President launches the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025

The President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Museveni, has launched the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 for Uganda at a ceremony attended by Heads of UN Agencies in Uganda and Senior Government officials at State House, Entebbe. The UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, H.E. Ms. Rosa Malango signed the UNSDCF on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General.

 “The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework comes at the opportune time to contribute to National Vision 2040 and the Third National Development Plan 2020/21 – 2024/25 (NDP III). I also hope we will further deepen the focus on youth employment, entrepreneurship and education programmes, including access to reproductive health information and services,” said President Museveni.

“With the Sustainable Development Goals at its core, the UNSDCF enables 31 UN entities to implement programmes through three Strategic Priorities: 1) Transformative and Inclusive Governance; 2) Shared Prosperity in a Healthy Environment; and 3) Human Well-being and Resilience,” said Ms. Malango.

UN General Assembly Resolution 72/279, on the repositioning of the UN Development System, positions the UNSDCF as the  most important UN country planning instrument in support of the 2030 Agenda. The current Uganda UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) will be ending on 31 December 2020.

Guided by the United Nations Uganda’s vision of contributing to a transformed, inclusive Ugandan Society where people have improved quality of life and resilience for Sustainable Development, and building on the successes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016-2020, the UNSDCF 2021-25 will support the Government of Uganda to accelerate development and social transformation across Uganda as outlined in Vision 2040 and the third National Development Plan (NDPIII).

The UNSDCF 2021-25 was informed by a series of multi-stakeholder consultative processes, evaluation of the second National Development Plan (NPDII) and learnings from the implementation of UNDAF. Consultation was undertaken with the leadership of the Office of the Prime Minister and involved stakeholders including the National Planning Authority (NPA) and Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED).

The UNSDCF 2021-25 adopts strategies that will accelerate Uganda’s digital transformation, support the Government’s role in the economy, enhance productivity and job security in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), support the Government and key actors to meet increased demand for quality and inclusive social and protection services, and strengthen disaster risk reduction systems from national to community levels.

Prior to the launch ceremony at State House, UN stakeholders including representatives from the diplomatic community, development partners, government officials, civil society and youth participated in two panel discussions live on NBS Television focusing on Coordination, Programming and Financing for Development. H.E. Kazuaki Kameda, Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, called for focus on financing for the Sustainable Development Goals from non-traditional sources including foundations and the private sector. Nurudin Busingye, CEO Smart Youth Network Initiative highlighted the challenges youth faced in accesses financing including bureaucracy. He called for youth to be supported to enhance their skills through training among others. Brian Tahinduka, Sector Head, Power, Infrastructure and Telecoms, Stanbic Bank, highlighted some of Stanbic Bank’s opportunities for support for young people including the Business Incubator Programme.

“Uganda has the second youngest population in the world, and this comes along with challenges and opportunities. The UN system in Uganda will join the Government in their efforts to skill the youth of Uganda. The UN System in partnership with the National SDGs Secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister and Youth Coalition for SDGs are undertaking a nationwide the One Million SDG Solutions from Youth in Uganda Innovation Challenge. The challenge aims at identifying and providing a catalogue of solutions that are changing lives positively and linking them with support from partners including from the private sector to enable them to scale up,’ said Ms. Malango.