The US Government through USAID intends to support the GOU in developing ecotourism in selected protected areas. The proposed Eco-Tourism program directly links to USAID/Uganda’s 2011-2015 Country Development Cooperation Strategy at Intermediate Result 1.3 – Natural Resource base degradation mitigated to protect future value. Through this program, numerous measures through the development and expansion of eco-tourism will be taken to mitigate and protect key existing or potential ecotourism sites in Uganda.

Description of Activities

The principal objective of this program is to use ecotourism as a tool to reduce threats to biodiversity and conserve selected critical ecosystems across Uganda’s diverse landscapes so as to support sustained economic growth. The Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) mentions that natural resource management activities will be tailored geographically and references the areas prioritized by the GOU for ecotourism development. Based on Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, much of the conservation donor support has been going to protected areas located in the Albertine Rift, particularly those habited by great apes. The proposed program will use the lessons learned from the Albertine Rift, or other sites in East and South Africa, to replicate efforts in other biologically rich landscapes. This will not only lead to broader development through tourism in diverse regions of the country, but also expand locally-oriented, tourism management capacity. After consulting with the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, UWA, and the National Forestry Authority (NFA), USAID decided to support the following areas: Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park and, Budongo and Kalinzu Forest Reserves. The program will, on a case by case basis, still work in selected ecosystems in the Albertine Rift. Through civil society organizations like the Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) and private sector tourist consortiums such as the Uganda Tourist Association (UTA), this program’s design and implementation is expected to realize a range of enhanced opportunities for improved, multi-stakeholder collaboration. USAID/Uganda believes that focusing programs and resources will provide the best possible opportunity to realize impact, particularly regarding increased biodiversity conservation and increased household incomes.

UPDATE, 3 February 2012:

The solicitation notice has been published.