Project

Addressing barriers to the adoption of improved charcoal production technologies and Sustainable Land Management practices through an integrated approach

Lead country

Uganda

Participating countries

Uganda

Project status

Under implementation

Implementing period

From May 20, 2014 to November 20, 2019

SDGs addressed by this project

SDG targets

  1. 7.1 Ensure universal access to sustainable, reliable energy
  2. 15.b Mobilize resources, incentives for sustainable forest management

Project ID: 4493

*The boundaries shown and the designations used on the above map and included in lists, tables and documents on this website do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations or UNDP | References to Kosovo* shall be understood to be in the context of UN Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

Technical team

  • Energy Programme

Technical area(s)

  • Energy access

Sub-area(s)

  • Sustainable charcoal

Landscape(s)

  • Forests

Sub-landscape(s)

  • General

Transformed sector(s)

  • Forestry and other land use
  • Agriculture

UNDP role(s)

  • Capacity development / Technical assistance
  • Innovative approaches
  • Institutional mechanism and system building

Strategy

  • Governance
  • Food and agricultural commodities
  • Monitor inventory

Sub-strategy

  • Institutional framework
  • Participatory governance models
  • Laws/ Policy/ Plan formulation
  • Sustainable agriculture practices and use of resources (TP 2, 7, 8, 9)
  • Demonstration sites/Pilot
  • Sustainable land management
  • Energy finance
  • Knowledge/Data management

Social inclusion

  • Local community/CSOs
  • Women

Gender equality

  • Women farmers
  • Livelihoods for women
  • Awareness raising (on gender)

Gender result effectiveness scale

  • Gender responsive

Pathway(s)

  • Systems pathway
  • People pathway
  • Sci-tech pathway

Risk reduction target(s)

  • Hazard control/mitigation
  • Improve resilience

SDG target(s)

  • 7.1 Ensure universal access to sustainable, reliable energy
  • 15.b Mobilize resources, incentives for sustainable forest management

Conventions and protocols

  • National Development Policies
  • National Action Plan

Private sector(s)

N/A

Hot topic

  • Multi-stakeholder collaboration
  • Poverty reduction

Project description

Charcoal is the preferred cooking energy in Uganda (particularly by urban consumers) because of a variety of reasons including: it is affordable by all cadres of society and the only option available for the many low waged urban employees; it is substantially more efficient than wood and burns with very limited smoke, it has high-energy content per unit weight; it has a higher energy density than wood; it is easier to transport than wood and can be easily transported to markets far away from the forest. As a result, many people consider charcoal a relatively modern fuel rather than a traditional one. Government statistics attests to this. According to Uganda Bureau of Statistics, the total nominal value of household consumption of firewood and charcoal increased by 81.6% from UShs. 18.0 billion In 1996/97 to UShs. 32.7 billion In 2005/06. The value of charcoal consumption more than doubled, while the value of firewood consumption increased by 67.7% for the same period. Notwithstanding its popularity, the charcoal sub-sector remains plagued by inefficient production practices, lack of sustainable supplies of woody biomass and inadequate, often conflicting, policy statements. At this rate, the pressure on natural resources will be exacerbated even further as communities produce more charcoal to meet their livelihood demands and urban charcoal consumer demand.The overall goal of this project is “Improved charcoal production technologies and sustainable land management practices through an integrated approach in Uganda.” The objective of the project is to secure multiple environmental benefits by addressing the twin challenges of unsustainable utilization of fuel wood (including charcoal) and poor land management practices common in Uganda's woodland through technology transfer, enhancement of the national policy framework and the promotion of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) practices. The project consistent with the National Development Plan (NDP) to promote a low carbon emission development path, the National Forestry Policy (2001) that seeks to promote the rehabilitation and conservation of forests, soil and water resources, the National Action Plan (NAP) to combat desertification under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and other relevant national policy and legal frameworks. The project involves piloting low carbon emission sustainable charcoal technologies and broader sustainable land and forest management practices in four districts: Mubende, kiboga, Nakaseke and Kiryandongo.

USD $3,580,000

Grant amount

USD $14,862,108

Leveraged amount (co-financing)

1

Source(s) of fund

Sources of fund

 

  • Global Environment Facility – Trust Fund ($3,580,000)

Implementing partner(s)

  • Government of Uganda

Project metrics

Related resources

Geospatial information

Discover relevant spatial data related to this project/country/region, powered by UN BiodiversityLab

Project reports and documentation