generating activities to join in.
Consequently, the forest morphed into a Currently, there are 24 members of Earlier in 2018, the group signed a
thick bush of lantana camara thus making the group and they have been able to forest management contract with the
it a security threat. Women and girls are lobby and stop the stone mining activity Kenya Forest Service on behalf of the
scared of passing by the forest due to fear in the forest. They have requested the community and the government on
of being raped as numerous cases have government to kick-start the process how best they could reclaim the deep
since been recorded. Thugs also use the of rehabilitating the forest. Working in valleys created as a result of the mining.
thicket and caves at the quarry as hide out tandem with other civil societies such as They hope to fill them in with soil and
for their loot. The excavated grounds has Kenya Forest Working Group, government afterward plant more trees. Once the
become dumping sites for solid wastes agencies like Kenya Forest Services forest is totally restored, it is their wish
and the stagnant water which collected in and National Museums of Kenya, re- that they will be able to practice eco-
the grounds were perfect breeding sites afforestation of over 5 hectares of the tourism through the re-introduction of
for mosquitos. forest and growth of over 5000 trees has wild animals, development of nature trails
been completed. They have planted only and beekeeping. Through this, they will
Bedan Leboo is bothered about the indigenous tree species such as Croton be able to get some income and improve
insecurity in his neighborhood. He Megalocarpus, Olea Africana, Markhamia their livelihoods while conserving their
reminisces years when the forest was Lutea among others. environment and offering services to
still intact and he could see wild animals tourists.
wander through the neighborhood. He Their greatest challenge has been on
yearned for a secure environment for his clearing the thicket before planting the For poor communities to benefit from
sisters, mothers, and all the women folk seedlings. Lantana camara regenerates environmental and social capital there is
who were constantly afraid of venturing very fast and within no time, they form need for vigilance and voicing out ills while
out into the fields un accompanied. He thick undercovers and canopies that working in partnership with government
longed to sleep soundly at night without do not favour the younger trees. As and other institutions ,in order to realize
fear of thugs breaking into their homes. the group majorly consists of elderly an environmentally friendly natural
In 2010, he approached his neighbours women who are not very energetic to do resource base.
and through his leadership they formed tedious work, their day-to-day activities
16
Turning Waste to Briquette Production in Kibera Slums in Nairobi - Kenya
17
Uganda is Receiving Climate Financing for Climate Change Projects. Expectations are high but will
finance deliver resilience building? Will implementation be different from business as usual?
change. Otherwise, almost all climate finance in Uganda has been through partnerships
with multilateral institutions or bilateral cooperation with other governments or related
institutions.
Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund are two of the various financing
mechanisms set up by Parties in the UNFCCC to mobilise and deliver climate finance to
developing countries in their efforts to address climate change. The GCF is the largest
fund which aims to deliver equal amounts towards activities for mitigation (reducing
Greenhouse Gas Emissions) and Adaptation (adjusting to the impacts of climate change).
Adaptation Fund on the other hand contributes finance to solely address adaptation and
resilience building.
However, this does not mean that the NDA is charged with managing the funds, No. All
Ms. Susan Nanduddu Executive Director African Institutions that wish to access funds on behalf of the country from the GCF in particular,
Center for Trade and Development must get a recommendation from the NDA. However the GCF has its elaborate process
through which to access funds as explained below.
Ms. Susan Nanduudu is the Executive
Director of the African Centre for Trade It is important to note that institutions that have been accredited to the funds have the
and Development (ACTADE). It is a responsibility of managing the funds they access. The projects may be implemented
Ugandan think tank- Non-governmental by other entities – referred to as implementing entities or executing entities, but must
Organisation working to influence the report to the accredited entity with the overall management responsibility to the Fund.
promotion and enjoyment of social,
political and economic rights by all. What are the procedures of getting finance from the fund? Who are the stakeholders
involved?
