Browsing by Author "National Planning Authority"

Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
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    Achieving Middle Income Status: What needs to be done
    (National Planning Authority, 2018) National Planning Authority
    Uganda aspires to attain a per capita income of USD 1,039 by 2020 as spelt out in the Second National Development Plan (NDPII). To achieve the middle-income target Uganda should sustain an average growth of above 10 percent in the remaining two and a half year period of NDPII. The reality is that this growth target cannot be achieved without a comprehensive economic transformation. As such, based on current trends the middle-income target cannot be achieved by 2020. Nevertheless, there are low hanging fruits that are within our national reach which if implemented efficiently, will fast track Uganda’s progress towards middle income status. This brief provides key highlights on technical guidance and policy direction on the attainment of middle income status as elaborated in NDPII. However, instead of providing the broad strategic direction already in NDPII, this brief unpacks the NDPII to provide micro/firm level low hanging implementable interventions for fast tracking progress to middle income target.
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    Comprehensive Evaluation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Programme: Education Modelling and Forecasting
    (National Planning Authority, 2020) National Planning Authority
    Two decades of implementation of the Universal Primary Education Policy in Uganda, have been associated with notable achievements regarding increase in enrolment and investment in primary education by both the public and households. However, the policy has been marred by critical challenges including high dropout rates and lower completion rates that need addressing through evidence-based interventions deriving from rigorous statistical modelling and forecasting. is policy brief draws on the findings of the education modelling and forecasting thematic area of the independent comprehensive evaluation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Policy undertaken by the National Planning Authority. It presents the trend of progress made on key indicators during the UPE policy implementation, the main drivers of such progress, the interventions that have had the largest and most cost-effective impact on educational outputs, and the contribution of UPE to returns to education and overall household welfare. The findings show that (i) while 93% of primary school-age children are enrolled in school compared to 40% before introduction of UPE, there is limited achievement in completion of the primary cycle and acquisition of the defined competences (ii) whereas government has prioritized increasing school resource inputs as key drivers of progress, government aided primary schools remain technically inefficient in converting such inputs into outputs (iii) while there is higher return to primary education, this is dependent on the technical efficiency of primary schools. It is recommended that monitoring and evaluation of the inputs, processes and outcomes of the primary education system should be prioritized to improve the technical efficiency of especially government aided primary schools. Besides, more investment in UPE is required to deliver the intended results.
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    Comprehensive Evaluation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Programme: Effectiveness of the Policy, Legal, Regulatory and Institutional Framework
    (National Planning Authority, 2020) National Planning Authority
    The 1992 Government White Paper provided for Universal Primary Education as one of the main policy tools for achieving poverty reduction and human development. Since the introduction of UPE in 1997, no comprehensive evaluation of the policy has ever been conducted to take stock of the gains attained, challenges faced, and lessons learnt during implementation of the UPE policy. This policy brief presents the key findings and policy advice arising from the policy, legal, regulatory and institutional framework thematic area of the recently concluded independent comprehensive evaluation of UPE policy undertaken by NPA. Overall, it was found that although there is an elaborate and institutionalized legal, policy, regulatory and institutional framework to support UPE, there is no policy document detailing what UPE is and how it was to be implemented. In addition, there are hardly any statutory instruments issued by the Minister of Education and Sports on UPE as required by the Education Act, 2008. Significant weaknesses were found in the design and or implementation of key policies including; automatic promotion policy, textbook policy, ECD policy, instruction in local language policy, guidelines on school feeding, decentralization of provision of primary education, and one public primary school per parish. It is recommended that comprehensive documentation of UPE policy should be undertaken and the minister should issue a statutory instrument on UPE as required under the Education Act, 2008.
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    Comprehensive Evaluation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Programme: Efficacy of School Inspection in Supporting the Delivery of UPE
    (National Planning Authority, 2020) National Planning Authority
    At the introduction of UPE, much responsibility was conferred on the inspection function to particularly quality assure the inputs, processes and outcomes of the UPE. While there have been significant achievements by the education inspectorate, mainly arising out of the reforms undertaken, increasingly, the education inspection function has been cited as a weak link within the interventions to improve education outcomes and achieve UPE objectives. This brief provides policy advice on strengthening the school inspection function based on the findings of the recently concluded independent comprehensive evaluation of UPE policy undertaken by NPA. From the evaluation, it was found that the directorate of education standards (DES) and the local authorities’ education departments have limited capacity in terms of human, transport and financial resources to undertake school inspection as defined in the existing guidelines. Besides, the relevant laws (Education Act, 2008 & Local government Act) do not provide an accountability mechanism that enhances coordination and collaboration between the centre (policy makers) and the local governments (implementers of policy). This policy brief recommends that: the education Act and LG Act should be amended to provide for a legally binding coordination and collaboration mechanism that among others compels LG inspectors to report to both the LG hierarchy and the DES; DES should be elevated to an independent non-Ministerial entity reporting directly to Parliament; and the average cost of inspecting a school be raised from UGX 56,000 to a minimum of UGX.152,292.
