Democracy & Governance
USAID/Angola's 2006-2009 Strategy Statement identified weak governance as a key source of fragility because shortcomings in governance limit economic opportunity and access to basic services, factors that can contribute to potential instability. With this overall fragility issue in mind, USAID/Angola identified good governance as the linchpin of its program, and has sought to incorporate several integrated links between the governance reform strategic objective and the other two strategic objectives into each new Mission activity. Strengthened capabilities of government, civil society, and the private sector to perform and to interact productively, will lead to increased and effective participation.
The program seeks improvements in transparency and accountability, particularly of management systems of government institutions and services. USAID/Angola is strengthening the vertical linkages between different levels of Government, enhancing system reform at the national level; boosting key social services and economic inputs at the community level; and, as resources allow, improving budgeting and planning, supervision, information, procurement, and other intra-governmental systems that might improve service delivery; increasing economic opportunity; and improving transparency, accountability, and participation. USAID assists targeted groups such as political parties, government institutions, local governments and communities, electoral bodies, civil society organizations (CSOs) and the media. USAID is supporting the electoral process, efforts to consolidate peace, and improve case tracking and management procedures in the judicial system.
The purpose of the Municipal Development Program (www.mdp-angola.org) is to increase the accountability of municipal governments to the communities they serve and to achieve broad community participation in decision-making and oversight of local public investments. These public investments will increase access to essential services, support economic opportunities, or improve environmental conditions. The program supports the strengthening at the community level and of the municipal government, and the interaction between civil society and local government in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing needs related to delivery of services and economic opportunity. While USAID and Chevron support municipal development activities in the four provinces of Bié, Cabinda, Kuando Kubango, and Huambo, USAID and Lazare Kaplan International (LKI) are supporting activities in Lunda Norte. The Municipal Development Program operates in one municipality in each of five provinces focusing on community organization, local government capacity building, participatory decision-making, and accountability of government officials to their communities; and on small-scale infrastructure improvements. The Ministry of Territorial Administration has determined that the five municipalities in the five provinces where the program is being implemented will be pilot areas for local fiscal decentralization.
The program is also supporting capacity building and small grants (ranging from about $2,000 to $15,000) that municipalities can use for specific development activities that are identified in municipal development plans developed with civil society and community participation.
The Civil Society Strengthening Program seeks to improve the effectiveness and viability of Angolan civil society organizations and their ability to interact with government productively. The program focuses on the same provinces of the MDP as well as Luanda and expand to others pending funds availability.
The program is helping to strengthen the institutional capacity of civil society organizations through training and technical support improving the ability of selected CSOs to organize and communicate within their communities and/or constituencies, to plan and manage internal operations (boards, budgets, financial management, personnel, systems) and programs, to foster productive external relationships (with government, donors, private sector, and other CSOs), and to carry out other responsibilities essential to effective operations. Institutional strengthening activities may include central and local government partners, particularly, but not exclusively, with regard to how to interact productively with civil society.
The program also includes four type of small-grants, which support: (a) developmental and charity activities ranging from $10,000 to $75,000; (b) activities that bring civil society and government together to achieve a common objective; (c) advocacy activities; and (d) other sub-grants made at the request of USAID. While sub-grantees under the first three categories will generally be Angolan NGOs, sub-grantees under the fourth category may be either Angolan or international NGOs selected by USAID. The fourth category is designed to allow USAID to take advantage of unanticipated funding from USAID/Washington and other sources, and to allow potential corporate contributors to use the mechanism to manage grants agreed upon by USAID and the recipient.
Election Support Program: USAID continues to assist the electoral preparation process by providing technical assistance and training to civil society organizations and political parties. The program also continues to support information dissemination activities aimed at improving citizens' knowledge of electoral and democratic issues, through radio programs and debates.
Justice Sector Strengthening: USAID continues to provide training and technical assistance to improve court procedures and administration, case tracking and documentation management.
Media freedom and freedom of information
USAID supports Multipress, a local media organization, to produce and broadcast news and information, debates and interviews programs through the Voice of America.
