Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator at Launch of the Uganda Red Cross Strategic Plan 2021-2025

Acknowledgements:

Right Honourable First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda

Distinguished representatives of Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments

Secretary General of Uganda Red Cross Mr. Robert Kwesiga

Distinguished Representatives of the Red Cross Movement, ICRC, UN Agencies in Uganda-especially WFP and UNHCR physically present, diplomatic missions, humanitarian and development partners in Uganda

Representatives of the Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations, including MTN CEO

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the United Nations System in Uganda, I am pleased to join today’s launch of the Uganda Red Cross Strategic Plan for 2021-2025. I take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Robert Kwesiga for your extraordinary leadership which has led to the transformation of the Uganda Red Cross which I have witnessed. The power of the Red Cross lies in your unique global mandate that drives your mission and vision towards serving humanity. Congratulations on successfully rebuilding systems, structures and processes to guarantee efficient and effective operations. I would also wish to take this opportunity to commend the Government of Uganda for its leadership in containing the COVID-19 pandemic and the Office of the Prime Minister for leading the overall coordination. During the COVID19 lockdown the UN was able to sustain its critical operations in country as well as the UN humanitarian air service  run by WFP and the backstopping support to eight peacekeeping missions in the region. As this time, I wish to recognize all frontline workers who have saved lives and protected households during the past year and those we have lost.

Today is an opportunity to recognize the robust partnership between the Uganda Red Cross and the UN in Uganda. Together we have worked across the country to address the needs of the most vulnerable, to enhance community resilience and help the Government and people of Uganda to prepare and respond to emergencies. We have worked in response to natural disasters, Ebola, COVID19 and even in the refugee response. I also wish to thank the Uganda Red Cross for being a valuable partner in the implementation of the UN Emergency Appeal on addressing COVID-19 impacts in Uganda. It is commendable that the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent strategy 2030 aligns humanitarian response priorities of the Red Cross and Red Cross Crescent movement to relevant SDGs, the Sendai Framework and the Green Response. Extreme weather events have risen dramatically over the past two decades around the world and Uganda’s economy is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change on socio-economic development. The country’s vulnerability to epidemics, natural disasters and the effects of climate change is compounded by the high rate of environmental degradation, forest cover has reduced to nine per cent of the total land area in 2018, from 24 per cent in 1990. Wetland coverage has also substantially reduced to 10.9 % in 2017 from 15.6 % in 1994 due to encroachment for settlements, infrastructure projects, agricultural production, urban development and industrialization. These situations need to be addressed urgently.

Ladies and gentlemen if we are to achieve the global sustainable development agenda and its SDGs, then we must invest in robust indigenous capacities who can identify, prepare and respond to crisis situations and help communities deal with the impact of being the real first responders in times of emergencies. We need community buy in for the principles governing humanitarian assistance, inclusive development, environment protection, access to justice and the roll out of services in an equitable manner for all. The same Member States who led the reform of the United Nations are also critical partners of the Red Cross Movement. In this context, I would like to invite UN Member States, including our host Uganda to a reflection in this new normal as to how we can redefine our partnership with the Uganda Red Cross to help ensure its continued success and growth. How are we going to work with the hundreds of thousands of members and empower them to better understand the global values, the continental aspirations and the national vision? How can we reinforce the transmission of universal values of Obuntubulamu particularly Obwesimbu-Integrity and Obwerufu-Transparency and Okufaayo-empathy while we focus on eliminating poverty, sustaining peace while promoting prosperity and protection of the planet we call home? How will the experience of these hundreds of thousands of volunteers feed into implementation of NDPIII and SDGs in Uganda? The Uganda Red Cross is evidence of the feasibility of transforming systems to achieve efficiencies, accountability and impact. How can we help these homegrown lessons on enhanced transparency be transferred to other critical stakeholders in the public sector in this country?

It is amazing to see the Uganda Red Cross with strong internal systems and capabilities, a revitalized volunteer base and branch network as well as robust governance and management structures. This has rekindled our trust in you. Now the Red Cross is programming to build resilient communities that can mitigate and respond to disasters & emergencies affecting them. Despite a clear connection between climate change, disaster risk reduction and gender-focused approaches to social transformation, there are still low levels of awareness. We need to address this together. Strengthening Uganda’s Disaster Risk Reduction systems in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 will promote sustainable inclusive economic development and shared prosperity, this is a common aspiration. We must ensure that we do not leave the marginalized and vulnerable groups, and fragile regions behind. We must join across society and government to protect vulnerable communities from social, economic and security shocks related to climate and health related disasters. The new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Uganda (2021-2025) has been designed to ensure resilience is streamlined across all three strategic priorities helping us to support the Government and people of Uganda in ensuring that natural resources and the environment are sustainably managed and protected, and that people, especially the vulnerable and marginalized, have the capacity to mitigate climate change while improving the quality of life in their households. One of the critical questions will be around financing transformation, how will we mobilize sustainable financing for this new reinvigorated Red Cross? To the Red Cross I invite you to strengthen your partnership with the UN system and its partners across the country by considering an annual joint retreat to review achievements, constraints and lessons. I also suggest a meeting with the Youth SDG Coalition to help increase awareness of your work and enhance the impact of work at community level informed by the SDGs.

As I conclude, on behalf of the United Nations system, I reiterate our commitment to continue working with the Government, Uganda Red Cross, development partners, private sector, communities and other key stakeholders to build an effective disaster preparedness and response framework. With the lessons learned from the social, economic and environmental disasters we will work with the Uganda Red Cross and partners to strengthen the resilience of national and local health, education and social protection systems, including the new digital platforms to build a safer and more resilient world and leave no one behind. Nelson Mandela once said, “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.” I encourage all Red Cross to keep displaying the professionalism and empathy as you serve your mandate in support of humanity. Thank you for your attention.

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