Government of Uganda (GoU) places high priority in accessing climate finance to assist in addressing its climate change adaptation and mitigation funding needs as articulated in the Nationally Determined Commitments (NDCs). However, limited human and institutional capacity hinders GoU from accessing funding for Uganda’s adaptation and mitigation priority interventions.

In response to this Challenge, the project aims at providing early–stage support to enable the country to access the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and other climate finance sources through the nominated direct access entities.

GGGI, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) which is the National Designated Authority (NDA), is undertaking a two-year GCF Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme (RPSP). The Readiness Program builds on Uganda’s earlier efforts to strengthen its engagement with the GCF with the objective of realizing the following: i.) strengthening country capacity by enhancing coordination mechanisms and No Objection Procedure (NOL) following multi-stakeholder input; ii.) supporting the NDA to establish a broad-based multi-stakeholder engagement process; iii.) enabling direct access accreditation for three (3) nominated Direct Access Entities (DAEs) namely; Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Uganda Development Bank Ltd (UDBL); iv.) preparation for access to finance through development of concept notes climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in priority sectors; and v.) engaging the private sector to improve the availability of finance for climate change projects.

The project aligns with IO1. Strengthened national, sub-national and local green growth planning, financing and institutional frameworks; IO2. Increased green growth investment flows which enable partner governments to implement green growth policies; and IO3. Improved multi-directional knowledge sharing and learning to empower local and external agents necessary to drive green growth processes in partner governments.

Impact: Increased green finance flows for projects that implement the Uganda Green Growth Development Strategy (UGGDS).

Outcome: N/A 

Project Outcomes completed in 2019:  

i. Green Growth Policies:

• Outcome 1: NDA Governance Mechanism, NDA Communication Strategy Framework and Uganda’s Simplified No-Objection Procedure prepared and submitted to the NDA.
• Outcome 2: The Updated GCF Uganda Country Programme and Guidelines for Inclusive Climate Actors’ Engagement prepared and submitted to the NDA.

ii. Green Investments:

• Outcome 1: Accreditation Capacity Needs Assessment support provided to the three nominated Direct Access Entities( Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda Development Bank and National Environment Authority) undertaken
• Outcome 2: Three (3) Concept notes preparation supported towards realising a pipelines of projects to operationalise the GCF Country Programme. These included (i) Kampala Waste Treatment and Disposal PPP; (ii) Micro Hydropower Mini-grids with Agricultural Produce Processing Equipment (MHM+APPE) at scale in Uganda; and (iii) Catchment Conservation and Invasive Alien Weed Management in Lake Kyoga. A call for Concept Notes issued for project ideas and 59 submissions received to date.
• Outcome 3: Terms of Reference for the study of mechanisms to mobilize private sector investment to scale up financing of climate change projects were prepared.

iii. Capacity Building and Knowledge Products: 

• Outcome 1: To date knowledge exchange mission to Ethiopia by the NDA/ISC on strengthening coordination undertaken. Several Capacity Building engagements relating to the GCF and National Financing Vehicle development implemented.

Output: N/A 

Project Manager: Denis Kangere Asiimwe 

Number of staff provided: Fredrick Barasa and Joshua Elaru