The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) project

The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) project at NEMA aims to conserve Uganda's genetic resources and traditional knowledge while ensuring fair, sustainable benefits from their use. It strengthens institutional capacity to implement the Nagoya Protocol, targeting communities in Karamoja and southwestern Uganda.

Key Aspects of the ABS Project:

• Objective: To strengthen institutional capacity for the effective implementation of the Nagoya Protocol and raise awareness on ABS regulations in Uganda.
• Project Stakeholders: The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is the project executing agency working in collaboration with Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and state (Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA); National Forestry Authority (NFA); Plant Genetic Resources Centre (PGRC); National Forestry Resources Research Institute (NaFORRI); National Chemotherapeutic Research Institute (NCRI); Makerere University) and none state (GIZ ABS Capacity Development Initiative; Karamoja Women Cultural Group (KWCG) and United Organization for Batwa Development in Uganda (UOBDU)) partners.
• Focus Areas: The project focuses on creating, implementing, and monitoring ABS agreements between users and providers of genetic resources, particularly with indigenous communities like the Batwa.
• Field Offices: Two field offices are established to facilitate grassroots involvement: one in Karamoja (hosted by Karamoja Women Cultural Group) and one in Southwestern Uganda (hosted by UOBDU).
• Goal: The project aims to create functional models for ABS at the local level and enhance the sustainable management of Uganda's biodiversity.

This initiative is part of NEMA's efforts to ensure that the use of genetic resources benefits local communities and contributes to economic development. 

Project Components and Deliverables: 

Component 1 seeks to strengthen the regulatory and institutional framework for ABS and traditional knowledge and bring it into compliance with the Nagoya Protocol. By so doing, Uganda will: 

(i) fulfil her legal obligation to fully implement Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); 

(ii) ensure that all bio-prospecting initiatives are legally carried 2 out and the benefits fairly and equitably shared

(iii) encourage the establishment of systems for open exchange of information among key stakeholders; 

(iv) promote the recognition of Traditional Knowledge (TK) associated with biological resources; (v) promote recognition of the value of biological resources and diversity, and; 

(vi) enable custodians of these resources and associated TK to receive benefits and alternative livelihood opportunities. 

Component 2 intends to ensure designation of an additional two Competent National Authorities (CNAs) to handle Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) associated with wildlife and forestry. This component will also help to establish a capacity building programme to expedite implementation of the national ABS framework with a focus on strengthening the institutional capacity of NEMA, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), Nationals Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Makerere University Kampala (MUK) and district local governments. Capacity building under this component will also include training and database establishment to facilitate informed decision making on PIC and MAT. 

Component 3 supports the development and implementation of four (4) pilot projects on the sustainable use of genetic resources within a formalized ABS framework in northeastern Uganda and south-western Uganda. The pilot projects will focus on: 

(a) traditional medicinal knowledge and its use in product development for income and livelihoods among the Batwa IPLCs of south western Uganda; (b) community protocols for access to Sandalwood (Osiris lanceolata) genetic resources in Karamoja,and (c) ABS compliant Prunus africana value chains in south-western Uganda;and 

(d) ABS-responsive Collaborative Forest Management among local communities adjacent to forests in Karamoja and south western Uganda. 

The pilots will be led by three different institutions: National Environment Management Authority (which is also the ABS focal point), Makerere University and National Forestry Resources Research Institute (national university and research institute respectively, both represented on the National Technical committee on Biodiversity which is hosted by the CBD focal point).  

Component 4 addresses the need to increase public awareness and understanding on the Nagoya Protocol on ABS. This involves the development and dissemination of knowledge resources emanating from the country’s experience in ABS (e.g. posters, brochures, manuals, training modules), and (iv) constituting a roster of experts who will be called upon as and when necessary to backstop communities and government on issues of ABS and the Nagoya Protocol.  This project was designed in a fully participatory manner. 

The national level interventions, mainly in support of components 1, 2 and 4 will be conducted, there will also be field project sites mainly based on component 3 involving capacity building and empowerment of local communities to implement the full extent of the Nagoya protocol through PIC, MAT and CFM. The field project implementation sites will be among the Batwa of southwestern Uganda and the Karamojong of eastern Uganda. Other field implementation sites 3 will be in the following central forest reserves: Mt. Moroto, Napak, Semuliki, Echuya, and Bwindi Impenetrable.  

Project Duration and Budget alignment to United Nations programming: The project duration is four years with a total budget of US$ 11,795,842 to be financed through a US$ 2,560,842 grant from the GEF Trust Fund and US$ 7,135,000 co-financing contribution. 

The ABS project is fully in line with Uganda UNDAF Strategic Intent # 3: Sustainable & Inclusive Economic Development and fits within UNDAF Outcome 3.1 on Natural Resource Management and Climate Change Resilience. In addition, project is fully in line with the country’s national strategies and plans. 5.0 Information about the project.  

For any information about the you may contact directly the following officers; 

1. Mr. Francis Ogwal,  The Project Coordinator, +256 772 517 045, [email protected]        

2. Achuu Simon Peter, Project Manager ,+256 781 270 040, [email protected]