Ministry of Water & Environment
Plot 21/28 Port Bell Road, Luzira
P.O. Box 20026 Kampala
Uganda
Tel: 0414-505942
mwe@mwe.go.ug





Department of Forest Sector Support

Background

In 1999, Government of Uganda launched a forest sector reform process, which resulted in the development of the Uganda Forestry Policy 2001, the national forest plan 2002 and the national forestry and tree planting Act 2003. A new institutional framework was created, with clear roles and responbilities for the central and local communities. The nwe arrangement aims at promoting efficient and effective governance of the sector.
 
As key  part of this institutional framework is the Forest Sector Support Department [FSSD]. FSSD`s role is set out in the National Forest Plan, and its capacity is being strengthened to oversee forest sector development.
 
Vision
 
 The vision for the forestry sector in Uganda is "A sufficiently forested ecologically stable and economically prosperous Uganda".
 
Mission

To effectively co-ordinate, guide and supervise Uganda`s forest sector, and contribute to the rational and sustainable utilization, development,effective management, safeguard of forestry resources, for social welfare and economic development.
 
Goal
 
The functions of FSSD contribute to the achievement of national goal of "An intergrated forest sector that achieves sustainable increase in the economic, social and environmental benefits from forests and trees by the people of Uganda especially the poor and vulnerable".
 
Core Responsibilities
 
  1. To formulate and oversee forestry policies, standards and legislation.
  2. To monitor National Forestry Authority (NFA) using a perfomance contract.
  3. To provide technical support and monitor District forestry services and involve all districts in national tree planting.
  4. To support advisory services under National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).
  5. To promote information, advice and advocacy to sector stakeholders.
  6. To ensure effective National Forest Plan (NFP) coordination and cross-sectoral linkages.
  7. To mobilize funds and other resources for the forest sector. 
Formulation of policy, regulation and guidelines
 
The FSSD is responsible for the develpoment, analysis and review of the National Forest Policy, formulation of legislation to support the policy and issuance of standards and guidelines for the best practice in the forest sector. The Uganda Forestry policy (2001) is periodically reviewed to accommodate new developments in the sector. Appropriate regulations are developed to support the implementation of the National Forestry and Tree planting Act (2003). Similarly, FSSD provides appropriate standards andguidelines for various forestry activities.
 
The department is also charged with the responsibility of developing and disseminating the guidelines and regulations and making sure that these are clearly understood by all stakeholders. This is done through training and sensitisation programs developed by the Department and through its communication work.
 
Monitoring the performance of National Forestry Authority
 
NFA was established under the National Forestry and Tree planting Act (2003) as a semi- autonomous body to replce the 100 year old Forestry Department. NFA is supervised by NFA board and managed by the Executive Director and senior management staff.
 
The activities of NFA are guided by the performance contract agreed between the Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Finance planning and economic development and NFA. FSSD o behalf of MWE monitors the perfomance of NFA against the targets agreed on in the performance contract.
 
Guidance, Suppport and Monitoring of the District Forestry Services
 
Some of the functions of the former Forestry Department have been decentralized to district and its the responsibility of these new District Forestry Services (DFS). The districts recruit staff to handle forestry functions at the district and mobilize resources through local government development plan, poverty action fund e.t.c.
 
FSSD has the role of sensitizing the districts about their new roles, issuing guidelines and design training programs to build capacityof the DFSs to manage thier forestry responsibilities in the districts. The Department has also developed a mechanism for monitorring DFS activities.
 
Support to forestry advisory services under NAADS
 
The NAADS natural resource policy and strategy highlihts a number of areas where NAADS can ensure that forestry issues are intergrated in its programs. FSSD therefore;
 
  • Collaborates with districts and NAADS to build the capacity of private sector service providers to provide advice and information on forestry issues.
  • Sensitises key stakeholders on opportunities for including forestry in agricultural advisort services.
  • Provides information to support forestry related services.
  • Promotes demonstrations of on and off-farm forestry technologies through the forestry resources resesrch institute.
  • Improves collaborative links between NAADS and PMA on one hand and MWE and NFA on the other.
  • Collaborates with NAADS to improve forestry extension service provision in districts.
 
Co-ordination of the National Forest Plan (NFP)
 
The NFP is an instrument for turning Uganda Forestry Plolicy (2001) into action. It is a strategic plan that describes a long term vision for the forest sector, with short-term goals, investment plans and responsibilities for different stakeholders.
 
FSSD is charged with coordinating the implementation of the NFP, and ensuring the achievement of the sector goals and objectives. This entails influencing and developing linkages with the key central and local communities and partners in development.
 
FSSD actively participates as a member of the Environment and Natural Resource Sector Working Group (ENR-SWG). This provides an opportunity for the FSSD influence the MTEF budgetary allocation for the implementation of the NFP.
 
Public information, advice and advocacy
 
A wide range of information and data is needed for sectoral analysis, the provision of information services and the creation of public awareness across the sector. There are many stakeholders, including government officials, investors, forestry owners, NGOs, donors, resesrch and training institutions, and the general public who have different information for effective choices about investments, livelihoods options or policy changes.
 
FSSD is also charged with building the advocacy capacity of CSOs to influence implementation of the NFP. FSSD works with the forestry working group to promote elements of the NFP.
 
Mobilise funds and other resources for the sector
 
FSSD ensures that the profile of forestry is raised in MFPED and that adequate budgetary allocation are made to implement the nfp and its inclusion in the medium term expenditure framework. FSSD influences a number of important foras, including the periodic PEAPrevisions, the Povety Monitoring and Analysis Unit, the various PMA committees and in the sector working groups and negotiations during annual budget developments.
 
FSSD focuses on Poverty Action Funds, international biodiversity conservation funds, carbon sequestration funds and corporate sponsorship. Such funds are used to provide incentives for a wide range of tree growing and conservation activities, such as farm forestry, or to encourage private and customary forest owners and users to set aside natural forest as permanent forest land.