The Government of Uganda (GoU) is implementing the “Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Project”. The project is financed by the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank and GoU. The implementation of the project is led by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE), Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and the National Forestry Authority (NFA). The development objective of the project is "to improve sustainable management of forests and protected areas and increase benefits to communities from forests in target landscapes".

This document presents an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the Uganda Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate Smart Development [the Project].  The ESMF has been developed in tandem with a Process Framework (PF) as one of a set of due diligence instruments required to address and manage environmental and social impacts associated with the Project activities.

As per the World Bank environmental and social risks screening, the Government of Uganda is required to develop a Process Framework (PF). A process framework is prepared when Bank-supported projects may cause restrictions in access to natural resources in legally designated protected areas.

IFPA-CD Project Launch Video on 9th March 2022

The Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Project implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife Antiquities, National Forestry Authority, and Uganda Wildlife Authority jointly will launch the IFPA-CD Project on March 09, 2022.    The Launch event will take place at the National Forestry Authority Grounds in Bugolobi.

The Gender disparities affecting forest-related activities are multidimensional and multifaceted, reinforcing each other. Gender disparities are equally felt among the historically marginalized groups of Batwa as well as refugees (and particularly women, girls, and the disabled within these groups). The gender barriers associated with the IFPA-CD Project are framed in the following themes: institutional, legal, economic, social, and environmental/climate change contexts.

Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) - November 2020

Republic of Uganda/Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MOFPED) will implement material measures and actions so that the Project is implemented in accordance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). This Environmental and Social Commitment
Plan (ESCP) sets out a summary of the material measures and actions, any specific documents or plans, as well as the timing for each of these. 

The IFPA-CD Project "Occupational Health and Safety Measures" aim to provide guidelines on how work will be executed during the implementation of the IFPA-CD Project to ensure that the health and safety of the workers are adequately managed to prevent injuries and loss of lives during the course of employment. 

The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP)  is for Uganda’s “Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) Project. The SEP describes the commitments and process for Stakeholders’ engagement during the IFPA-CD Project implementation (July 2021-June 2026).  The IFPA-CD Project aims to improve the sustainable management of forests and protected areas and increase benefits to communities from forests in target landscapes.

The IFPA-CD Project will be implemented in selected sites in the Albertine rift and West Nile region including 7 National Parks, 4 Wildlife Reserves, 28 Central Forest Reserves, 16 Refugee host districts and additional 14 non refugee host Districts. In addition, the project activity on Private Tree farming will be implemented country-wide.