USAID/Uganda Education and Research to Improve Climate Change Adaptation Activity FY15 Quarterly Report 1

The Activity will strategically deploy human, financial, and technology resources to build Ugandan capacity and proficiency to address climate adaptation and related issues. The Activity has four main results: Institutional structure of MUCCRI is established and supports MUCCRI objectives, MUCCRI provides cutting-edge short and long-term training to students, staff, and external stakeholders, MUCCRI conducts research and provides technical assistance to support climate change adaptation, and MUCCRI promotes climate change awareness and education. During the reporting period from October 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, the Activity made significant progress in achieving these results. MUCCRI was introduced and represented at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Conference of the Parties (COP) 20 conference in Lima, Peru, generating a great deal of interest and potential partnerships for the Centre. The Activity also supported and participated in the curriculum review of 12 programs within the School of Forestry, Environmental and Geographical Sciences to suggest inclusion of climate change issues in more courses. The Activity began in-depth planning for the student Climate Change Boot Camp and all the Activity-funded MSc students are on board and working. The Activity is also experimenting with a way to encourage and support multidisciplinary undergraduate research efforts. The "translation" template for the climate change dissemination pathway effort is being pilot-tested and will be revised accordingly. The Activity is working to establish the MUCCRI institutional structure, which includes the official establishment of MUCCRI at MAK, coordination of work plans with the CAES strategic plan, and an informational campaign to increase knowledge and understanding about climate change and climate adaptation. The Activity is also establishing an e-learning and networking hub (Adapt2CC) that will act as a linkage between and among students, staff, and other interested parties to share information on climate change adaptation work throughout the region. The Activity has made significant progress in establishing MUCCRI as a recognized national and regional hub of academic, professional development, and research excellence in climate science, climate adaptation, and related disciplines. The Activity has also made significant progress in providing cutting-edge short and long-term training to students, staff, and external stakeholders, conducting research and providing technical assistance to support climate change adaptation, and promoting climate change awareness and education. The Activity has established partnerships with leading academics, scientists, and researchers to work side-by-side and in partnership with Ugandan colleagues to build upon the foundational efforts made by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and others to date in developing and establishing MUCCRI. The Activity has also established partnerships with international organizations, development organizations, academic institutions, NGOs, community-based organizations, and private enterprises to support the establishment and functioning of MUCCRI. The Activity has made significant progress in achieving its results and has established a strong foundation for the establishment and functioning of MUCCRI. The Activity will continue to work towards achieving its results and establishing MUCCRI as a recognized national and regional hub of academic, professional development, and research excellence in climate science, climate adaptation, and related disciplines.