This brief draws attention to some gaps in the mainstreaming of gender and nutrition in climate change, and food and nutrition-related policy documents, which may affect the effective implementation of nutrition-focused actions and the realization of improved nutrition outcomes.

Key messages

• Over 70 percent of Uganda’s population depends on rain-fed agriculture for food security, nutrition and income, making it highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
• Global statistics from 2016 to 2018 reveal rising levels of hunger and undernourishment among Uganda’s population and increasing obesity among adults above 18 years of age.
• Gender and nutrition perspectives are not consistently mainstreamed across critical sections of climate change, food and nutrition policy documents under Uganda’s multi-sectoral approach.
• Gaps exist in the hierarchy of guiding documents relating to climate change, food and nutrition. Relevant sectors should systematically develop policies, implementation strategies, guidelines, action plans and budgets to ensure effective implementation of interventions in these areas by actors at different levels of government.
• There is a need to mainstream gender and nutrition across all sections of climate change, food and nutrition policy documents (including the situation analysis; setting of goals objectives, strategies, targets and plans; implementation arrangements; and monitoring and evaluation sections) while ensuring alignment with the national vision, goals, objectives and targets.
• Under the multi-sectoral approach, regular joint sector performance reviews of climate change, food and nutrition actions should be undertaken to reduce duplication of efforts, strengthen cross-sectoral synergies and alignment to the national vision, goals and targets