The COVID-19 containment measures instituted by the Uganda government have significantly impacted the broader socio-economic development.
Due to the lockdown, the closure of businesses, the disruption in global supply chains, and the decline in overall productivity have affected millions of Ugandans, especially in the informal economy that employs 84.4 per cent of the population, 90 per cent of whom are the youth. Furthermore, direct and indirect revenue has declined due to the loss of incomes and consumption.
of the market vendors for shelter during the lockdown.
HOW ARE WE RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC?
1. The team has continued to deliver at full momentum while taking full health precautions including remote working and travel when essential.
From the outset of COVID -19, CIG Uganda prepared remote/home working policy guidelines to help staff spread around the world and Uganda to ease quickly into the new “normal” and continue to deliver to plan. The team has shown resilience and have continued to build and engage with key partners. The technology solutions offered to both staff and in some cases, key partners, have been effective and enabled continuity with partners. We have continued to work at full momentum while taking full health precautions.
2. Interventions have been re-aligned to respond to the pandemic and support recovery
CIG’s support to the Uganda Power Sector Roadmap integrated the reality of COVID impact of the sector
Before the COVID-19, discussions to introduce, scope and document the Roadmap for Catalytic Transformation of the Power Sector with MEMD officials and working groups were in advanced stages. Despite the interruptions, discussions to finalise the draft Roadmap successfully continued virtually. The reality of COVID has been integrated into the Roadmap to include establishing the pandemic’s impact on the power sector and urging the government to implement mitigation measures to cushion the industry. The Roadmap was successfully launched in December 2020.
CIG’s support to Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA)
The overall impact of Covid-19 on CIG’s interventions with UMA has been three-fold:
- Reprioritization of our work plan, based on the urgency and long-term needs of the sector.
- Defining the impacts of the pandemic on the sector, and also the emerging opportunities: CIG has helped UMA to prepare a post-COVID-19 recovery action plan, based on short, medium, and long-term horizons.
- Support for Covid-19 economic recovery: CIG is actively engaged with other partners, to help the sector’s recovery, through problem structuring, stakeholder engagement and coordination of efforts. CIG has been invited by the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) to provide technical assistance to the Covid-19 Economic Recovery Unit.
Impact on KCCA strategy development process
CIG continued supporting Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in the preparation of the Strategic Plan) 2020-2025.
CIG was tasked to advise on the development of an Economic Recovery Plan for KCCA. CIG and the International Growth Centre offer advisory services to the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) at KCCA. The outcome of the support has played an informative role and provided the current framework for KCCA’s strategic response to the C19 predicament. The result has also informed the short term focus in the IDS, post-COVID. The strategic plan was launched in September 2020.
The Kampala Jinja Expressway, the Annuity Roads and Solid Waste projects are some of CIG projects which are being considered to provide short term economic stimulus and job creation.
Supporting vulnerable communities hard-hit by lockdowns and COVID-19 in Uganda
CIG Uganda and implementing partners; (Cities Alliance, AcTogether and Platform for Vendors in Uganda) provided an emergency response package with funding from FCDO to help the communities in the informal settlement navigate their immediate challenges. At the same time, a more strategic engagement is explored, on how to support the urban poor post-COVID 19.
The support enabled 800 vendors, mostly women and the youth to be sheltered and additional 2,000 people benefited from a donation of handwashing stations and protection supplies within the densely populated informal settlements under the KJE project