The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a 15 million euro ($16.29 million) project funded by the European Union (EU) to help Uganda’s forestry sector contribute more sustainably to the economy and the environment.

The five-year Sustainable Wood-Based Value Chains in Uganda initiative, to be implemented by FAO, aims to ensure the sustainable supply of legal wood raw material from planted forests, enhance the processing capacity and market demand for wood products and improve the availability of and access to affordable finance.

Forests at risk

The country’s forests are increasingly at risk from encroachment, deforestation, illegal timber logging and forest degradation. Almost one quarter of Uganda’s land was forest in 1990 but by 2017 that had nearly halved to only 13 percent.

“The European Union takes pride in its ongoing commitment to significantly invest in advancing Uganda’s commercial forestry industry. By leveraging the collaborative efforts of the Team Europe Forestry Partnership and providing supplementary funding for the processing and marketing of wood products, the EU is dedicated to fostering the growth of a robust and sustainable sector that thrives both environmentally and commercially,” said EU Ambassador to Uganda, Jan Sadek,

The project seeks to increase the quality and value of planted forests by promoting better practices and more efficient processing facilities, which, in turn, will add more value to raw wood material. This is essential to incentivize the maintenance and expansion of forest assets while enhancing livelihoods.

“This initiative is all about unleashing the potential for Uganda’s forest resources to contribute more sustainably to inclusive economic growth, global efforts to address the climate crisis and loss of biodiversity and to promote women’s economic empowerment,” said FAO Representative in Uganda Antonio Querido. “We look forward to working with the EU, the Government of Uganda and our other partners to move this important project forward,” he added.

Economies of scale

Another goal is to achieve economies of scale by aggregating more of the country’s smallholder tree farmers and wood processors.

Access to affordable finance for small and medium enterprises in the wood sector is another challenge the initiative seeks to address, through measures such as provision of financial literacy, business management advisory support, and improved connections with the financial sector.

As demand for wood products increases domestically and regionally, it’s both economically and environmentally crucial for Uganda to develop a sustainable wood-based value chain which could help the country transition towards a carbon-neutral economy. An essential requirement for this is combating the illegal timber trade. This causes substantial losses in tax revenues and along with continued reliance on charcoal for energy in many urban areas, contributing  to deforestation.

“The project, which is part of the broad action under the EU-GOU Forest Partnership, is in line with the National Development Agenda for the forestry sector focused on enhancing value addition to forestry resources, reducing environmental degradation and the adverse effects of climate change as well as improving utilization of natural resources for sustainable economic growth and livelihood security,” said Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water and Environment. “The Ministry is proud of this collaboration and is fully committed to playing the policy and regulatory, and technical coordination role necessary for this programme,” he added.

Reducing pressure on natural resource

If Uganda’s forest plantations are managed sustainably and environment-friendly, the pressure on natural resources can be reduced and legal and deforestation free economic growth enabled.

Over the last 15 to 20 years, with support from the EU, FAO and other partners, substantial investment has been made into the forest sector, meaning that the volume of wood produced is expected to grow substantially in the coming years.

Upgrading value chains is crucial if they can absorb the expected supply, provide additional employment and income, and continue to incentivize sustainable practices rather than illegal logging.

FAO’s Forestry division oversees more than 200  projects in 80 countries, and FAO is a lead partner for joint globl initiatives such as the global Sustainable Wood for a Sustainable World (SW4SW).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi spoke over the phone with President of the Republic of Iraq, Abdul Latif Rashid. The two leaders exchanged greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, praying to Allah the Almighty to bring it back to the two countries and the Arab and Islamic nations with security, stability and prosperity, and to grant the brotherly peoples of Egypt and Iraq lasting security, prosperity and progress.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Norway will open an embassy in Dakar in the autumn of 2024. The mission will also be responsible for several other countries in West Africa.

This is the first time Norway has established an embassy in Senegal. In addition to Senegal the new Embassy will be responsible for Norway’s diplomatic relations with Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad, where Norway does not have any foreign service missions.

‘I am pleased we will now have dedicated diplomats in Senegal. They will work to strengthen our partnership with Senegal and promote stability and development in the region,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.   

‘Norway has a long history of supporting economic development in African countries, as well as promoting conflict resolution, democracy and human rights. Norway is also a steadfast supporter of the United Nations and the African Union. Norway and Senegal are in a good position to increase our cooperation, and the Embassy in Dakar will enable Norway to be an even better partner,’ said Mr Eide.

‘This is a good time to take this important step to strengthen Norway’s cooperation with Senegal. Senegal has been one of our key multilateral partners in the effort to combat the impacts of climate change, as well as on issues relating to food sovereignty, democracy and human rights,’ said Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim.    

Norway provides a large amount of development assistance to the Sahel countries. In 2022 Norway allocated NOK 569 million (approx. USD 54 million) to partners in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Senegal, primarily to promote conflict resolution, humanitarian efforts and education.

‘In addition to broadening our partnership with Senegal we want to ensure we have the best possible analyses of what is happening on the ground in the region. This is a region with significant needs, where humanitarian crises are unfolding without widespread global attention. Norway is working to save lives, enhance food security and promote sustainable development in the region by providing both humanitarian relief and long-term development assistance,’ said Ms Tvinnereim.

Norway currently has 95 missions abroad.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Government of Norway.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Sudan, Sunarko and the Indonesian Embassy’s working team on Wednesday (10/4) carried out Eid al-Fitr 1445 H prayers at the Al-Noor Mosque, Port Sudan City.

Even though the national situation in Sudan has not fully recovered due to the conflict that has been going on for a year, this has not reduced the interest and enthusiasm of the people in Port Sudan City and other cities to welcome and celebrate Victory Day in a meaningful way.

Hopefully the momentum of Eid al-Fitr 1445 H will be the right time for all of us and the people of Sudan to further strengthen ties and friendship.

Happy Eid Al-Fitr 1445 Hijriyah, Sorry to be born and inner heart.

Taqoballahu Minna Wa Minkum, Taqoballahu Ya Kariim

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Khartoum, Sudan.