Uganda Cleaner Production Centre(UCPC) Project

Background

Uganda Cleaner Production Centre (UCPC), hosted by Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) at Nakawa, is a joint project of the Government of Uganda and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). The main objective of UCPC is to introduce Cleaner Production practices to enterprises in Uganda in order to help companies reduce operating costs through increased overall efficiency, especially in the use of materials and energy.

Through cleaner production, enterprises are assisted to improve their environmental performance, while at the same time, fostering improved competitiveness and profitability. The major programmes at the Centre include the Eco-Benefits Programme, CP financing, eco-design and product innovation and ISO 14001 certification. Phase 1 started in October 2001 and is expected to end in December 2004.

The Centre operates under the guidance of an Executive Board and an Advisory Board, whose membership is derived from key national stakeholders in private sector, government, research institutions and industrial associations are represented. Major Achievements of since October 2001

1. The Eco-Benefits Programme

      This is a ten-month programme that started on 22 May 2002, combines comprehensive Cleaner Production (CP) assessments with training for company staff and consultants. UCPC experts provide technical assistance and supervision. Companies and consultants, who successfully complete the full programme, receive a Cleaner Production certificate.

• Eco-Benefits I Programme conducted. So far 37 consultants and 27 enterprises have participated. Enterprises are in sub sectors of fish processing, fruit and vegetable processing, sugar production, tea processing, oxygen production, foam mattress, tannery and leather goods, packaging, steel rolling and metal works and dairy products.

• Total savings generated by the participating enterprises is US $ 650,000 per year. This results from efficient use of resources, such as materials, water and energy.

2. Cleaner Production (CP) Financing

Financing of CP still remains a challenge to the implementation of CP in Uganda. UCPC facilitates communication between industry and financial institutions in order to promote investments in Cleaner Production.

• 66 participants attended awareness workshops and seminars on clean production financing. These were drawn from financial institutions and enterprises.

 3. Eco-Design and Product Innovation

      Sustainable product development helps companies improve the environmental performance of their products while reducing their costs. Eco-design provides a competitive edge. UCPC cooperates closely with Delft Technical University, The Netherlands and Vienna Technical University for introduction of this new tool into the country.

• 33 participants from different companies/institutions attended an Eco-design awareness workshop was held on 15 July 2002

• A two-day applied eco-design training workshop was conducted on 7-8 August 2002.

• A demonstration project on eco-design and product improvement started in MAKSS Packaging Industries (in close cooperation with the Dept. of Mechanical Eng., Makerere University and Vienna Technical University) in August 2002. As a result MAKKS Packaging Industries launched redesigned boxes for vegetables/fruits and flowers.

4. ISO14001 Programme UCPC is assisting enterprises that successfully completed the fist and second Eco-Benefits Programme to achieve ISO 14001 certification. The seven companies participating in this training programme that started in December 2003 include Ngege Limited, Uganda Fish Packers, Masese Fishing Industries, White Nile Dairies, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda Batteries Limited and UCPC. Technical support to the programme is provided by STENUM, Austria. The programme is expected to be completed in August 2004.

5.Project Financing

Total Donor funds for three years - US$ 801,000 (Details of budget allocation available at UNDP and UNIDO Headquarters) Government has also provided counterpart funding through budgetary allocations in MTTI and UIRI.

Description of Phase II

The Phase II programme is based on the experience Uganda Cleaner Production Centre (UCPC) has gained through the first phase where UCPC has introduced and implemented Cleaner Production (CP) in different enterprises in Uganda. The present project document defines the specific requirements for the enhancement of CP and other related concepts in enterprises in Uganda with emphasis on agro-processing industries.

The proposed Project is fully in line with the National Policy of industrial development. It is expected that the Project will make important contributions to the long-term development of the industrial sector in Uganda through improved environmental management, benefiting the profitability of the enterprises and the external and internal environmental conditions.

At the end of the project it is anticipated that the following outputs will be realised

   1. The Eco-Benefits (Cleaner Production) Programme successfully implemented in at least 40 SMEs


   2. The Eco-Design Programme successfully implemented in at least 15 selected enterprises


   3. The EMS/ISO 14001 Programme successfully implemented in at least 21selected enterprises


   4. The Micro- and Small- Scale Enterprises (MSE) CP Programme successfully implemented in at least 60 selected enterprises


   5. Assistance to selected enterprises in meeting National Environmental Management Agency's (NEMA) compliance Programme successfully implemented


   6. The Post-Graduate CP Diploma at Makerere University is successfully implemented


   7. The UCPC has given adequate input and support to the process of developing a National CP Policy.


   8. The UCPC has given adequate input and support to the Government's process of implementing relevant international conventions and treaties signed and ratified by Uganda.


   9. The UCPC has effectively assisted in and facilitated the establishment, introduction and implementation of the CP Regional Revolving Financing Facility under UNEP and African Development Bank (AfDB) in Uganda.

In order to implement this project, the donor is expected to provide the bulk of the direct finances to the Project, the allocation being USD 848,965 in total (including support costs) during the 3-years Phase 2

The Ugandan Government will basically provide funding through in-kind contributions, mainly office facilities with all required hard furniture, office operational costs (water, electricity, maintenance, security, etc.), and communication costs (telephone, internet, fax, etc.).