Domestication of SDG2 through a contextual analysis of key challenges Uganda may face in achieving SDG2 targets and proposing actionable areas to achieve them. In 2016/2017, NPA through Economic Policy Research Centre facilitated by WFP conducted a strategic review of SDG2. The review was guided by a technical committee including NPA, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries, Gender, Labour & Social Development, WFP, FAO, UNICEF, fhi360, Kyambogo University, Makerere University, Uganda National Farmers Federation, the Private Sector Foundation and the Parliamentary fora on nutrition, children, the SDGs, food security, population and development.

Through the review findings based on mainly data collected by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBoS), and extensive consultations involving a wide range of government stakeholders (Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Parliament) as well as civil society, international organizations, private sector, academia and development partners, the exercise reveals opportunities and challenges Uganda faces in achieving SDG2 by 2030.

The review was delivered through the joint effort of NPA, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Animal Industry & Fisheries, Gender, Labour & Social Development, WFP, FAO, UNICEF, fhi360, Kyambogo University, Makerere University, Uganda National Farmers Federation, the Private Sector Foundation Uganda and the Parliamentary fora on nutrition, children, the SDGs, food security, population and development. Using a formed technical committee, there was rigorous search for information and data to feed into analysis all the 8 targets of SDG2.

As required of all Governments to take ownership and establish national frameworks for the implementation and achievement of the 17 SDGs, the Government of Uganda undertook an all-inclusive consultative exercise to localize SDG2 (Zero Hunger). This independent review was conducted by Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) on behalf of Government under direct technical oversight from an inter-sectoral team

The review was convened and conducted by the National Planning Authority, the prime Government planner. Strategically, NPA will ensure integration of the recommendations of the review and specifically the Zero Hunger Action Plan into sectoral plans for the relevant ministries and agencies. This is possible since NPA must issue a certificate of compliance confirming alignment to government priorities before the ministry of finance allocates funds. Also important t note that NPA is a non-voting member at every cabinet meeting and advises the executive on such strategic issues.

As a follow-up, and in line with the requirement for all Governments to take ownership and establish national frameworks for the implementation and achievement of the 17 Goals, the Government of Uganda undertook a Strategic Review of SDG2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition; and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030”. The choice to start with this goal was driven by the importance that Government places on food and nutrition security as the foundation of building the required human capital to drive the country’s transformation machinery and thereby expedite efforts towards ‘Zero Hunger in Uganda’ by 2030.

The review was aimed at analyzing: the situation of hunger, food and nutrition security in the country in line with the targets; the policy, legal and institutional frameworks to the extent to which they enhance food and nutrition security; the existing programmes and the extent to which they address food and nutrition security; existing financing for food and nutrition programmes to establish efficiency levels; and proposing policy actions and recommendations.