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    Comprehensive Evaluation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Programme: Efficacy of the Primary School Curriculum in Supporting the Realization of UPE
    (National Planning Authority, 2020) National Planning Authority
    An adequate and efficiently implemented primary school curriculum is a foundation for attainment of the UPE outcomes. It is at the primary level that the capacity to learn, to read and use math, to acquire information, and to think critically about that information are developed the current Uganda’s Primary Education Curriculum has gone through a series of reforms aimed at improving the quality of children’s learning in primary schools. e most recent reform commenced in 2007 and was concluded in 2012. Despite the recent review of the primary school curriculum, there have been reports doubting its relevance in facilitating the achievement of the UPE curriculum. This policy brief gives highlights of the findings and policy advice from the main assessment of the efficacy of the Primary School Curriculum in Supporting the Realization of UPE Policy Objectives, which was one of the six thematic areas of the independent comprehensive evaluation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Policy undertaken by the National Planning Authority. It was found that: (i) the current primary school curriculum is relevant and adequate, however, its implementation fails the realization of the intended UPE objectives (ii) there is a policy disconnect between curriculum development and the approval of textbooks and non-textbook materials (iii) the current assessment (in school and by UNEB) impedes the implementation of the curriculum as teaching is narrowed to only examinable subjects. It is recommended that: a curriculum and assessment policy be developed by the MoES to synchronize assessment and curriculum implementation; teachers should be trained on the practicum of implementing the curriculum as intended and; the role to approve the list of vetted textbooks to be procured should revert to NCDC.
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    Comprehensive Evaluation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Programme: Financing and Costing of UPE
    (National Planning Authority, 2020) National Planning Authority
    With the introduction of UPE in 1997, Government committed to providing the basic facilities and resources to enable every child enter and complete primary school. The Government commitments included: (i) payment of school fees; (ii) provision of instructional materials in the form of text books; (iii) construction of basic physical facilities in form of classrooms, laboratories, libraries and teachers’ houses; (iv) payment of teachers’ salaries and; (v) training of teachers. is specific policy brief presents insightful findings and recommendations on the Financing and Costing of UPE; one of the six thematic areas of the independent comprehensive evaluation of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) Policy, undertaken by the National Planning Authority. overarching findings show that the UPE policy has been pro-poor, making education affordable to the poorer households, nonetheless, financing of the UPE policy remains a critical challenge. While public expenditure allocations to UPE have been increasing in nominal terms over the years, it has not kept pace with the government commitment, the ever increasing cost of living and enrolments due to the growing school age population among other factors. is has pushed up the household expenditure on primary education to about 57% of the total household education expenditure, hence making it a challenge for especially poor households to meet their children’s school costs. It is hence recommended that in order to improve the benefits of UPE, the capitation formula should be revised, to enable schools cope with the demands of providing quality primary education as committed by government.
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    Fast Tracking the Development of the Iron and Steel Industries in Uganda: A Value Chain Approach
    (National Planning Authority, 2018) National Planning Authority
    Uganda’s Iron and Steel industry paints a picture of contradictions. Firstly, the country has abundant highquality iron ore deposits, yet its infant steel industry imports all of its raw materials. Secondly, there is high and growing demand for iron and steel products driven by vast infrastructure projects, both in the country and the region, yet this demand has not been exploited to fully develop the industry’s value chain. Given these contradictions, the President banned the exportation of unprocessed iron ore in 2011 in order to promote value addition in the iron and steel industry along the entire value chain.
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    Strengthening of Cooperatives for Social Economic Transformation in Uganda
    (National Planning Authority, 2019) National Planning Authority
    One of Uganda’s development challenges for social economic transformation is the low production and productivity. Whereas this is manifested in all sectors of the economy, it is prominent in the agricultural sector, which is Uganda’s economic backbone. The relative productivity of labor (as measured by the value added per worker) in the agricultural sector is significantly lower than that in the non-agricultural sectors.
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    Towards Universal Health Coverage in Uganda: A Multi-Sectoral Approach
    (National Planning Authority, 2019) National Planning Authority
    Globally, a country is said to have attained UHC when it is able to provide essential health services in financial protection to more than 90 percent of its population through a combination of compulsory insurance and tax revenues. In line with the global aspiration, Uganda’s UHC goal is to “provide access to essential quality health and related financial services without financial constraints to at least 65 percent of all people in Uganda by 2030
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    Unlocking the Economic Potential of Greater Kampala for Increased Productivity and Growth
    (National Planning Authority, 2019) National Planning Authority
    The rapid population growth in Kampala City, amidst widespread underemployment and a dominant informal sector, has caused structural and socio-economic challenges, including: the lack of an integrated transport system; mismanagement of the environment; unplanned settlements; spiraling urban poverty, exacerbated by poor infrastructure for markets, water and health service systems, housing, solid waste management; as well as overcrowding, congestion and pollution. These challenges are contributed to and affect wider areas that surround the city, including; Wakiso, Mukono and Mpigi districts. There is therefore, need for coordinated investments across the GKMA in order to address these challenges. To this end, the National Planning Authority (NPA), working together with the different stakeholders in GKMA, developed a Greater Kampala Development Strategy, which is based on four pillars, namely; job creation, improved livability, sustainable development, and united for all citizens of GKMA. The Strategy is a true example of an integrated planning framework for ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of existing resources and for resource mobilization and creating synergies. This policy brief highlights key priority focus areas identified in the strategy to improve the productivity and competitiveness of GKMA and the prerequisites for holistically unlocking the potential of the Greater Kampala, including: (i) a conducive legal framework, (ii) a coordinated and efficient institutional framework, (iii) coordinated and integrated planning, and; (iv) a financial and resource mobilization framework.
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    Unlocking Uganda’s Export Potential
    (National Planning Authority, 2018) National Planning Authority
    Export oriented growth is one of strategies expected to drive Uganda to a lower middle-income status by 2020. However, Uganda’s export performance is shaky, and the efforts and reforms have not yet yielded significant strides in widening the country’s export base. Towards improving Uganda’s export performance, this brief highlights key issues identified in a stakeholder developed Action Plan required for export development. The brief highlights key constraints to Uganda’s export development and also proposes specific actions to address the identified constraints. All these are provided by stakeholders and practitioners around selected priority export products