Interview with Fred Onduri (Uganda), Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Expert Group at the UNFCCC. The questions were asked by Dr. Nana Künkel, GTZ Climate Protection Programme.

How is adaptation positioned within the current political climate of your country?

Fred Onduri: Adaptation in Uganda has benefited from the NAPA process and is the first priority in climate policy. It took a while until climate change was understood in the political system but now adaptation is discussed at the highest political levels. However the concept of adaptation is still not universally understood. Furthermore there are still considerable uncertainties about what to expect from climate change especially in Uganda. Adaptation is handled mostly through the NAPA process. However many more adaptation activities are going on outside of the adaptation policy environment, which means they often go unnoticed.

What sort of priorities has your country set?

Fred Onduri: Uganda’s priorities are reforestation, food security, water for agricultural production, soil protection and natural resource management, as well as strengthening meteorological services. The previous priorities reflected in the Uganda NAPA have been divided into three key areas namely community-based natural resource management, ecosystem management for health, and enhancing livelihood resilience. All these will be effected together through programmatic and community-based approaches.

What are the success stories? What are the difficulties?

Fred Onduri: We completed the NAPA preparation process through the consultation and participation of all stakeholders. This served as a wake-up call for the government to consider adaptation to climate change not only as an environmental issue, but also a socioeconomic one. UNEP is helping Uganda produce project proposals and a full-scale project. With limited resources, the proposed solution was to start in priority regions and work in a variety of sectors that could overlap and complement one another. However Uganda has not yet submitted a project proposal to the GEF for implementing its identified priorities.

What are your expectations from the climate conference in Copenhagen, especially for LDCs?

Fred Onduri: The major issues relate to adequacy and access to funds. We have to fully enter the implementation phase, which requires both technical capacities and funding. We need fast-track financing for the implementation of NAPA priorities. Currently there is about USD 177 million in the LDCF basket and a total requirement of USD 1.7 billion. Moreover other elements of the UNFCCC’s LDC work programme need to be addressed, including support in coordinating functions in country and upgrading meteorological services.
In Copenhagen we expect more pledges to the LDCF and commitments from the Annex 1 Parties to provide resources for capacity building and development and transfer of technology.

How do you see Uganda in 10 years regarding adaptation?

Fred Onduri: With the resources under the LDCF and funding from bilateral sources, in 10 years Uganda will have built reasonable resilience to the adverse effects of climate change. The distance to access clean water continues to be reduced. However there are upcoming challenges resulting from long and frequent droughts. Grazing areas in the northern and south-western parts of Uganda are under pressure, and the situation is worsening with climate change.

Fred Onduri, Uganda, is Chair of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) at the UNFCCC. This group analyses technical questions, barriers and best practices relating to preparing and implementing National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA) and provides advice to LDCs. LEG has over the last few years established good communication channels to share practical experiences, especially related to the link between countries, the GEF and its implementing agencies. One of LEG’s recent products includes a step-by-step guide to NAPA implementation.