Economic Policy Research Centre staff completed a five-day retreat where they discussed and shaped research focus for the year 2023/24.
The Centre’s research theme for the year will be, Accelerating Sustainable and Productive Employment for Inclusive Economic Growth. It will be anchored on the Centre’s strategic plan for the five-year period to 2026/27 financial year.
The Centre will focus on strategies to reduce poverty and inequality, amplify efforts for productive employment, skills and innovations, domestic revenue mobilisation and natural resources and population growth dividend.
Issues such as digitalization, governance – political economy, institutions, budget – and business environment will be core research areas as enablers to the aspirations that the country intends to achieve.
Uganda faces several challenges, chief among them unemployment, climate change crisis, accountability, and low revenue collections. The Centre’s research will seek to address these issues, aiming to suggest clear-cut solutions for the policymakers.
At the retreat at Esella Hotel in Wakiso district in April, staff in different departments horned and aligned their research plans to the Centre’s strategic plan and the country’s vision. Staff were taken through different EPRC policies, including on risk, human resource, good procurement practices, publications, and advocacy and outreach.
Executive Director Dr. Sarah N. Ssewanyana commended staff for the commitment they have shown towards the success of the Centre and implored them to keep up with the good work.
EPRC staff listen in to presentations at the retreat.
In the recent past, the Centre has carried out significant research studies that have been key in guiding the policy environment. They include studies on the socio-economic impact of Covid-19 on Micro, Small, and Medium-sized enterprises; the assessment of the informal businesses; commodity prices; assessment of the institutional frameworks in sugarcane sub-sector; and research on reduction and redistribution of unpaid care work.
Also, in the concluding financial year, the Centre together with partners hosted key conferences including the September 2022 Poverty Reduction and Equity Network (PEGNet) conference on addressing conflict and fragility in developing countries conference, and the Gender Forum on Food and Nutritional Security and the Forum on Agriculture and Food Security.
