ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SAFEGUARDS STRATEGY 2025/2026-2029/2030

Abstract

FOREWORD The National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), mandated to coordinate, supervise and guide agricultural research in Uganda, recognizes that Environment and Natural Resources (ENRs) are the foundation upon which sustainable agricultural development depends. These resources are central to countries’ socio-economic transformation, resilience, and food security. To safeguard them, NARO acknowledges the need for a deliberate balance between advancing agricultural research and innovation, and sustainable management of ecosystems and the wellbeing of society. Uganda’s agricultural production systems and rural livelihoods are increasingly threatened by challenges such as pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, natural resource degradation, and social inequities. These pressures undermine productivity and hinder socio-economic transformation. As the custodian of agricultural research, NARO is strategically committed to addressing these challenges by embedding responsible, inclusive, and sustainable practices within her research processes and outputs. It is within this vision that the Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Policy and Strategy has been developed. The Strategy provides roadmap for identifying, assessing, and mitigating environmental and social risks in all research programs, projects, and activities ensuring that agricultural research outcomes are scientifically sound, socially responsive, and environmentally sustainable. The formulation of this Strategy was informed by a participatory and consultative process that engaged stakeholders from a diverse spectrum which reflects our commitment to collaborative governance and shared responsibility in advancing agricultural research and resource sustainability.