Africa > Uganda
Across several social and economic dimensions Uganda scores relatively well in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of gender gaps. Yet, despite a progressive institutional framework, women continue facing higher poverty and vulnerability, lower education opportunities, and obstacles to acquiring productive assets. While existing social protection and economic (i.e. poverty-reducing) programs do not show gender exclusion given the need to close the remaining gaps in opportunities and outcomes consideration could be given to strengthening direct gender targeting and increasing programmatic support.
Uganda is prone to natural disasters that climate change is making more frequent and impactful. Besides the direct damages to lives and livelihoods, the effects of disasters, such as floods and droughts, extend to the wider economy. As recognized by the Third National Development Plan, climate adaptation and preparedness are essential to ensure the resilience of the population and the economy to extreme weather events. Debt-Investment-Growth-Natural-Disasters (DIGNAD) model simulations underscore that building adaptation infrastructure can reduce by two thirds the GDP losses at the trough triggered by a disruptive disaster and almost halve the resulting fiscal gap. Given the financial challenges posed by scaling up adaptation, international support—and scaling up capacity to access donor funds—is required to meet ambitious adaptation plans.
Finance & Development, March 2020