Northern Corridor Spatial Development Initiative Underway

The Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) has been mandated to transform the northern transport corridor into an economic development corridor.

Given the institutional and physical problems along the Northern Corridor (NC), such a transformation will require sustained commitment and involve a multi-step and multi-directional process over an extended period. In August 2007 the NCTTCA met with the NEPAD Secretariat and its partners to explore how they could assist with this transformation. The NEPAD Secretariat is in the process of implementing a Spatial Development Programme (SDP) throughout Africa.

At the meeting it was agreed that the NC has both the inherent economic potential and a large degree of political and institutional support which are essential elements for the success for a development corridor. The SDI or development corridor methodology has been used successfully in the SADC region to achieve the objectives of the NCTTCA. The approach is essentially to focus the development effort on high potential areas, and by identifying and configuring both private and infrastructure investments, attract the required investments to start the development process.

As a step in the process, it was agreed to introduce the SDP concept at a workshop of stakeholders. The Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) in collaboration with COMESA organized a workshop which took place February 28th 2008 in Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, Uganda.

The primary purpose of the workshop was to achieve consensus amongst stakeholders on the idea that there is a significant regional economic development opportunity that could be realised if the existing Northern Transport Corridor were to be transformed into the NCSDP.

Specifically, the objectives were to;

(i) To understand the concept of Spatial Development Programme (SDP)
(ii) Understand the elements of SDP methodology
(iii) To provide the business case for Northern corridor SDP
(iv) To develop and adopt an implementation plan of action for NCSDP
(v) To achieve consensus amongst stakeholders on the idea that there is a significant regional economic development opportunity that could be realised if the existing Northern Transport Corridor were to be transformed into a development corridor.

Seventy three (73) participants from public and private institutions attended the workshop. They were drawn from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi. Also in attendance were representatives of regional organisations and development partners that included COMESA, USAID, European Union, East African Power Pool (EAPP), Nile Basin Initiative, PMAESA, ISCOS,UNECA, PTA Bank, African Development Bank, International Conference on Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the ECA Trade Hub.

The official opening of the workshop was presided over by Honourable Jachan Omach, Minister of State for Finance, Uganda and Mr. Gerrishon K. Ikiara the Chairman of NTTCA Executive Board, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Kenya.

In his speech, the Guest of Honour, Hon Jachan Omach welcomed the Northern Spatial Developement Initiative, stating that the achievement of its objectives would result in enhanced regional integration, increased investment and the development of transportation infrastructure along the corridor. He reaffirmed Government of Uganda’s commitment towards efforts that promote integration of the region and pledged Government of Uganda’s support towards the SDI approach.

The workshop reached consensus to the effect that there is a significant regional economic development opportunity that could be realised if the existing Northern Transport Corridor were to be transformed into a development corridor and came up with the following eleven resolutions:

.1 A scoping study, with complete appraisal of opportunities and identification of viable projects along the corridor, should be undertaken within the next 3-4 months.

2. Similarly, an implementation plan be developed, within the next 3-4 months, showing activities to be undertaken together with their actual cost estimates.

3. The report of the scoping study together with the implementation plan be submitted to an appropriate intergovernmental forum for decision.

4. An information strategy should be adopted to ensure that all stakeholders including the political leadership are kept well informed of the initiative and the processes involved.

5. Following approval of the plan, a project manager should be appointed to prepare and implement a business plan.

6. A multi sectoral technical committee should be established to support the Project Manager

7. A high level political committee (Ministerial/ Presidential) should be established to oversee the process.

8. NTTCA shall continue to play the role of the implementing agency in the transformation of the transport corridor into a development corridor.

9. National coordinators should be appointed to coordinate the work of national committees and liaise with the project manager.

10. Elaborate Terms of Reference shall be prepared to guide the National Coordinators and Committees

11. The concerned Regional Economic Communities together with other specialised agencies, in the region such as, COMESA, EAC, EAPP, NBI, shall endeavour to harmonise the programmes and activities relating to the Northern Corridor Spatial Development Initiative.

Pursuant to the workshop resolutions, the NCTTCA Secretariat has held further consultations with the NEPAD Secretariat and the SDI Regional Unit in Johannesburg to strategize on the implementation of the workshop resolution. In this regard, the preparation of the terms of reference for the scoping study has already begun.