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USAID/OTI Angola Field Report

September 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 increasing local-level engagement between citizens and authorities in order to address community problems. OTI's implementing partner is Creative Associates and the FY 2003 budget is approximately $2.8 million.

Country Situation

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September released a report urging the government of Angola to increase the transparency of its management of public institutions and the oil industry. The report noted that Angola's 15% economic growth rate in 2002 was undercut by widespread poverty, rampant inflation and an unsustainable fiscal deficit. The report recommended that the Angolan government focus its resources on poverty reduction and infrastructure needs, noting that a strong political commitment to economic reform would help to consolidate the peace process. The creation of an IMF assistance program in Angola has been prevented by a lack of transparency and concerns over the disappearance in 2002 of approximately 1 billion USD in state oil revenues.

The Angolan Army Commander for Special Troops in Cabinda has reported that the military situation in that region is "relatively calm" despite some isolated points of tension caused by guerrilla soldiers from the Cabinda Enclave Liberation Front (FLEC). Cabinda province is separated from the rest of Angola by a narrow coastal strip belonging to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is the source of most of Angola's oil wealth. FLEC and its supporters have been fighting the government of Angola for the right of self-determination, which could result in Cabinda gaining independence from the rest of the Angola. The Angolan state media's reports of a decrease in the fighting in Cabinda have been questioned by some independent media and civil society groups, who argue that civilian support for the separatist cause is growing both stronger and more covert.

Angola's social welfare minister, João Baptista Kussumua, has called for the country's provincial authorities to increase controls on the operations of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These comments followed remarks made by MPLA secretary-general João Lourenço in July warning Angolan NGOs not to engage politically. The activities of Angola's NGOs are regulated by a law approved in December 2002.

Angolan opposition parties protested the appointment of French businessman Pierre Falcone as Minister-Counselor at the Angolan permanent delegation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Falcone has been under investigation by the French government for suspected arms trafficking in 1993 and 1994, during Angola's civil war. This sale of arms had been dubbed "Angolagate" and in past months has caused considerable uproar in the international and particularly the French press. Mr. Falcone's diplomatic appointment will make him immune to prosecution in France.

Nurses in Luanda's public hospitals went on a labor strike early this month to press for a pay increase, better working conditions and payment of arrears. This nurses' strike was the latest in a series of disputes between the government and organized labor. Notably, complaints over low wages caused teachers at Agostinho Neto University to stop work for 45 days in July and August. The Angolan government had refused the teachers' proposal on the grounds that raising salaries would cause the public deficit to rise excessively and would cause a chain of claims on the part of the other sectors of the civil service.

Although the humanitarian situation in Angola has continued to stabilize, international agencies reported difficulties in the delivery of aid. The United Nations reported that it has received only 39 percent of the funds requested in its revised 2003 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal, and representatives of the UN World Food Program (WFP) warned that the delivery of aid would be threatened by floods and the impassability of roads during the rainy season. Shortfalls in domestic agricultural production necessitated the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announcement that it would provide food aid to almost 2 million Angolans before the start of the rainy season, making Angola its largest operation in Africa.

The government of Angola announced that it has spent 125 million USD on its resettlement and reintegration program to assist demobilized soldiers. The government has in total budgeted 230 million USD for a four-year program to provide vocational training and reintegration assistance to 105,000 former UNITA fighters and 33,000 soldiers demobilized from the government army. The budget will also provide support to 400,000 family members of the soldiers. The government's efforts will be bolstered by a 33 million USD grant from the World Bank, which will target 121,000 ex-combatants for assistance and focus on economic and social reintegration, with a larger-than-normal portion of the grant being directed to former child soldiers.

OTI Highlights

A. Narrative Summary

During the month of September, OTI continued to develop new grants and implement existing activities. Staff traveled to Benguela and Huambo provinces to meet with grantees, develop new grants and monitor existing activities. Highlights of OTI grant activities in September include:

• Ongoing community meetings and radio programs on citizen rights and advocacy in Huambo conducted by the National Counseling Center.
• Publication of the second Citizenship and Human Rights bulletin by a journalist coalition in Huila province, accompanied by weekly radio programs. The bulletin has met with a very positive public response by readers including students and local administration, and is being distributed in schools, municipal headquarters and by civil society organizations.
• The Angolan Journalist Union has reported that three cases have been referred for legal assistance through an OTI grant, in Luanda, Namibe and Cuando Cubango.
• Construction began on schools in five municipalities, coordinated between community members, NGOs providing support, and local administrators.
• Trainings for women street vendors on human rights implemented by the NGO Bismas have resulted in higher-than-expected attendance, as well as increased positive interactions between the women and local police.

New OTI grants approved in September included:

• ADRA (Action for Rural and Environmental Development )/Huambo: OTI approved a grant to ADRA's Huambo office to implement an education-focused project which will include school rehabilitation, support to parent associations and teacher training, and is coordinated directly with the Ministry of Education. OTI's support will allow ADRA to implement this project, titled "ONJILA" in Huambo province, one of the most heavily affected by the war. ADRA has already piloted these activities in several other provinces.
• ODCA (Organization for Community Development and Environment): The "Okutunga" ("building") project will provide counterpart support to rehabilitate two schools in Benguela province in parallel with a series of peace education workshops directed at facilitating local level reconciliation.
• Huila Citizens Coalition: OTI approved a grant to this group of NGOs to help support community councils in three municipalities in Huila province. The councils will meet bi-weekly to discuss community problems and solutions, and will be linked directly to coordinate with local government administrators to aid them in addressing local concerns.
• Radio Ecclesia: OTI approved a grant to Radio Ecclesia to support a weekly political debate program.
• Caritas Angola: OTI approved a grant to help support the "Path of Peace" project, a local-level peacebuilding initiative taking place in all provinces. OTI support will fund activities in Benguela, Huambo and Huila provinces.
• Huambo Coalition: OTI approved a grant to a Huambo-based NGO coalition to promote community sustainability and participation through a seeds and tools distribution activity.

B. Grants Activity Summary

NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES

OTI will continue to travel to the field to monitor and develop new grants during October. OTI staff will also continue to focus on exploring possibilities to link OTI activities to other USAID-funded humanitarian and developmental relief activities, particularly in Bie, Huila, Huambo, and Benguela provinces. During October, OTI will also hold a six-month follow up strategy session to review its strategic plan, focusing on implementation strategies and monitoring and evaluation.