Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper by the Green Economy Coalition examines the gap between planned green recovery goals and actual financial implementation in Uganda following the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that while national budgets initially prioritized natural capital, actual financial releases have been sidelined in favor of short-term economic multipliers, necessitating fiscal reforms and better valuation of ecological services to ensure a sustainable recovery.

The report 'The Road to Sustainable Transport' examines the environmental and social impacts of global transportation, the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and case studies of sustainable urban mobility. It highlights the role of public transit, non-motorized transport, and electrification in reducing carbon emissions and improving public health, while noting the potential for post-COVID-19 recovery packages to accelerate these transitions.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines community-level approaches to preventing violent extremism in Uganda, focusing on the roles of community resilience and dialogue. It argues for a shift from specific counter-terrorism programmes to broader development and governance interventions that reduce vulnerability to radicalisation.

A May 2020 report by Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), funded by FSD Africa and FSD Uganda, evaluates compliance with consumer protection frameworks in Uganda's credit market. Through 1,102 mystery shopping visits to Tier 1-4 lenders in Kampala, Mbarara, and Gulu, the study found significant gaps in the disclosure of the total cost of credit, interest rates, and late payment penalties. The report highlights that inexperienced borrowers and women receive less information and fewer explanations than experienced male borrowers, and that written disclosure materials, such as key facts documents, are rarely provided during initial sales visits.

This policy brief details a mystery shopping assessment conducted by Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) between July and August 2019 to evaluate credit cost disclosures among Tier 1-4 lenders in Uganda. The study found significant gaps in the disclosure of interest rates, total cost of credit, and non-interest fees, with inexperienced borrowers and women receiving less information than experienced borrowers and men. The brief recommends improving staff training, standardizing Key Facts Documents (KfDs), and harmonizing consumer protection policies between the Bank of Uganda (BoU) and the Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority (UMRA).

This case study profiles Divine Bamboo, a Ugandan social enterprise that produces clean cooking fuel from fast-growing local bamboo species to combat deforestation and health issues associated with traditional fuels.

This fact sheet presents the results of a baseline survey conducted in March 2020 as part of the Financial Inclusion for Refugees (FI4R) project. The project, launched by FSD Uganda and FSD Africa, aims to support financial service providers (FSPs) in offering services to refugees and host communities in Uganda to build resilience and drive access to basic financial tools.

The Green Economy Coalition (GEC) has outlined a 10-year strategy (2020–2030) to catalyze systemic economic reform toward green and fair economies. The plan focuses on shifting social narratives, building public demand, and influencing policy across five key themes: governance, finance, economic sectors, inequality, and nature.

The Uganda Green Economy Barometer 2018 examines the status of Uganda's transition to a green economy, highlighting the gap between a conducive policy environment and actual implementation. While the country possesses significant natural capital and a low greenhouse gas emissions profile, the transition is hindered by high initial costs, inadequate funding, and poor policy enforcement. The report advocates for a green growth model to drive economic growth, create millions of jobs, and ensure environmental sustainability as a pathway to middle-income status.

This research paper proposes an analytical framework for studying cities in the developing world using the 'political settlements' approach to understand national political dynamics through urban transformation.

This working paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) proposes a practical framework for implementing climate action in cities, particularly in developing countries. Based on an analysis of seven urban projects across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the paper identifies five critical levers—power and leadership, communication and engagement, capacity building, financing implementation, and the demonstration effect—that practitioners can use to overcome barriers and embed climate compatibility into urban planning and investment.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to engage youth in democratic governance. It argues that while normative frameworks like the African Youth Charter and the African Governance Architecture–Youth Engagement Strategy (AGA–YES) exist, there is a significant gap between these theoretical rights and the practical reality for young Africans, who often face unemployment and political marginalisation.

This briefing note examines how micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), specifically domestic seed companies, can support climate risk management (CRM) within agricultural value chains. Using a case study of Equator Seeds in northern Uganda, the document illustrates how investments in quality, climate-resilient seeds and complementary services like agronomic training can reduce the vulnerability of farmers and other value chain actors to climate hazards such as droughts.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) provides training and technical support to Uganda's judicial and law enforcement systems to improve the investigation and prosecution of complex crimes, including terrorism, organized crime, and crimes against humanity.

This research paper reviews the current and planned climate change adaptation actions in Uganda. It analyzes the country's vulnerability, particularly in semi-arid regions and the 'cattle corridor,' and evaluates the national policy framework, including the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and National Development Plans. The report identifies a concentration of adaptation projects in the agriculture and water sectors, while noting significant gaps in the health, forestry, and fisheries sectors. It also examines the flow of international climate finance and the role of civil society networks in fostering resilience.

This report provides an economic assessment of climate change impacts in Uganda, analyzing five national sectors and five local case studies. It estimates that the cost of inaction between 2010 and 2050 ranges from US$273 billion to US$437 billion, primarily affecting the water and energy sectors. The study argues that while adaptation costs are high, they are significantly lower than the potential damages, and that economic growth is essential to provide the resources necessary for resilience.

This executive summary presents an economic assessment of climate change impacts in Uganda, detailing the costs of inaction versus adaptation across water, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure sectors. It emphasizes that the cost of inaction is significantly higher than the cost of adaptation and provides specific sectoral priorities and regional case studies to guide the Government of Uganda's policy and investment decisions.

This case study provides an economic assessment of climate change impacts in Kampala, Uganda, combining qualitative analysis with quantitative modelling of climate projections. It evaluates the costs of flood-related damages and the investment required to climate-proof urban infrastructure, while conducting cost-benefit analyses on specific drainage improvement projects.

This document introduces a report by the African Centre for Cities and CDKN that provides a framework for climate compatible development in African cities, specifically addressing the challenges of informality and inequality.

This research paper by the African Centre for Cities and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network proposes a framework for 'climate compatible development' in African cities, specifically focusing on informal settlements. It argues that because a significant portion of Africa's urban growth occurs in slums, climate resilience must be integrated with poverty alleviation and in situ upgrading to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities.