Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies (GSICS), Kobe University
On 24th August 2022, Dr. Albert Byamugisha presented on the topic of “World Bank Support to Uganda” to the students in Professor Ogawa’s class “World Bank & SDGs”.
At first, he introduced the main roles of the World Bank which is designed to finance projects that enhances the economic development of its 189 member states and provides technical assistance and policy advice. In addition, the World Bank’s main goals are to end extreme poverty, oversee economic policy, reform public institutions in developing countries, and define the global macroeconomic agenda. Moreover, he identified five key areas which the World Bank supports Africa, including saving lives, protecting poor people, protecting and creating jobs, building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic, and doing research and analysis. Also, he mentioned the impact of key projects supported by the World Bank on human capital, energy, infrastructure, refugee and host community support, and water support.
In Uganda, he also showed the chart which identified the loan portfolio distribution by various creditors, and it showed that the World Bank has the biggest proportion (22%) of all the externally funded projects, followed by Africa Development Bank at 21%.
Additionally, he introduced the launch of the SDGs Secretariate Hub in the Office of the Prime Minister; on 15 September 2021, the Right Honorable Prime minister launched the SDG Secretariate Hub, currently consists of spaces supported by Geographical Information Science (GIS) (convergence space), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ZOCTU (Zoctu provides e-transport, e-jobs, e-shopping solutions focusing on service providers, consumers, and partners).
Also, he said that on 4 May 2021, the Government, in partnership with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda and with support from the UN in Uganda and the CEO Summit, launched the Private Sector Platform for Sustainable Development Goals. The purpose of this platform is providing a medium for coordination among different private sector groupings, bilateral and multilateral partners supporting SDGs, aimed at achieving alignment to government plans and budgets, increasing efficiency in partners’ contribution to SDGs by sharing information and expertise for innovation, facilitating participation, and strategizing on priorities. It also works for increasing accountability towards government, the public and business partners/investors through continued dialogue in order to strengthen the partnership between the Government of Uganda, private sector and Development Partners, the UN and the public.
After the presentation, Dr. Albert Byamugisha opened the discussion session with the participants. Students were very interested in the topic through asking questions and receiving answers. Via this seminar, we are able to learn about the World Bank’s roles and understand more how the World Bank helps to promote sustainable development in Uganda. Also, we are able to critically think about the World Bank’s support on Uganda’s projects and its strategy to end extreme poverty and become better after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authored by Sreymech Hoeum (Research Student)