ACTADE advises government on among For the funds to be obtained there are different principles that are quite similar.
other things priority setting for the Organisations with proven record can apply for accreditation with the Fund. Once
national budget and monitoring its approved then proposals can be submitted for possible funding by the respective Fund.
implementation in selected Sectors and It is important to note that the Accreditation process is very elaborate and can be
at the grass roots where Citizens receive time and resource consuming. For the GCF, there are both Direct Access Entities and
service delivery from their Districts and International Access Entities. Direct Access refers to National Institutions within a given
Lower Local Governments such as the country that meet the criteria. In Uganda, Ministry of Water and Environment, Kampala
Sub-Counties and Parishes. Deliberating Capital City Authority and National Environment Management Authority have applied
on Climate Change adaptation measures for accreditation but none has been approved yet. International Implementing Entities
that support communities to anticipate represent organisations such as United Nations, Multilateral Development Banks and
and build resilience to impacts of climate Regional Institutions.
change ensuring that no one is left
behind, especially the women, youths What is the status of Uganda’s projects regarding the fund? How do Ugandans get
and persons with disability is also part of these funds?
ACTADE role. Notwithstanding, ACTADE This is a great question worth addressing to the NDA. For the ordinary person, and
aims to promote trade development any other person not close enough to the NDA, it is very difficult to know the status of
through policy advocacy, research and Uganda’s projects with the GCF and any other Fund, except through regularly checking
capacity building. on their websites. But this should not be the case and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
are asking for increased information sharing with stakeholders by the NDA. Awareness
In this interview Susan chats with the East raising about the Fund and its activities and or opportunities, is one of the core functions
African Suswatchdog Newsletter Editor of the NDA.
Emily Arayo Arineitwe on issues of Climate
Finance. However, there are some projects that have recently been launched in Uganda such as the
$7.75 million project of the Adaptation Fund though the Sahel Sahara Observatory (OSS),
What are the connotations of Climate a Regional Implementing Entity. The project targets the Awoja, Maziba and Aswa River
Finance, Green Climate Finance, and catchments in the Eastern, South Western and Northern parts of Uganda. This is implemented
Adaptation Fund? by the Ministry of Water and Environment for a period of four years.
Climate Finance basically refers to Another project is funded by the GCF through the UNDP for 8 years with a total of $44.3m. The
dedicated finance made available implementers include Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda National Meteorological
through the United Nations Framework Authority and Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries. It is targeting multiple
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), districts in Eastern and South-Western regions of Uganda.
to address climate change. There is no
agreed definition globally, which makes it How will these funds benefit the poor persons of Uganda to be more resilient to climate
difficult to ring-fence climate finance from change?
Official Development Finance when looked Shall finance deliver resilience building? Will implementation be different from business as
at globally. At the national level however, usual? It is important for all stakeholders to reflect on these questions. My take on this is that
climate finance should be the public the project designs must show the additionality component to the projects. They should
funds locally generated but dedicated demonstrate that the people and ecosystems will be able to withstand the given climate
to respond to the challenges of climate shocks beyond the project. There must be awareness raising about climate change and a
discussion about how to increasingly respond to it.
18
Uganda is Receiving Climate Financing for Climate Change Projects. Expectations are high but will
finance deliver resilience building? Will implementation be different from business as usual?
It should entail learning by all stakeholders on what works and what does not; and this From ACTADE’s experience in working
knowledge should be shared with both project beneficiaries and other stakeholders. with local Communities and Governments
The implementation should draw in a variety of stakeholders for synergy building. in attaining service delivery, how possible
For instance, academia and civil society institutions bring in knowledge management can communities include Climate
expertise and increased citizen engagement respectively. They should be involved. Change activities in their annual budget
Beneficiaries should know that it is an opportunity to learn from their experiences and conferences for Government funding?
therefore should be open to share what works and what does not work. Firstly, there has to be a community
meeting in which priorities are agreed
From your perspective what are the type of projects to benefit the poor people in Uganda upon. At this stage, it is important that
(from a local perspective, what adaptation practices in the farming, sector, water sector Climate Change be articulated as a
and energy sector are ideal for investments of the Climate Fund in Uganda?). problem, and interventions proposed for
For Uganda, adaptation to climate change is a priority to mitigation because of our inclusion in both work plans and budgets.
very negligible contribution to the problem, yet we suffer seriously from the impacts. These can then be presented to the duty
Why do we suffer a lot from the impacts of climate change? Because our economy and bearers forehand, during and even after
livelihoods are heavily dependent on natural resources, especially rain-fed agriculture. budget conferences – stressing the need
With uncertain seasons and extreme events including droughts and floods, livelihoods to finance climate-relevant activities.
