[{"bbox": [71, 129, 1160, 450], "category": "Text", "text": "CSOs face capacity gaps in internal governance, advocacy and technical expertise, as well as other challenges such as limited financial sustainability, issues of fraud, a high competition for resources and limited funding, the latter affecting grassroots and district based CSOs in particular. The relation between the government and CSOs is at times characterised by mistrust on both sides. In that context, the influence of CSOs on national policy making is limited. Indeed beyond service-delivery, possibilities for Uganda's civil society to engage in policy processes and to effectively demand accountability of government and administration remain limited at all levels. However, there is progress on policies that promote economic development such as youth skilling and green jobs, where CSOs have been able to pilot models that the government is engaged in and willing to adopt. The COVID-19 pandemic also had an impact on the sector and has further constrained CSOs' operations. A majority had to adjust to digital technologies and virtual work but this is still hampered by a lack of equipment, limited connectivity, digital skills and literacy. On the other hand, COVID-19 also made it clear that government, private sector and CSOs have to work together to address COVID-19 impacts, create awareness, support communities and improve service delivery."}, {"bbox": [71, 472, 1160, 608], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite the above constraints and challenges, opportunities do exist. There is dialogue between CSOs, and some sections of government and the formation of the NGO Bureau under the Ministry of Internal Affairs provides a focal point for engagement between state and non-state actors. Additionally, various formal and informal spaces for regular interaction between CSOs, citizens and local governments exist and provide platforms that can be leveraged for improved relations and accountability."}, {"bbox": [71, 630, 1161, 812], "category": "Text", "text": "The 2021-2027 MIP for Uganda foresees that EU support to civil society will continue to be hinged upon the three objectives of the 2012 EU Communication on engagement with civil society in external relations. The Action will seek to support CSOs in Uganda across the priority areas of the MIP in order to strengthen their capacity to perform their advocacy and development roles and will be complemented with funding through calls for proposals from the global envelop to support civil society. With youth, gender, the integrated refugee response and digitalisation as mainstreaming topics, the Action will integrate some of the cross-cutting issues as identified by the MIP."}, {"bbox": [71, 838, 1161, 1052], "category": "Text", "text": "Overall, the Action seeks to position the EU as a contributor to the advancement of democratic governance and human rights globally and to support the essential advocacy and accountability roles of CSOs in the country. The Action will seek to improve the relationship between the government and CSOs, including through better demonstrating the positive socio-economic impact of CSOs in Uganda over the years. It will continue to work with a broad range of CSOs including CBOs, FBOs, labour unions, cooperatives, etc. and continue the engagement at national and subnational levels established by the first phase of the Civil Society in Uganda Support Programme (CUSP I) which was co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to make the sector more resilient."}, {"bbox": [71, 1077, 1161, 1265], "category": "Text", "text": "Support to CSOs is a coordinated effort with EU Member States and CUSP II will continue to be coordinated with the EU-funded Democratic Governance Facility (DGF) and the USAID funded Civil Society Strengthening Activity (CSSA) which focuses on advocacy, organizational and alliance building capacities of CSOs. To ensure complementarity and coordination with DGF and USAID, both actors will be invited to the steering committees of the Action. A few development partners including six member states (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland and Germany) have ongoing bilateral cooperation programmes with CSOs. Coordination and complementarity are ensured through regular development partners working group meetings and EU coordination meetings."}, {"bbox": [86, 1335, 327, 1367], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2. Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [71, 1379, 1137, 1460], "category": "Text", "text": "As described above, the possibilities for CSOs to advocate for enhanced adherence to democratic governance principles and leaving no one behind and to effectively claim transparency and accountability of government remain limited. This is mostly caused by the following major problem areas:"}, {"bbox": [71, 1484, 787, 1511], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 1. A limited conducive environment for civil society organizations' operations"}, {"bbox": [71, 1512, 1137, 1646], "category": "Text", "text": "As stated above, while the Ugandan National NGO Policy of 2010 and other key policy and planning documents such as the NDP III and the Vision 2040 clearly underline the importance of civil society contributions, as well as those of youth, women, persons with disabilities and marginalized groups, to national development, civic space and the environment in which CSOs operates remains challenging such as arrests of human rights defenders, bank account freezes of NGOs on account of terrorism financing, suspension of the DGF."}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1159, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 19"}]