USAID/OTI Angola Field Report
April 2003
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 40 years of violent conflict. OTI is providing support in three areas: strengthened civil society advocacy capacity; strengthening media; and local-level engagement between citizens and authorities to address community problems. OTI's implementing partner is Creative Associates and the FY 2003 budget is approximately $2.5 million.
Country Situation
On April 4, Angola celebrated the one-year anniversary of the end of its 28-year civil war. While the fact that the peace has endured with little likelihood of a return to armed conflict is an important benchmark, the anniversary was also marked with criticisms of the slow pace of reform. The State Department's Human Rights Report for Angola for 2002 was released recently, and concluded that in general the government's human rights record remained poor, with civil liberties such as free speech continuing to be restricted. An International Crisis Group report also focused on the need for the government to address the issues of corruption and accelerate the pace of reforms.
During April, attention continued to be paid by the media and aid organizations to the movement of persons, which has been ongoing since the end of the war. Refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), as well as excombatants and their families are returning to their places of origin, and donor and government resources available to help them are increasingly strained. Communities absorbing these populations are in many cases already suffering from years of war devastation and neglect, and humanitarian agencies report that unless additional support is provided to these populations Angola may face another major humanitarian emergency. Bilateral donors, as well as the World Bank, U.N. agencies and the IMF, are continuing to emphasize the importance for the Angolan government of placing a higher priority on poverty reduction and social needs as conditions for additional assistance.
Besides the need for basic social services and infrastructure, land conflicts appear to be of increasing concern in many parts of the country. Angola's existing land tenure framework is inadequate to address in an equitable fashion the needs of most of the country's population. Following initial consultations, a new draft land law is pending but has not yet been released, and as a result it is difficult to develop effective advocacy strategies for any additional consultation that would be allowed. Meanwhile, concern is being expressed by local and international NGOs working at community levels in many areas of the country about local level conflicts, many between landowners claiming large tracts of land and local communities who currently occupy and use the land.
Citizen security was another issue remaining at the forefront during April. Particularly in Luanda and other urban areas, citizens are suffering from high levels of crime combined with a lack of confidence in the ability of the government to effectively address the situation. Media and many NGOs also report that a high percentage of the general civilian population possess weapons of some sort, mostly small arms, and although little or no exact statistical data exist, the issue remains of concern to many Angolans. Information and awareness campaigns as well as providing incentives are two efforts being started to address the issue.
OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
OTI's implementing partner, Creative Associates, opened its offices in April. Program development staff continued to network with local organizations in Luanda and to identify potential opportunities for OTI small grants. Travel was also conducted to two provinces: Benguela and Huila, in southern Angola, both of which are among the most affected in terms of movement of persons and land conflicts. During visits to both provinces (three visits were made to each province during April), staff networked with local organizations to identify priorities and develop initial grants. Travel will continue to these areas in May to develop and monitor activities, and staff will also travel to Huambo province to begin networking and identifying local partners and priorities.
During April, OTI and Creative Associates headquarters staff visited Angola to participate in the development of an initial strategic plan. Program staff participated in three days of facilitated strategic planning, followed by a two-day team-building workshop. Planning was highly successful. Program objectives were reviewed and refined, illustrative activities were outlined, and implementation plans were reviewed, all of which enabled OTI program staff to more clearly present OTI's program to colleagues and prospective local partners.
B. Grants Activity Summary
Field visits to Huila and Benguela provinces during April, as well as ongoing work in Luanda, have resulted in a number of grants that are expected to be finalized and signed in early May. These include:
- A five-day, high-profile forum in which NGOs and community leaders from the southern Angola region, local authorities and national-level policymakers will meet to discuss key aspects of a governmental strategy to reduce poverty. The grant will be implemented by ALSSA (Leonardo Sikifunde Association), a social justice-focused NGO based in Lubango in Huila province;
- An information and awareness campaign to help communities absorbing high numbers of returning/relocating populations address the issue of reintegration jointly with local authorities. The project will be implemented by Okutuka, a grassroots education-focused NGO based in Lobito in Benguela province;
- Support for a national-level strategic planning meeting for COIEPA (Inter-Ecclesiastic Committee for Peace in Angola), an interfaith consortium currently playing a key role in addressing the issues of peace and reconciliation;
- Provision of technical support and computers in key regional offices of Angola's National Journalist Association.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
OTI will continue to travel to provinces and develop and implement new grants during May. Geographic focus will continue to be the provinces of Huila and Benguela, with initial site visits taking place in Huambo and Malanje. It is also anticipated that grants will be signed for some activities in Luanda.
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