USAID/OTI Angola Field Report March 2004
Program Description
The OTI program in Angola was initiated in February 2003 to support the renewed opportunity for a lasting peace and increased democracy following the end of forty years of violent conflict. OTI is providing support in three areas: strengthening civil society advocacy capacity; strengthening media; and increasing local-level engagement between citizens and authorities in order to address community problems. OTI’s implementing partner is Creative Associates and the FY 2004 budget is approximately $3.8 million.
Country Situation
Humanitarian and relief agencies continue to assess the impact on crops and humanitarian assistance provision of this year’s rainy season, which was the heaviest in years. Although in a few areas damages were less severe than expected, thousands of hectares of crops were destroyed. Added to these concerns is the Angolan government’s sudden decision in March to ban imports of genetically modified (GM) cereals. The new ban will have a major impact on the food aid program, which supports nearly two million Angolans. More than three quarters of United Nations food aid to Angola comes from the United States, where GM products are common, and much of the food assistance currently provided to Angola – including a shipment of 19,000 tons of maize which had not yet entered the country when the ban was declared – could be banned under the new rules. The government’s decision has sparked debate and commentary in both national and international media, and the final impact on food and humanitarian assistance has yet to be assessed.
In February, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that Angola had begun to participate in its General Data Dissemination System (GDDS). This was followed by an announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Aguinaldo Jaime that Angola had agreed to an audit by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector lending arm. The World Bank has also agreed to provide Angola approximately $33 million to support social reintegration for ex-combatants. Jaime also stated that Angola would agree to participate in an economic reform program supervised by the IMF. The Angolan government continues to refute high-profile reports and press releases issued by NGOs such as Global Witness, Human Rights Watch and others which criticize its record on transparency.
At the end of March, there was still no declared date for national elections, despite ongoing pressure for the government to set one. During February and March, high ranking MPLA officials repeatedly stressed the need for at least two years of preparations for elections, and cited fourteen goals which must be achieved before elections can take place. Among other things, these include approving a new constitution and developing new electoral laws and bodies. MPLA officials have stated that, in light of the need to achieve these goals, elections will not take place before 2006. In response, in early March, approximately 30 civil society groups and opposition parties formed a coalition called the “Campaign for a Democratic Angola,” dedicated to applying pressure to the government for elections and greater respect for democracy.
International and national news sources continued to report on the ongoing conflict and human rights abuses taking place in Cabinda province, where separatist rebels are demanding independence. Media reported in early February that the Angolan government appeared to be seeking a mediator to help end the conflict, possibly from within the church.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
During February and March, OTI continued to develop new grants and implement existing activities. Staff traveled to Benguela, Huila and Huambo provinces to meet with grantees, develop new grants and monitor existing activities. Highlights of OTI grant activities include:
- Maos Livres, a local human rights defense NGO, conducted twelve debates in three cities in Benguela province in which more than 700 citizens participated, including inmates in the provincial prison, who received information on citizen rights and responsibilities.
- The Free Education Now coalition held eight debates with school teachers, five workshops with parents commissions and two radio workshops as part of a pre-school year campaign intended to prevent the practice of fees charged by public schools (the Angolan school year began in February).
- A first-ever inter-provincial land conference brought together national-level advocates, and local level grassroots organizations and stakeholders from five provinces to discuss land issues and strategies to address land conflicts.
- Caritas held three workshops to train peace activists in four provinces.
Twelve new OTI grants were approved in February and March:
- The National Counseling Center (NCC): NCC will hold an inter-provincial land conference for local stakeholders from Huambo, Benguela, Huila, Luanda and Bie provinces.
- The Land Network: this national-level NGO coalition dedicated to advocacy on land policy will conduct research project in Kwanza Sul province intended to help the coalition inform policymakers on key land issues.
- The Angolan Youth Human Rights Association (AJAD-Humanos): AJAD-Humanos will work in the Cubal district of Benguela province to support work with local community associations which involve municipal authorities and community members working together to address local issues.
- Youth Hope for the Future: this youth-focused, Luanda-based NGO will establish a community network to engage citizens on social and human rights issues affecting their lives.
- Development Workshop: this NGO will translate the latest draft land law into English so that international experts could provide analysis and comments in time to incorporate them into a last-minute advocacy effort.
- Radio 2000: this Huila-based community radio station will conduct a series of broadcasts informing citizens about land-related issues.
- ADRA-Huambo: this Angolan NGO’s Huambo office will provide support, in coordination with a USAID-supported FAO project, to ten communities in demarcating and legalizing communal lands.
- Maos Livres (Huambo): the Huambo office of this human rights NGO will conduct educational efforts and legal assistance in addressing land conflicts.
- Huila coalition: this NGO coalition will broadcast radio programs highlighting local level community problems and creative solutions.
- COOPIL: this Huila-based media collective will conduct a seminar which will bring together journalists from southern Angola with representatives from a well-known community newspaper in Namibia, The Namibian, to share experiences related to developing local news media.
- Huambo coalition: this Huambo-based coalition of NGOs will focus on strengthening farmers associations in three municipalities.
- The Association for Youth and Community Development: this Huambo-based NGO will carry out two projects: one to conduct twelve training sessions in three municipalities in directed at establishing community councils which will work together with local authorities to address community problems; and one to launch a series of radio programs on land and human rights issues.
B. Grant Activity Summary – USAID/OTI Afghanistan
| Media Strengthening |
$24,390 |
$131,340 |
1 |
5 |
| Civil Society Advocacy Capacity |
$232,405 |
$965,410 |
7 |
5 |
| Citizen Engagement with Local Authorities |
$275,262 |
$794,236 |
5 |
16 |
| TOTAL (March 2004) |
$532,057 |
$1,890,9861 |
12 |
46 |
1Program is currently reviewing grants budgets and expenditures and will be revising this table in next report.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
In April, OTI will hold its third and final strategy workshop, which will focus on measuring impact and gathering data in follow up to the recently-conducted mid-term evaluation, as well as initial steps towards program closeout as OTI enters into its second and final year of the Angola program. Staff will travel to Huambo, Huila and Benguela provinces to inaugurate schools and monitor ongoing grants.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: Angela Martin at 202-712-5434, amartin@usaid.gov
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