Uganda boosts capacity for climate-smart agriculture compliance
Okanya said the training will enable implementers to understand, assess, and manage the environmental and social risks and impacts that may arise from the project.
Project coordinator, Eng. Boniface Okanya addressing participants during the training on Thursday (November 13) at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories in Kawanda, Wakiso district. ( Courtesy photos)
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The World Bank-funded Climate Smart Agriculture Programme under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is training project implementers on how to apply the National World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESS) to ensure compliance.
The training, which began on Thursday (November 13) at the National Agricultural Research Laboratories in Kawanda, Wakiso district, will continue until Friday.
Addressing participants, the project coordinator, Eng. Boniface Okanya said the training will enable implementers to understand, assess, and manage the environmental and social risks and impacts that may arise from the project.
“We don’t want a situation where communities start to distance themselves from the project because of small mistakes which can be avoided. The project has put aside a book where all complaints will be registered and solved for better implementation of all the projects we intend to do,” Okanya said.
Under the Environmental and Social Framework, the World Bank commits to supporting those involved in the development and implementation of projects that are environmentally and socially sustainable.
Participants in the training include project implementers such as officials from the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), district local government leaders, and heads of value chains such as fish, crops, and livestock from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
The Uganda Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation Project (UCSATP) is a six-year initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
Funded by the World Bank, the project aims to increase productivity, market access, and resilience across selected value chains, while considering the effects of climate change on the environment.
This will be achieved by supporting the government to identify, develop, and promote the adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies and management practices that contribute to the climate adaptation of agricultural value chains, sustainably increasing productivity and household incomes while enhancing resilience to climatic shocks.