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Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium

Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium. Involvement in Biotech & Biosafety Bill process. Herbert Oloka Uganda. Outline. About UBBC Objectives of UBBC Achievements so far Status of bill process Status and potential for biotech crops Planned engagement activities 2013

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Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium

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  1. Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium Involvement in Biotech & Biosafety Bill process Herbert Oloka Uganda

  2. Outline • About UBBC • Objectives of UBBC • Achievements so far • Status of bill process • Status and potential for biotech crops • Planned engagement activities 2013 • Institutional development • Opportunities and challenges • Partners

  3. About UBBC • Multi-stakeholder organisation for safe and sustainable advancement of biotechnology • UBBC has been directly involved in advocacy for the passage of the Biotech & biosafety bill through direct and indirect engagement with key government officials, including ministers • The coalition approach has seen faster development of activities in the legislative process, and will be crucial to future advancement of biotech and biosafety in Uganda • Managed by an Executive Committee that oversees the activities of the Consortium Coordinator

  4. Objectives of UBBC • To support biotechnology regulatory framework development and implementation; • To promote biotechnology and biosafety advocacy, sensitization and outreach; • To foster and coordinate biotechnology partnerships for development; • To provide support to product delivery and sustainability. (long term) • To support capacity building for biotech development and application Five year strategy developed

  5. Achievements so far • Built successful collaboration with various gov’t agencies/offices (Office of the Prime Minister, Min. of Finance, Parliament) • Promoted nationwide biotech & biosafety communication efforts • Provided support to legislation development • Cabinet approval of Biotech & Biosafety Bill; Oct. 2012 • Tabling of bill in Parliament, Feb. 2013 • Actively engaged in bill consultations with the Parliamentary Committee on S&T • Significant recognition among many stakeholders

  6. Biotech regulatory development in Uganda Bill Principles tabled & approved by Cabinet Presidential Assent Instruction to draft Bill sent to Solicitor General / FPC 2ndreading, debate, 3rd Reading, passage Act of Parliament Bill tabled in Cabinet Public Input/ hearings at committee stage Bill committed to S&T Committee of Parliament Bill tabled in Parliament (1st Reading) Minister requests for bill to be introduced to Parliament Policy devt. initiated 2003 2008 2011 (June) Policy adopted 2011 (Aug.) Bill drafted in consultation with Min. Fin. & UNCST 2011 -12 2012 Sept. 2013 Feb./ March Bill approved by Cabinet, publication in Gazette 2012 Oct./Nov. 2013 Feb. 2013 Feb. 2013 Jan.

  7. Status and potential for biotech crops (as at Dec. 2012)

  8. Status and potential for biotech crops

  9. Status and potential for biotech crops • Results from field evaluations are promising, many farmers engaged have expressed desire to have crop varieties that address many of their constraints • Actual potential for adoption by farmers will be dependent on crop/trait combination

  10. Planned engagement activities 2013 UBBC activities for 2013 are focused on two programme areas • Biotechnology regulatory framework development and implementation • Biotechnology and biosafety advocacy, sensitization and outreach • Institutional development

  11. 1. Biotech regulatory framework development and implementation • High level engagement meetings • Parliamentary Committee Chairpersons • Key Ministers (finance, agriculture, health, trade, PM) • Heads of regulatory agencies Mostly one-on-one discussions • Follow-up on bill progression • Participation in day-to-day committee bill consultation meetings • Regular contacts with key persons in process • Day-to-day contact in Parliament

  12. 1. Biotech regulatory framework development and implementation • Bill consultative workshops • Biotechnology scientists • Academia • Media • Farmers groups • Ministries, departments, and agencies of the Government • Civil society • Members of Parliament • Building champions (one-on-one meetings, then champions’ meetings) • Ministers • Scientists • MPs • Civil society

  13. 1. Biotech regulatory framework development and implementation • Retreat for members of S&T committee Parliament • To prepare report of committee – very crucial to process • Two day • Will also involve scientists, bill drafters, UNCST etc • Field Visits for MPs • Working with SCIFODE, NARO and Committee…. • Study tour to countries with working regulatory framework?? RSA? • This has been requested by Committee • Funding being sought • Working with other players such as SCIFODE

  14. 2. Biotechnology and biosafety advocacy, sensitization and outreach • Open Forum of agricultural Biotechnology • Monthly, now focused on bill progress • In partnership with UNCST/AATF/SCIFODE/NARO • Media workshops • Two for 2013 • Build understanding of the bill • Increase quality of reporting

  15. 2. Biotechnology and biosafety advocacy, sensitization and outreach • Publication of information materials • FAQs on Bill • Status of agricultural biotech capacity in Uganda • Status of biosafety capacity in the country • The biosafety bill process in Uganda (1995-2013) • Popular version of bill • Launch of ISAAA Global Report – ISAAA • Policy brief on global status to Parliament - ISAAA • Trip to Burkina Faso - ISAAA

  16. 3. Institutional development • Monthly Executive Committee meetings • Formal recruitment of members/partners • Formal recruitment of Coordinator (position advertised on nationwide newspaper/online) • There is need to expand human resource for greater impact

  17. Expected results for 2013 • Bill passed by Parliament and assented to by President • Enhanced knowledge on biotech and biosafety among key stakeholders • Stronger outreach voice

  18. Opportunities • Greater recognition and access to key actors • Availability of local and international expertise • Providing a unified front for biotech and biosafety advancement • Close collaboration with S&T committee • Replicating UBBC model across Africa

  19. UBBC challenges • Single staff for an ever increasing work load • Diversity of funding • Sustained predictable support vs. ad hoc one-off project funding

  20. Challenges to progression of bill • Increased activism • Overall negative sentiments on GM crops among MPs • Need strategies to manage this

  21. Conclusion • Rapid progress has been realized in the past 2 years • Bill expected to be passed this year • Some challenges expected along the way • UBBC needs support to move this process forward

  22. Partners

  23. Thank you

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