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Trade Policy Making process in Uganda: the role of the

Civil Society

Jane S. Nalunga SEATINI (Uganda )

FEATS Inception Meeting

15th Oct 2008, Kampala, Uganda

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Structure of the presentation

Introduction

Trade Policy Making process-theory

Trade policy making in Uganda

The Role and Influence of CSOs

Way forward

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Introduction

August 2007 the Government of Uganda came out with the National trade policy The policy was entitled “Trading out of poverty into wealth and prosperity”. My presentation is based on the experience of my organisations’ involvement in this process.

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Trade policy making –The theory

Very complex & dynamic.

Rich Interplay between trade and other policies/issues

Response to specific & broad challenges facing the country/economy/people

Specific & broad aspirations

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Trade policy making in Uganda

Response to calls for one coherent & comprehensive trade policy.

Recognition of the centrality of trade in development.

Appreciation of the complexity of trade negotiations and need to have guidelines .

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Trade Policy making in Uganda : The Process

Agenda settingLead agency –Uganda government represented by the Ministry of Tourism, Trade & Industry (MTTI)MTTI tasked with consulting the stakeholders through the Inter-Institutional Trade Committee (IITC) and also directly.IITC discussed the TOR for the consultant.

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Cont.

Consultants major role:Collect the scattered trade policies

collect stakeholder views

Resultant document discussed in IITC & in Stakeholders Conference.

Final draft presented to cabinet

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Cont.

The final out comes:Trade policy doc.

Implementation plan -The National Trade Sector Development Plan (NTSDP) 2008/9-2012/13”.

5 year rolling plan

Spells out short, medium and long term activities to be implemented to achieve the aspirations in the policy

Indicates specific players /lead agencies

Indicates expected outcomes.

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The Role & influence of CSOs

some CSOs members of the IITC good entry point to influence the Trade policy BUTIITC membership and invitation ad hocParticipation of CSOs haphazardCSO participation in the trade policy process through the Civil Society Working Group on Trade ( CSWGT)

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Cont.

And the Food Rights Alliance

CSOs had clear aim/objective for participating:

To ensure a pro-human development trade policy

Bring the aspirations of the people esp the most vulnerable i.e rural women onto the policy

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Cont.

Shared/ agreed objective was important to use as a yard stick to assess the gaps and the efficacy of the positions in the draft policy2 meetings organised by CSWGT for capacity building of CSOs in trade policy making Other meeting held to discuss the draft 2 meetings with the consultants to present their views.

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Influence

CSOs actively participated

Campaigned for the issue of inclusion of domestic trade in the trade policy

Promotion of domestic trade critical to poverty eradication and as a stepping stone for international trade .

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Challenges

Lack of continuity in engaging in the process

Ad hoc nature of the CSWGT

Low inclusiveness i.e Kampala affair of CSOs working on Trade.No systematic analysis of the policy after cabinet approval. Minimal participation in the NTSDP yet CSOs given some responsibilities.

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Way forward: some proposals

Trade policy making is dynamic CSOs should get back on boardAssess the final document -can it enable people to trade out of poverty?Actively participate in the implementation and monitoring Strategise for the review in 2012/13.

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END

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