Norway contributes NOK 20 million to the United Nations (UN) Uganda Multi-Partner Trust Fund to respond to COVID-19 and its impacts

Kampala, Uganda – The Government of Norway has contributed NOK 20 million (approximately USD 2,2 million/UGX 8 billion) to the UN Uganda Multi-Partner Trust Fund to respond to COVID-19 and its impacts.

“Norway is a strong supporter of the UN system, and a major donor to the global UN development assistance system. The UN Emergency COVID-19 Appeal has an important role to play in helping and supporting the Ugandan authorities in its impressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am pleased to announce that Norway is providing a contribution of NOK 20 million to the UN Uganda Multi-Partner Trust Fund to this effect, through the agreement that is signed today,” said Chargé d’Affaires at Norwegian Embassy, Mr. Arne Haug.

“On behalf of the UN system in Uganda, I convey our deepest gratitude to the Government of Norway for its generosity, dedication and commitment to the engagement, promotion and strengthening of international cooperation”. “Coordinated efforts to mitigate COVID-19 medium and long-term effects remain critical. Support through the pooled fund mechanism will leverage partnerships with the government, development partners, and NGOs as well as the private sector”, said the UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, Ms. Rosa Malango.

“Norway’s contribution to the UN Uganda Multi-Partner Trust Fund/Emergency Window that is newly established, serves to demonstrate the importance Norway attaches to a stronger coordinated UN system and efforts to help the UN to assist Uganda in tackling the consequences of the coronavirus crisis”, said Ms. Malango.

“This new country-level pooled fund in Uganda focused with a start-up on COVID-19 is a good example of what a reformed UN means in practice: a more integrated and flexible response to shared short and longer term development and development emergency priorities. This agile mechanism will allow for more impactful and efficient joint collaboration of the UN with national and international partners in Uganda in support of the SDG’s,” said Ms. Jennifer Topping, Executive Coordinator, UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office.

On 21 March 2020, Uganda confirmed its first COVID-19 imported case and since then cases have gradually been on the rise. Wide-ranging pandemic containment measures impacted livelihoods and employment opportunities, particularly for women, who make up 86% of the informal sector and essential health services disruption.

To support the Government of Uganda to ensure urgent and robust response, the UN in Uganda, together with the Government and NGO partner organizations launched the UN Emergency Appeal for COVID-19 Response and its Impacts in Uganda  on 23 April 2020. Beyond the immediate public health aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the disease also has humanitarian and socio-economic consequences, as already seen in the global economic slow-down.

Urban slum residents make up over 60% of Kampala’s population and have suffered the most. Over 6 million urban poor living in Kampala and other urban areas nationwide will need an exceptional amount of food assistance. 60% of people observed increase in acts of sexual violence against children by peers, caregivers and community members leading to an increase in teenage pregnancies and girls drawn into commercial sexual exploitation. Primary and secondary school age refugee children missed 60% of 840 school hours since March.

The UN Emergency Appeal aims to mobilize US$ 316.4 million to support 12.8 million people by addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the most vulnerable people in Uganda, including the elderly, people living with disabilities, women and girls, refugees, widows, female-headed households, market women, street vendors, people living with HIV and TB, migrants and those displaced by natural disasters.

The UN Uganda Multi-Partner Trust Fund will also support implementation of the SDGs and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2021-2025 aligned to Third National Development Plan (NDP III). The Fund will have several thematic windows that will be further rolled-out.

"On behalf of the United Nations in Uganda, I convey my thanks to the Governments of Uganda and Norway for collective effort to respond to Covid-19 and support the most vulnerable communities. We remain committed to leave no one behind and we call on everyone to continue working together to address this crisis", said the UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, Ms. Malango.