and the economy become vulnerable. Take for instance the year 2016 and 2017 where However, this may be quite technical for
droughts were severe. ordinary people to know what is climate
relevant and what is not, especially
A lot of resources had to be channel towards relief, yet Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) since there are so many pressing needs
did not meet its targets in revenue collection. Our economy struggled. at the community level that need to be
prioritised. There is still a gap in educating
Adaptation practices should therefore be both small and largescale. We need technology not only communities, but also Local
interventions in harvesting, storing and delivering water to crops and livestock in Government officials in drawing the line
the quantities adequate for plants and animals to thrive during days of water stress. between the two. Some activities that are
Crop farming should adopt water conservation techniques such as mulching and use funded are already climate-relevant but
of manure, as the new norm. Agro-forestry is a wonder technique that does not only stakeholders may not know. For instance
improve soil fertility but it also provides shade to crops such as coffee, nutritious fruits tree planting.
and fodder for animals. This should be promoted.
Who are the influencers of Climate
As a country dependent on natural resources especially for our energy needs, we need to Change Policy locally, regionally and
invest in technologies that are efficient for cooking so that we tap the abundant sunshine globally?
for not only lighting but for other energy needs. We need to invest in energy saving cook Influencers mean who is influencing the
stoves for households and institutions, adopt the use of charcoal made from waste called outcomes of climate policy at all these
briquettes and adapt to using solar energy. levels.
Globally I may give my opinion but it is
The government needs to invest more in solar energy -based plants than hydro power largely the researchers and here the IPCC
as they are cheaper and will save the country from high indebtedness in which we are is particularly relevant; private sector
currently trapped. Lastly but not least, pay attention to the resilience of ecosystems we know through the corridors that
because they have fed generations and the biggest source of our livelihoods. Planting some companies influence negotiators’
trees. Preserving trees. Let the wetlands fulfil their natural function with minimal positions in developed countries; and civil
disruption. Avoiding improper disposal of plastic waste – they harm the environment. society. However the decision-makers are
The awareness and education of these issues is critical because at the core, is behavioural the politicians who are the negotiators
change that thinks about future generations while we use the available resources. – although negotiating teams include
technocrats.
What would be the best implementation approach (from central to districts or from
decentralized structures of local governments?) At the national level, climate policy
I have not found research that suggests which approach is better. However, participatory has been influenced largely by
approaches have proved to be more sustainable as they empower the people with the developments at the international level
knowledge, skills and sometimes technologies to do the right thing. Implementation through the UNFCCC framework and
approaches should therefore be accommodative of the time needed to interest other frameworks like the Sustainable
stakeholders and engage them actively, for the learning to take place. Development Goals. However CSOs have
played a key role in shaping the policy
Considering the Human Rights Based Approach to development, how can poor Citizens together with government. Mostly it has
who are Right holders become proactive to demand for Climate Change interventions been driven by the Ministry of Water
from their duty bearers? and Environment specifically the Climate
Empowered citizens should communicate their experiences with the duty bearers, Change Department (CCD), but it has
making known their priority needs for the annual budgets. Once the needs are translated succeeded in convening many Ministries,
into approved government budgets, then they should monitor to ensure that budget Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of
lines are implemented accordingly. For instance, if drought is more frequent, they can Government and involved them. However,
demand for awareness about the problem and how they can address it better. Therefore Private sector has been on the fringe in
budgets for trainings and or awareness should be embedded in addition to the business the shaping of Climate Change Policy in
as usual plan where seeds for farming are distributed. Water harvesting and storage Uganda, but they are expected to be lead
technologies such as dams from which they can water their animals and/or irrigate their implementers.
farms should be prioritised. This way the Citizens will be able to make the connection
about the interventions the government already has in plan, why, and possibly plan At the local level, my view is that whoever
for more together, including adopting co-financing options. This approach is desired. has resources, especially financial and
Unfortunately, a lot of investment is required in building a more civically engaged society technical resources, influences policy.
in Uganda.
19
Mama Noran Strives for Energy Security in Narok
When unable to get enough bio-gas for cooking, she has become more creative by modifying
her cook stove by using cement all round her cooking area and allowing only one fire place
opening for firewood. She says that this has greatly reduced heat loss and has also enhanced
efficiency of the cook-stoves. She compares the traditional ways of cooking with open flames
and her new innovation.The latter is more beneficial to her, the latter is reminiscent and old
fashioned now. “The traditional three-stone cook stoves that I used before shifting to bio-gas
required a lot of firewood and also emitted a lot of smoke which made it harder for me to cook
and turned my previously cream kitchen walls to black,” she says. Mama Noolparakuo also
bought a solar housing system, which she now uses for lighting.
