The document summarizes the trade policy making process in Uganda and the role of civil society organizations (CSOs). It describes how the Ugandan government developed a National Trade Policy in 2007 with input from stakeholders like CSOs. CSOs participated in consultations and provided feedback to policy drafts with the aim of creating a pro-human development trade policy. However, CSO engagement was ad hoc and their influence was limited. Moving forward, the document recommends that CSOs more actively monitor implementation and strategize for participating in the next policy review.

1. Trade Policy Making process in Uganda: the role of the Civil Society Jane S. Nalunga SEATINI (Uganda ) FEATS Inception Meeting 15 th Oct 2008, Kampala, Uganda

2. Structure of the presentation Introduction Trade Policy Making process-theory Trade policy making in Uganda The Role and Influence of CSOs Way forward

3. Introduction August 2007 the Government of Uganda came out with the National trade policy The policy was entitled “ Trading out of poverty into wealth and prosperity ”. My presentation is based on the experience of my organisations’ involvement in this process.

4. Trade policy making –The theory Very complex & dynamic. Rich Interplay between trade and other policies/issues Response to specific & broad challenges facing the country/economy/people Specific & broad aspirations

5. Trade policy making in Uganda Response to calls for one coherent & comprehensive trade policy. Recognition of the centrality of trade in development. Appreciation of the complexity of trade negotiations and need to have guidelines .

6. Trade Policy making in Uganda : The Process Agenda setting Lead agency –Uganda government represented by the Ministry of Tourism, Trade & Industry (MTTI) MTTI tasked with consulting the stakeholders through the Inter-Institutional Trade Committee (IITC) and also directly. IITC discussed the TOR for the consultant.

7. Cont. Consultants major role: Collect the scattered trade policies collect stakeholder views Resultant document discussed in IITC & in Stakeholders Conference. Final draft presented to cabinet

8. Cont. The final out comes: Trade policy doc. Implementation plan - The National Trade Sector Development Plan (NTSDP) 2008/9-2012/13”. 5 year rolling plan Spells out short, medium and long term activities to be implemented to achieve the aspirations in the policy Indicates specific players /lead agencies Indicates expected outcomes.

9. The Role & influence of CSOs some CSOs members of the IITC good entry point to influence the Trade policy BUT IITC membership and invitation ad hoc Participation of CSOs haphazard CSO participation in the trade policy process through the Civil Society Working Group on Trade ( CSWGT)

10. Cont. And the Food Rights Alliance CSOs had clear aim/objective for participating: To ensure a pro-human development trade policy Bring the aspirations of the people esp the most vulnerable i.e rural women onto the policy

11. Cont. Shared/ agreed objective was important to use as a yard stick to assess the gaps and the efficacy of the positions in the draft policy 2 meetings organised by CSWGT for capacity building of CSOs in trade policy making Other meeting held to discuss the draft 2 meetings with the consultants to present their views.

12. Influence CSOs actively participated Campaigned for the issue of inclusion of domestic trade in the trade policy Promotion of domestic trade critical to poverty eradication and as a stepping stone for international trade .

13. Challenges Lack of continuity in engaging in the process Ad hoc nature of the CSWGT Low inclusiveness i.e Kampala affair of CSOs working on Trade. No systematic analysis of the policy after cabinet approval. Minimal participation in the NTSDP yet CSOs given some responsibilities.

14. Way forward: some proposals Trade policy making is dynamic CSOs should get back on board Assess the final document -can it enable people to trade out of poverty? Actively participate in the implementation and monitoring Strategise for the review in 2012/13.

15. END THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION