Uganda gets €11m from the European Union and €3m from Belgium for Climate Change project – Monday, 5th September 2016
The European Union (EU) has given 11 million Euros and Belgium three million Euros to Uganda while Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is the executing/implementing partner.
The Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) project is intended to contribute to sustainable improvement of livelihoods and food security of the rural population in Uganda. Its primary focus is to strengthen the resilience of rural populations and agricultural production systems covering 18 districts along the cattle corridor.
According to the Uganda National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA), it is estimated that 90% of Uganda’s natural disasters are weather and climate change. The Minister for water observed that the magnitude, frequency and severity of these hazards, especially drought, have increased in the past decades.
“I am glad that the GCCA project is multi-sectoral, focusing on water for production, environment and agriculture and indeed having specific components implemented in the different line ministries,” he said on Friday. He cited the repeated floods in Kasese and landslides in Bududa districts as clear warnings of the negative impacts of climate change.
At the launch, the EU head of delegation to Uganda Kristian Schmidt noted that the EU and its member states have made adaption a key priority for their development cooperation. “We stand ready to support our partners in their efforts. The GCCA project is a proof of that,” he said.
On his part, the Belgium ambassador to Uganda Alain Hanssen pointed out that climate change is a threat to food security and social economic development. “Belgium has stepped in to stand with Uganda in tackling the challenge of climate change,” said the envoy.
He underlined that Uganda has witnessed a number of indicators of climate change, including increasing surface temperatures, changes of rain patterns, prolonged drought, reducing amount of water in the rivers and swamps plus declining soil fertility and low yields.
The ambassador said the GCCA project targets six districts in the cattle corridor – Luwero, Ssembabule, Mubende, Kiboga, Nakaseke and Nakasongola.
The Friday launch ceremony was attended by FAO and embassy of Irish officials, Ugandan state minister for environment, ministry of water and environment officials and others.