About the Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development (UCSD) Rio and beyond
The Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development formerly the Uganda NGO Rio + 10 Coalition) has since 2001 been working as a loose network of more than 50 NGOs with a Secretariat formerly hosted by Joint Energy and Environment Projects (JEEP). By the end of 2003, there have been achievements as well as growing challenges.
The Vision of the Coalition is humanity sharing the resources of our planet in a sustainable manner guided by the principles of universal justice as set in Rio and subsequent summits.
The Mission
The Mission of the Coalition is to contribute to sustainable development through follow up of the Johannesburg summit outcomes and subsequent global declarations in Uganda.
Achievements
1. The achievements to date include having a growing functional secretariat since 2004, being the Regional Lead agency for the East African Civil Society Watchdog Project for sustainable development in the Lake Victoria basin involving 3 East African Sustainability Watch networks (Kenya SusWatch network c/o Kenya Organization for Environment Education, Tanzania Coalition for Sustainable Development and UCSD).
2. Development of a three year Advocacy and Lobby plan that involved wide consultations within the thematic groups and the Steering Committee, being the National Focal Point for the Global Sustainability Watch and Co–hosting its Secretariat as a follow up the Rio + 10 project,
3. Production of 2 Annual National Sustainability Watch Reports in 2005 and 2006, Coordinating the Civil Society Environment and Natural Resources(ENR) Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) revision process in 2003, being part of the National Organizing Committee for the Ramsar COP9 and the CSO Coordinating Committee for the same event that took place in 2005, among other networking and advocacy work related to sustainable development issues.
4. UCSD also has a functional secretariat office with 4 full time staff (Programme Manager, a Programme Officer, Assistant Programme Officer, Accountant and the Fundraising and Organizational development Advisor (on volunteer basis). The principle organs of the Coalition are the General Assembly, a nine - person Executive Committee and the Secretariat.
