Angola
OVERVIEW
Angola’s low level of human development is at odds with its potential for economic prosperity, evident in the country's wealth of natural resources. Much of this paradox is explained by the social disruption and physical destruction generated by 27 years of civil war. Angola is continuing the transition toward national reconciliation and peace that was begun in earnest in 2002 and was significantly advanced in September 2008 by successful National Assembly elections. As a potential powerhouse for regional trade and investment, Angola—which is the second largest producer of oil in sub-Saharan Africa and the United States’ sixth largest global source of imported oil—has tremendous agricultural resources and the potential to recover its status as an agricultural exporter and make an important contribution to regional growth and stability. To help Angola realize this potential, USAID focuses on strengthening good governance, increasing economic opportunity, and imrpoving the delivery of social services. USAID leverages several public-private partnerships to co-fund its activities.
PROGRAMS
GOVERNING JUSTLY AND DEMOCRATICALLY
Good governance is the linchpin of USAID’s programs in Angola. Each of our activities, including those to improve the delivery of health care and to expand economic growth, seeks to improve government transparency and accountability. USAID is strengthening linkages among different levels of government, enhancing system reform at the national level; at the community level, we are boosting key social services and economic inputs. USAID is also working to increase economic opportunity and improve budgeting and planning, supervision, information, procurement, and other intra-governmental systems that might improve service delivery. USAID supports the electoral process, civil society engagement, and efforts to consolidate peace, and assists targeted groups such as political parties, the electoral body, civil society organizations, and the media.
INVESTING IN PEOPLE: HEALTH
Angola was selected as one of the first three countries to participate in the President’s Malaria Initiative, which is helping to reduce malaria-related mortality by 50 percent through spraying, the provision of bed nets, and the distribution of malaria treatment. Through a partnership framework signed by Secretary Clinton and the Government of Angola,
we strengthen interventions to curb the spread and mitigate the impact of
HIV/AIDS. Our programs also seek to improve the quality of reproductive
health programs, combat tuberculosis, and eradicate polio. At the
systemic level, USAID encourages reform, increases civil society’s ability
to address social service needs through community mobilization,
improves access to government channels, and promotes more
productive interactions between the government and civil society. USAID
also supports initiatives that improve access to clean water and
sanitation while building the capacity of local actors to manage public
resources.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
USAID economic growth programs complement the efforts of the
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the European
Commission to help build the capacity of Angola’s Ministry of Finance to
manage the national budget in a more effective, open, and transparent
manner. USAID also supports the Catholic University’s independent
economic think tank to stimulate dialogue on issues of national concern.
USAID also supports people-focused and system-focused efforts to
increase access to resources, especially finance and property rights, and
USAID technical assistance is helping the government and civil society
establish new land registration regulations.
To promote systemic reform and ensure sustained economic growth,
USAID works with the Central Bank and commercial banks on financial
sector reforms in policy, procedure, and capacity-building to encourage
commercial banks to expand the number of products on offer and
increase their willingness and ability to lend to small- and medium-sized
borrowers. In agriculture, USAID is activating the value chain—from
production through processing and transport to marketing—to link
entrepreneurs and banana and coffee farmers to sources of credit,
inputs, and markets.
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