Since time immemorial the socio-economic stay of the Maasai people isnomadic pastoralism.
According to elder Nkruna, a conservationist, farmer and resident of Ololulunga in Narok
County, his recount on the changing lifestyles of the Maasai peoplepresents a pro-poor
community that seeks to stay afloat amidst climate changes over time. He attests that the
pastoralists are slowly trying to adopt new lifestyles unless compelled by forces of nature
such as serious flooding or drought which requires them to travel long distances in search
of water and pasture. “They prefer to lease landthat is far from water sources, and land that
is not fertile which has lower rent value for them. The sale of land encourages monetary
stability which allowing them to build permanent houses for settlement and with it also comes
reduction in cattle herds”.
Narok County where Mama Noolparakuo and Mama Noran hail from is one of the regions
that has been severely impacted by climate variability and climate change caused by massive
deforestation and environmental degradation of the Mau Forest. The Mau Forest is one of
Many women in Africa fend for their the main water towers for Kenya.
homes in various ways including availing
food, cooking energy, water for domestic Land use and land cover changes such as conversion of pastoral land to mechanized
use and health care among others. Mama agricultural farms, cutting down forests for settlement and farmlands and fragmenting land
Noran from Ololulunga Community in Narok previously owned communally to individual plots, have greatly contributed to the degradation
County Kenya is one among such women of the environment.
who has ushered in a new array of energy This situation is exacerbated by the fact that Narok County is located in an arid region thus
use in her household and community. Anew very deficient in moisture and scarce vegetation. Over the years, it has recorded frequent
way of building climatechange resilience flooding, soil erosion, landslides and drought, which culminate into famine, loss of lives,
through usingbiogas. destruction of property, crop failure and food insecurity among others.
For a community that derives its livelihood Biomass is by far the main source of household energy in Kenya. In urban areas, charcoal is
from livestock, people in Narok especially in predominantly used. With rapid population growth and urbanization, charcoal use is likely
Ololulunga, Mama Noran has established to remain high for decades. Narok County is one of the main producers of charcoal in Kenya
a biogas plant in her home that is able to and over the years, charcoal production has increased in an unsustainable manner resulting
provide her with energy for cooking and into massive deforestation, desertification and soil erosion. “While charcoal production
lighting. now occurs almost entirely in the informal sector, it has great potential to be transformed
through effective regulation, to become environmentally sustainable and contribute to low
She has brought more innovation to her carbon development in Kenya,” says Mr. Jackson Bamboo of Kenya Forest Working Group
house by storing hot food in a hand-made (KFWG), during a meeting held in August 2017 to review the Charcoal Rules and Regulations
storage material woven from fiber woven in Narok County. Though the partnership between the Department of Environment and
into a reed-basket with a cushioned cover Forestry, Community Forest Associations and KFWG, the County is currently in the process of
made of highly compressed fiber that developing a policy on Charcoal Rules and Regulations by domesticating the National Forest
enhances maximum heat retention within (Charcoal) Rules of 2009.
the basket. She says “After setting up the
biogas plant in my home, I no longer have Besides utilizing energy options with the community reach, poor communities can shield
any expenditure on energy for cooking from harsh vagaries of climate change by adapting new farming practices. Mama Noran is
and lighting as I have numerous cows that on her way to being a food basket champion in her community. Her resolution to practice
provide me with cow dung for constant bio- conservation agriculture has also yielded fruits. A walk through her farm paints a different
gas production. She adds that “Previously picture of the dry locality. Her organic farm is very green and with a variety of crops, because
when I was using kerosene for lighting and of the benefit of irrigation. Her proximity to River Ololulunga makes it easier for her to draw
firewood and charcoal for cooking, I used water to irrigate her farm and she has managed to plant a variety of indigenous vegetables
to spend close to Ksh 200 per day as I have such as kales - sukuma-wiki, onions, and beans, making her one of the main food crop
a big family.” suppliers in the local market. Mama Noran also keeps indigenous chicken which have higher
market value.
The learning is captivating and her
community will soon adapt her new energy Poor communities have to strive hard to seek innovative solutions to enable them be resilient
saving habits. She observes that “My to climate change.
neighbors marvel at how easier my house
20
Promoting the Implementetion of the
Paris Agreement in East Africa (PIPA)
-With focus on pro, low emission development.