[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1135, 207], "category": "Text", "text": "and tailored-made to the conditions of each partner, and the support of regulatory dialogues and capacity building as required, binding commitments will also be embedded therein, supported by enforcement provisions."}, {"bbox": [85, 232, 341, 263], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 278, 334, 307], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Short problem analysis:"}, {"bbox": [96, 330, 1135, 467], "category": "Text", "text": "This action aligns directly with the overall theme of Uganda's NDP III, which emphasises \"sustainable industrialization for inclusive growth, employment and sustainable wealth creation\". Specifically, this action contributes to NDP III strategic objectives i) (enhance value addition in key growth opportunities); ii) (strengthen the private sector capacity to drive growth and create jobs); and iv (enhance the productivity and social wellbeing of the population)."}, {"bbox": [96, 491, 143, 517], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### SPS"}, {"bbox": [96, 543, 1135, 731], "category": "Text", "text": "Improve SPS standards is not only relevant to increase Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (FFV) exports to international markets, it is firstly and foremost a health issue and a top food security priority in order to protect the health of Ugandan consumers. As an example, from a previous TAIEX assignment in Uganda a large number of tomatoes samples where analysed to provide inputs for the Pesticide Residue Monitoring Plan and around 80% of the samples were above the Maximun Residue Limits (MRLs). Lack of a legal framework, expertise, resources, coordination and technical capacities to implement and enforce such a plan puts higly at risk the health of consumers, nationally and abroad."}, {"bbox": [96, 756, 370, 785], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Business and Human rights"}, {"bbox": [96, 808, 1135, 1076], "category": "Text", "text": "The imperative for businesses to respect human rights has gained increased attention in recent years. In the decade since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), thirty countries have adopted national action plans on BHR. Some countries have gone further than the UNGPs to make it mandatory for their companies to carry out human rights and environmental due diligence, including where they have operations in third countries. In February 2022, the European Commission published a proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence, including mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence requirements on both EU and non-EU companies. Recent years have also seen increasing support for an international legally binding instrument to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises. With the adoption in 2021 of its first National Action Plan on BHR, Uganda took an leading role in Africa for improving the regulatory and policy space for Business and Human Rights."}, {"bbox": [96, 1100, 1135, 1315], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite this good progress at the national and international level, much efforts are still needed in Uganda to improve practices and safeguards implemented by companies to ensure they are adhering to their responsibilities regarding human rights. Private sector-related human rights challenges include inadequate consultation with local communities; issues related to land acquisition including insufficient compensation; forced or violent evictions; labour-related issues including the prevalence (and growth during COVID) of child labour in some value chains; and attacks on human rights defenders working on issues related to private sector development. Concerns also persist related to digital rights and internet governance, in a context where local and international companies are important stakeholders in the expansion of internet access and the digitalisation of the economy."}, {"bbox": [96, 1338, 1082, 1447], "category": "Text", "text": "While some government entities and civil society organisations have worked for some time to advance discussions about business' responsibility regarding human rights, private sector companies themselves – Ugandan and European alike – have so far not been integrated into these discussions and general awareness levels about the legal and policy framework are low."}, {"bbox": [96, 1471, 447, 1500], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Need for quality decent jobs creation"}, {"bbox": [96, 1523, 1135, 1633], "category": "Text", "text": "With an average age of just 15.9, Uganda is the world's second youngest country; it also has one of the world's highest fertility rates at 5.91 per woman (2010–2015). Youthfulness means the working-age population grew at a very fast 3.92 percent per annum between 2011–2017. Indeed, around 700,000 young people reach working age every year in Uganda. It is estimated that the working-age population will increase by 13 million people between"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1680, 1145, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 32"}]