[{"bbox": [84, 106, 1145, 156], "category": "Text", "text": "these achievements. Other partners are currently providing support to the sector, in particular the World Bank, the\nGreen Climate Fund and the Global Environment Fund."}, {"bbox": [87, 205, 328, 234], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2. Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [84, 249, 318, 275], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Short problem analysis:"}, {"bbox": [84, 301, 1146, 567], "category": "Text", "text": "Against the backdrop of rapidly dwindling forest cover, the associated loss of forest products and ecosystem services, and the multiple drivers of deforestation exacerbated by a high population growth and hence pressure on natural resources, a range of issues will need to be addressed when aiming at restoring the forest cover in a lasting way. It is also clear that addressing this full set of issues exceeds the capacity of a single project or actor and requires a strong policy dialogue. To respond to this complex situation, the EU and interested Member States envisage a long-term, holistic, and coordinated support to Uganda's forest sector under a Forest Partnership (FP) arrangement as mentioned above, with the proposed action as a first element of this FP. Further to this, a good number of national and donor-funded forest-related interventions are currently under implementation or being planned. For the obvious reasons of avoiding duplications, identifying important gaps and potential synergies, a mapping of these interventions was conducted during the identification process for the present action."}, {"bbox": [84, 592, 887, 618], "category": "Text", "text": "For this action, the following specific issues and/or gaps have been selected for support:"}, {"bbox": [84, 620, 1145, 672], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Need for capacity building for value addition, knowledge on handling / operating and management of basic infrastructure/equipment for wood harvested from the plantations."}, {"bbox": [84, 673, 1145, 752], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Knowledge gaps and lack of coordination and need for increased focus in the development of value chains based on Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP), especially around forests (as buffer zones) using agro-ecological approaches."}, {"bbox": [84, 753, 1145, 829], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Lack of structured linkages between the forest related enterprises (both production and conservation aspects) and financial sectors, resulting in poor investment in the sector and in difficult access for forest actors to loans and dedicated funds."}, {"bbox": [84, 831, 1145, 938], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Lack of funding for the implementation/continuation of valuable processes and programmes developed and ran by the public forest sector: CFR boundary demarcation and registration; institutionalisation of the newly developed Standard Forestry Practices; roll out of participatory forest management arrangements (CFM/CLA) with forest adjacent communities; the establishment of a timber tracking system."}, {"bbox": [84, 939, 1145, 990], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Lack of operational funding for civil society initiatives related to the restoration of biodiversity hotspots and water catchment areas and for the roll out of systems for \"Payment for Ecosystem Services\"."}, {"bbox": [84, 991, 593, 1017], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Failure to act against illegalities in the forest sector."}, {"bbox": [84, 1018, 1145, 1071], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Lack of expertise and capacity in the public forest sector for database development and management, including for the harmonisation and integration of the several databases currently existing in parallel."}, {"bbox": [84, 1072, 832, 1098], "category": "List-item", "text": "- Lack of gender approach and integration of women in the forest management."}, {"bbox": [84, 1124, 847, 1150], "category": "Text", "text": "These problems are to be tackled with the interventions identified under this action."}, {"bbox": [84, 1178, 1145, 1231], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Identification of main stakeholders and corresponding institutional and/or organisational issues to be covered by the action:"}, {"bbox": [84, 1257, 1145, 1496], "category": "Text", "text": "**Public sector:** the main stakeholders in public sector are the National Forestry Authority (NFA), the Forest Sector Support Department (FSSD) of the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) and the District Forest Service (DFS). FSSD is responsible for formulating forest policies, legislation, and standards, provides technical advice and coordination services on behalf of the MWE. NFA is a semi-autonomous body under the MWE and is mandated to manage Central Forest Reserves (CFRs) on a sustainable basis and to supply high quality forestry-related products and services to government, local communities, and the private sector. The DFS falls under the district local governments (DLGs) and oversee the management of Local Forest Reserves (LFRs). Other partners will be the National Management Environment Authority, the Uganda Wildlife Authority; district authorities and the Ministry in charge of land."}, {"bbox": [84, 1522, 1145, 1576], "category": "Text", "text": "The involvement of the mentioned public sector actors will be crosscutting throughout the entire set of envisaged activities; they will also benefit from several capacity strengthening activities."}, {"bbox": [84, 1602, 1145, 1655], "category": "Text", "text": "**Private sector:** In line with the action's objective to enhance the sustainable contribution of the forest sector to the national economy, private sector actors will be key stakeholders. An important group - related to the sustainable"}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1158, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 23"}]