Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has read the report by an organisation (details supplied), commissioned by his Department, to examine Irish Aid's programme in Uganda in 2010-2014, which was recently publicly released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4021/17]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade commissioned an independent evaluation of the Irish Aid Uganda Country Strategy 2010-2014, in line with standard practice. Such independent evaluations play an essential role in assessing the impact of the Irish Aid programme, identifying ways to improve on its delivery, and providing accountability for public funds spent.

The Uganda evaluation report, which was completed in 2015, included a number of important findings. Overall, it found that the Irish Aid programme delivered significant results in reducing poverty, expanding access to social services and generating awareness of gender and gender-based violence. It also documented the significant impact of Irish Aid’s investment in education in the poorest part of Uganda, the Karamoja region.

The evaluation report provided valuable recommendations to improve the delivery of the aid programme. Taking these recommendations into consideration, new Uganda Country Strategy, for the years 2016-2020, has streamlined and prioritised sectors in line with need and in areas where most progress is possible. The programme has a particular focus on the Karamoja region, focusing on education, HIV/AIDS prevention, social protection and governance.

The new Country Strategy also includes, as recommended, an explicit risk management system to safeguard our investment in development, and to ensure the Embassy can monitor and respond to any changes in the working environment. No funding is currently being channelled through the Ugandan public financial management system. I am confident that the recommendations outlined in the 2015 evaluation have been taken on board in the new Strategy. I was pleased to launch this Strategy during my visit to Uganda in July 2016, where I witnessed first-hand how our aid programme is being delivered, and the impact it is having on the poorest and most vulnerable. The Strategy, and the Evaluation, are available on the Irish Aid website at .