Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change (PFCC)

PARLIAMENTARY FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE-UGANDA (PFCC-U)

Background

The Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change (PFCC) was formed in 2008 by members of the 8th parliament to respond to the pressing environmental, social and economic issues presented by Climate Change. The Forum was registered as a company Ltd by Guarantee without share capital in April 2009 Reg No.10792 and as an NGO in May 2016. Based on the subscription by 20th July 2016, the Forum has a membership of 215 of which 80 are females. Being among the first parliamentary forum on climate change in Africa, the forum has influenced parliamentary climate change dialogue and reforms in many regions of the continent.

PFCC takes cognizance of the need to enhance the legislative, oversight, budgeting and representation roles of parliamentarians as a mechanism for mainstreaming climate change concerns into the national and global development frameworks such as the National Development Plan (NDP), Sustainable Development Goals (MDGs), Sustainable Development strategy, Intended National Development Goals (INDCs) and the Green Growth Strategy (GGS). Based on the Forum Strategic Plan 2013-2017, the forum descriptions are;

Vision

The forum’s Vision is a prosperous and climate change-resilient Uganda

Goal

The goal of PFCC is to ensure effectiveness in policies and actions for harmonized and coordinated approaches towards climate change resilience and sustainable development in Uganda
 

Accomplishments over the years
i)    Awareness and capacity building for Members of Parliament on the impacts of climate change in Uganda
ii)    Field excursions to areas faced with climate change effects and those implementing best practices for climate change mitigation/adaptation in different regions of Uganda
iii)    Supporting national climate change policy; PFCC members provided in-put during the development and review of the National Climate Change Policy. More involvement is expected during the policy implementation phase.
iv)    Supporting national REDD+ process; forum members participated during the advance consultations for developing the REDD+ R-PP and the Consultation and Participation plan submitted to the World Bank/FCPF.
v)    Influencing global climate dialogue; PFCC has always been represented among the government delegation since COP 16 to the recently concluded COP 21 in Paris where members actively participated in several sessions of the conferences.
vi)    Current Strategic Plan 2013 – 2017; consultative workshops were held in December 2012. Members provided views that were incorporated in the new strategic plan and roadmap for involving MPs during the climate change policy implementation process.
vii)    Promoting PFCC vision; several stakeholders; government agencies, CSOs and development partners have been sensitized about the unique climate change mitigation/adaptation opportunities that can arise through the forum. Some have expressed interest in working with the forum.
viii)    Increase in subscription; membership was 45 at the commencement of the ninth parliament. This has since more than doubled over time to date with over one hundred membership by MPs.
ix)    Regional climate integration; with support from Uganda parliament, GIZ and Ministry of Water and Environment, the forum convened a regional climate change symposium in Kampala in 2010. This brought together policy makers from the EAC and SADC to discuss regional climate change concerns. The symposium concluded with urgent call to governments across the continent to develop national climate change policies and treat climate change mitigation/adaptation as a development concern.

Institutional set up
The Forum Patron is the Right Honorable Speaker of Parliament. On 19th July 2016, the Forum elected the new leadership of the 9 members that form the Executive Committee as below;

Planned interventions; 2013 – 2017

As part of the plans to strengthen the PFCC institutionally, the forum undertook a process of developing a new strategic plan covering the period 2013 – 2017. This process was consultative involving discussions with members of the forum and other stakeholders. Negotiations are currently on-going with different donors on mechanisms for providing funding to the strategic plan and other forum processes.
The mission during the new intervention timeframe is to “ensure proactive and coordinated actions from all stakeholders so that the most vulnerable sectors of the economy are climate proofed and sustainable development is achieved”. 
PFCC during the 2013 – 2017 period shall endeavor to work with the mandated government institutions, development partners and relevant stakeholders in ensuring that the national objectives for climate change mitigation/adaptation is realized. Key among the strategic interventions shall include: 
1.    Strengthening PFCC knowledge, membership and roles in national development.
2.    Supporting mainstreaming of climate change issues into national development agenda
3.    Strengthening the institutional capacity of PFCC for effective implementation of climate change mitigation/adaptation initiatives
4.    Enhancing information flow and creating linkages at national and international levels
5.    Supporting implementation of the national, regional and global climate change policies/ guidelines

Policy Processes so far earmarked up to December 2017
1.    The Climate Change Policy Development. Advocate for and Demand, through our membership and National Resources Committee of Parliament the Minister of Water and Environment to table the Climate Change Bill to the Floor of Parliament.
2.    The guidelines for establishment of the entities and monitoring of climate change institutions to tap funding opportunities should be verified by Parliament to avoid mismanagement of funds.
3.    It is also important for members of the Forum to cause the responsible Minister to present the cabinet paper on the Paris agreement and as well get updated on the progress of implementation in order to help in establishing the Ratification instruments of accession. Additionally, members need to get acquitted to the draft Climate Change Law development processes from the start.
4.    Contribute to the National REDD+ Policy development process that shall be finalized in 2016.
5.    Take note and inform constituencies about the provisions of the Saw Log Phase 3 Project (yet to be released) and how they can participate. 
6.    Take part in the policy processes relating to the National Forestry and Tree Planting Regulation of 2016. 
7.    Pay attention to the Bio-fuel Bill, The Energy Policy that is under review and the Renewable Energy Policy that shall be reviewed in 2017. Additional Policy processes include the National Agricultural Extension Policy (NAEP) that is under review through MAAIF and the yet to commence National Adaptation Plan (NAP) spearheaded by the Climate Change Department.

Our funders

PFCC has continued to receive financial support and funding from different agencies locally and internationally to whom we are so grateful. We are particularly grateful for the continued funding from DFID/UKaid, GIZ, IUCN, Dan Church Aid, Cord Aid and IITA. We also acknowledge support from the Climate Change Department (CCD) of the Ministry of Water and Environment.

Partnering with us

We acknowledge that several actors; government institutions, CSOs and Development Partners are currently involved in on-going processes related to climate change mitigation/adaptation in Uganda. We recognize that for effectiveness of such efforts, support from parliamentarians through their legislative, oversight and representation roles shall be necessary.

For support or partnership with PFCC in its programmes, please visit, write or call us using the following addresses/contacts:
Development House RM B09, Plot 16 – 18, Parliament Avenue. P.O Box 7178, Kampala – Uganda,
Telephone (office) +256 414 377 708      Email: pfcc@parliament.go.ug  website: pfccparliament.go.ug

OR

Staff of the Forum
The Program Coordinator (Kaaya Christine) +256772570095/ kaayact@gmail.com 
The Project Officer (Businge Nicholas) +256782454695/ busingenike@gmail.com 
The Finance Manager (Brenda Tuhirirwe) +256782231800/ von_brenda@yahoo.com

Alternatively you can reach PFCC through:
Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Plot 16-18 Parliament Avenue
P.O BOX 7178, Kampala, Uganda.
Tel: +(256) 414 377 000/150.
Fax: +(256) 414 346 826.