EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA SMALL SCALE FARMERS’ FOURUM UGANDA( ESAFF UGANDA)

PRESENTATION AT NAIROBI KENYA FROM 30th MAY TO 31st MAY 2012 ON Reclaiming Rights at Rio, Transformative Agenda at Rio+ 20 and Beyond.

BALIRAINE HAKIM NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON

ESAFF Uganda is therefore a small scale farmer-led movement formed to facilitate processes through which smallholder farmers’ development concerns can be

solicited, articulated and ultimately addressed through local national policies and programs.

The vision of ESAFF Uganda is “Empowered Small Scale Farmers with Improved and Sustainable Livelihoods”

The Mission is “To nurture and promote participation of SSF in creating an environment that is responsive to their needs and concerns”

The Government of Uganda presented its position paper on Rio + 20

dated 31st October 2011 and amongst the issues they welcomed the

decision of the UN General Assembly Resolution No. 64/236 to United

Nations Conference on Sustainable Development ( Rio + 20) to focus on

the Green Economy in the context Sustainable Development, Poverty

Eradication, and Institutional frame worker for Sustainable Development

The detailed position paper for Uganda is as follows.

And after having analyzing this position paper the SCOs came up with the following remarks and some recommendations. _ Recognizing the past track record of a large implementation gap of sustainable development commitments in Uganda as a result of lack of an explicit strategy or framework on SustainableDevelopment,_ Further recognizing the skewed concentration of wealth and social inequality, unemployment, rampant violation of rights, extreme weather and climate scenarios, hunger and malnutrition, natural resources loss, water, land and air pollution, water scarcity, and the commoditization of all aspects of nature,_ Noting with concern that the National report on Progress on the Implementation of the RIOCommitments on Sustainable Development in Uganda does not portray the actual challenging situation on the ground,_ Reiterating the call to secure renewed political commitment for Sustainable Development, We recommend that:

The Government of Uganda 1. Develops a pragmatic framework/strategy for Sustainable Development with benchmarks on the basis of which progress will be measured in future,2. Develops clear and agreed upon guidelines to formalize and legitimize the engagement of civil society and other stakeholders as stipulated in Principle 27of the RIO principles which states that people shall cooperate in good faith and in a spirit of partnership in the fulfillment of the principles embodied in the RIO Declaration and in the further development of international law in the field of sustainable development,3. Develops a review framework and benchmarks to measure performance against internationally agreed commitments relating to Sustainable Development,4. Strengthens the population Regulation Framework by including sex education and reproductive health among the youth so as to counteract the high population growth rate,5. Develops a comprehensive indicator for future budget allocations based on sector work plans cognizant of clear procurement plans and actual cash flows at national level with a predictable and reliable systematic fiscal decentralization framework

6. Revises Sector Investment Plans to allow for allocation of funds to programs that foster sustainable development and inclusive growth and prosperity,7. Carries out Policy Audits through a thematic assessment of sectors reflecting the impacts of the established policies, laws and institutions so as to provide linkages to livelihoods that translate into tangible actions for local people,8. Domesticates the internationally agreed conventions/protocols/agreements into national legislation and implements them,9. Amends the existing Access to Information Act so as to ensure the right to access to information for all.10. Adopts an adaptive planning system that takes care of new and emerging challenges to SustainableDevelopment with a focus on green economy,11. Establishes a registry documenting principles and practices of indigenous knowledge given that this is a cornerstone to Sustainable Development.

12. Puts in place a framework to address the intricate relationship of indigenous people with nature in context of Sustainable Development,13. Establishes knowledge management systems to enable continued monitoring, storage and dissemination including investment in infrastructure, human resource and strengthening institutions for knowledge management on all aspects of Sustainable Development,14. Uses a Rights Based Approach that recognizes the needs and contributions of special categories of people; the Children and Youth, Women and Indigenous Peoples and their communities in the context of Sustainable Development,15. Puts in place a framework to provide reliable and decent green jobs for every one most especiallythe Youth and ensure that Labor laws are harmonized so as to equitably address workers’ rights.16. Implements the Marrakech 10-Year Framework of Programs on Sustainable Consumption and Production and strengthens the Uganda Cleaner Production Center as a center of excellence for best practices on aspects of green economy, while promoting other sectors in context of a green economy

RIO+20 Conference; 17. Puts in place a global framework to ensure access to clean and renewable energy for all be a driving approach to realizing a green economy and further call on development partners and the international community to initiate energy access initiatives following the principles of affordability, equity and environmental sustainability of an energy mix,18. Stems up accountability and strengthen existing national frameworks addressing corruption,19. Ensures that the principal of the green economy be mainstreamed into development frameworkswhile ensuring that developing countries maintain the policy space to pursue their right todevelopment,20. Ensures that mainstreaming the concept of the green economy in development frameworks MUSTrespect entirely the principles agreed upon at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environmentand Development (UNCED) and, particularly, the principle of common but differentiatedresponsibilities,

21. Ensures that the green economy MUST guarantee access to markets for developing countries’ goodsand services so as to achieve their right to development and that it does not serve as a barrier totrade,22. Ensure that an implementation mechanism with committed funding and technology transferframeworks are put in place with poverty eradication top on the agenda,23. Ensures that United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is transformed into a specializedInternational institution for environment.We re-affirm the decision of the General Assembly calling for efficient and effective preparations atthe local, national, regional and international levels by Governments and the United Nations systemand active participation of all major groups at all stages of the preparatory process