CICS Secretariat

The CICS Secretariat, a small technical unit housed in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development carries out monitoring, coordinating and facilitation roles for the CICS. It works closely with CICS implementing agencies both in the public and private sector. It is the focal point for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the CICS. It does this through keeping track of performance indicators, benchmarks and policy actions and briefs stakeholders for appropriate action.

The Secretariat objectives are:

• To coordinate, facilitate and monitor the implementation of CICS priority actions
• To initiate and support public private dialogue for private sector growth and Competitiveness
• To communicate progress of key priority actions to key stakeholders that support private sector growth

The CICS Secretariat  has been jointly supported by the European Union, Austria Development Agency (until January 2010) and the Government of Uganda. It also supports a high level pubic-private dialogue, the Presidential Investors Round Table (PIRT) and at a policy level reports to a Steering Committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury (PS/ST).

Policy Direction through CICS Steering Committee

The Competitiveness and Investment Climate,( CICS) Steering Committee is responsible for monitoring policy actions aimed at improving the investment climate and competitiveness. The Steering Committee is  co-chaired by the Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to Treasury, Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development (MOFPED) and the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry (PS/MTTI).

Influencing Budgetary Allocations

The CICS Secretariat strives to ensure that priority actions are incorporated in the Budget process. During the annual budget cycle process, the Budget Advisory Working Group (BAWG) engages in budget discussions with the aim of influencing allocations. It subsequently monitors disbursement in order to assure implementation of priorities.