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ANGOLA
>> Regional Overview >> Angola Overview
Development Challenge Summary Tables
Program Summary
Previous Years' Activities
2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 199746
Introduction
The United States national interests in Angola are based on substantial U.S. economic interests and on the need to promote stability and development in southern and central Africa. U.S. goals in Angola promote achievement of lasting peace; a successful democratic transition with protection of human rights; Angola's economic development and integration into the region; U.S. economic and commercial interests; and humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance to those affected by conflict. The United States is the largest foreign investor and producer in Angola's oil industry, making Angola one of the United States' largest investment sites in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, Angola is one of the United States' largest trading partners in Africa and the eighth-largest oil supplier to the U.S.
With increased stability, Angola could play a more significant role in the southern African economy. Without internal stability, large quantities of food and other forms of humanitarian assistance may continue to be required.
The Development Challenge
Angola's full-scale return to conventional warfare in 1998 ended the relative peace provided by the 1994 Lusaka Protocol. FY 2000 was marked by significant military gains by the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) consolidated and expanded government control over provincial capitals and some cities and towns. The Government of the Republic of Angola (GRA)'s success resulted in a return by National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) to guerilla warfare on both civilian and military targets. The government is still establishing new civil administrations in many areas regained since 1998. However, large areas along the eastern and southern borders remain inaccessible to humanitarian agencies. The fluid and unpredictable security situation continues to cause Angolans to leave their homes and seek security in major cities, creating yet another wave of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that an additional half million Angolans were displaced in 2000. At the same time, increased security in some areas of the country has permitted the GRA with the assistance of UN agencies and non-governmental organizations such as Care, World Vision, Africare, and Save the Children to resettle approximately 300,000 IDPs in over 70 temporary locations.
The presence of land mines, poor infrastructure, inadequate social services (particularly health care) and the dearth of available arable land compounds the needs of war-weary Angolans. In parts of Angola less affected by the war, the relatively weak civil society continues to show a growing willingness to speak out on local and, more recently, national issues. More and more Angolan non-governmental associations and community-based groups are discussing government policies.
The United States has long-term goals and interests in assisting Angola's transition to become a stable force in the region and in promoting democratic government and economic prosperity. USAID plays an important part in supporting achievement of these goals and is assisting Angola's transition from war to peace by providing humanitarian and development assistance. In addition to food aid, the War Victims' Fund's provision of prosthetics to land mine victims is an important element of transition assistance. USAID also is supporting Angola's transition from a single-party state to a democratic, free-market economy by strengthening civil society and government entities and by supporting changes that will improve Angola's macroeconomic environment. This fluid and complex political situation is the reason why USAID is providing emergency, transition and development assistance simultaneously to Angola.
Other Donors
The European Union and the UN specialized agencies are the leading multilateral donors. The United States is the largest bilateral donor followed by Spain, Italy, Japan, Portugal and Norway.
FY 2002 Program
USAID has begun implementing a new strategy covering the period 2001-2005. The five year goal is to have Angolans in targeted areas improve their food security, health status, and participation in political processes. The strategy includes three strategic objectives in food security, democracy and governance, and health as well as one special objective for economic reform activities. To implement this program, USAID uses a mix of emergency, transitional and development assistance. Despite the improved security situation, humanitarian aid is still required. USAID's Offices of Foreign Disaster Assistance and Food For Peace provide significant complementary support for the achievement of this program.
In the area of food security, USAID will continue to target internally displaced and other vulnerable people affected by war. Their needs will be met by continuing to provide general food distributions and food for work assistance. Transitional activities such as provision of seeds and tools and prosthetics will also continue. In addition, for subsistence and smallholder farmers, USAID will provide technical assistance so they are able to increase food crop production, form associations, and have access to marketing information to produce higher value crops, and learn about processing techniques to reduce wastage.
USAID's democracy and governance program will continue to work with Angolan community-based and national organizations to strengthen the relatively weak civil society sector. Based upon the experience gained under the former USAID mission strategy, the program will now work not only to enhance individual groups, but also to build and strengthen coalitions around key issues of citizens' rights and transparent and accountable governance. In addition to democracy strengthening assistance for reform-minded groups should elections take place in 2002 as planned, increased emphasis on voter education and elections assistance will become important program elements.
As in past years, child survival remains a key element of USAID assistance in the health sector. Angola is one of the countries with the highest number of polio cases in the world. USAID and other donors are working to eradicate this disease by 2003. Routine immunization and surveillance activities will also be expanded. Recognizing that Angola has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world--1,500 per 100,000--USAID is now focusing on maternal health education and antenatal care. Malaria, the leading cause of death in Angola, will also receive increased attention. The final element of USAID's health program is an HIV/AIDS prevention program, which is targeted at the high-risk youth and prostitutes. As part of the Angolan government's national HIV/AIDS prevention campaign, USAID will support education and the marketing of condoms.
An economic reform program between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Angolan government is being successfully implemented. Although the current IMF Staff Monitored Program is scheduled to end in June 2001, Angola is expected to continue economic reforms. Given GRA's limited capability to produce economic statistics and reports, continued technical assistance and training will be required by donors. USAID will also begin training programs for those active in Angolan civil society in basic free market economic concepts. This will bring about a richer discussion of economic reforms being implemented.
To achieve the above, USAID will continue to encourage implementing partners to develop and strengthen their Angolan counterparts. Furthermore, the interventions will also be designed to support USAID's cross-cutting themes of gender, regional integration, especially within the Southern Africa Development Community and institutional and human capacity development. Each sector will incorporate these themes. The public-private sector partnerships developed will continue, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Activity Data Sheets
- 654-001, Increased Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Food-Crop Self-Reliance of War-Torn Angolan Communities
- 654-002, Increased National Reconciliation Through Strengthened Democratic and Political Institutions
- 654-005, Enhanced Household Food Security In Targeted Communities
- 654-006, Constituencies Promoting Democratic Governance Strengthened
- 654-007, Increased use of Maternal/Child Health and HIV/AIDS Services and/or Products and Improved Health Practice
- 654-008, More Market-Oriented Economic Analysis Used in Decision-Making Process
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
