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USAID Information:
External Links:
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Angola
The Development Challenge:In FY 2003, Angolans continued their ground-breaking transition toward national reconciliation and a lasting peace that will firmly place the country on the path to recovery, reconstruction, and development. While much has been achieved to put an end to life-threatening situations faced by millions of Angolans during the 27 year civil war, much more needs to be done to consolidate these gains over the next year. At the same time, reintegration and recovery efforts need strengthening to pave the way for the re-establishment of the social, political and economic life of the country. To achieve these goals during 2004, the United States will work with the Government of the Republic of Angola and other partners to address remaining emergency needs, while complementing government efforts to improve living conditions. This includes supporting the resumption of productive activities and providing access to social services in resettlement and return areas. During 2003, over 3.8 million war-affected persons resettled or returned to their areas of origin. Hundreds of thousands of persons remain temporarily resettled, and 350,000 refugees are still in neighboring countries. While there seems to be greater political tolerance, many Angolans, despite the growing demand for greater political participation, remain disenfranchised.
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Angola's economy continues to grow, but overall performance is below potential because of weak physical infrastructure, poor economic policy, and continued corruption at all levels of society. High inflation, a misaligned exchange rate, under-investment by the government in social sectors, a large fiscal deficit, and vast unrecorded expenditures in a shadow economy are major factors in macroeconomic destabilization. With national elections expected in 2005, the country's fledgling civil society organizations are engaging political leaders and the public in constructive dialogue about the country's future. As people return to their farmlands and engage in economically productive activities, successes in securing property rights and resources for infrastructure development will make a crucial difference in their ability to generate income and gain a solid foothold in the national economy. Continued investments in Angola's people at this crucial stage are key to help build a democratically governed, politically stable country that protects the rights of its citizens and promotes their health and economic vitality.
Even with the cessation of the civil war, health statistics for women and children in Angola have not changed. Data from the UNICEF 2004 State of the World Children shows there is still a high incidence of maternal mortality, 1,700 per 100,000 live births; and the mortality rate for children under five is 260 deaths per 1,000 live births. Malaria and diarrheal diseases are endemic, as are many vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles. Angola's war deterred the spread of HIV/AIDS by making large portions of the country inaccessible. The state was cut off from most contact with its more HIV-affected neighbors. With the end of the war, however, transportation routes are reopening, and many of those displaced by the war are returning to their homes. In 2001, UNAIDS estimated Angola's national HIV/AIDS prevalence at 5.5%. Due to war conditions, however, this estimate was based on a very small sample of sero-prevalence surveys within restricted geographic areas. The current situation is dramatically different due to large population movements. Prevalence rates are conservatively projected at over 8% for 2003 and up to 18% by 2010. Without adequate measures to address HIV/AIDS, Angola could attain the same rates of HIV/AIDS infection (23-39%) as its neighbors.
The U.S. national interests in Angola are socioeconomic, humanitarian, and political. The United States seeks to assist Angola in its economic rehabilitation, effective national reconciliation, resettlement and reintegration of war-affected populations, reconstruction of crucial infrastructure, and the establishment of democratic and free market economic processes. Angola is the United States' eighth largest supplier of oil. It also is one of the United States' largest trading partners in Africa, and has the potential to play an important role in Southern Africa's regional stability.
The USAID Program: To address the development challenges in Angola, USAID is requesting FY 2004 and FY 2005 funding to support a program consisting of four objectives: 1) improving food security with a focus on smallholder agriculture; 2) advocating democratic reform; 3) improving maternal and child health and decreasing the incidence of HIV/AIDS; and 4) promoting economic reform. The food security objective includes distributing improved seed varieties and fostering the growth of local seed production, providing agricultural extension services to train farmers in new technologies, developing agricultural marketing strategies, and increasing micro-agricultural credit. Under the democracy objective, FY 2004 and FY 2005 funds will be used to support and strengthen civil society coalitions, promote independent media, encourage transparent and accountable governance, secure land tenure rights, ensure free and fair electoral processes, and mitigate community level conflicts. Funding for the health objective will help improve the capacity of institutions and communities to provide services for maternal and child health and expand HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Under its reactivated economic reform objective, USAID will support economic policy reform, limited support to private sector development through business development activities, and increased access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises in 2004 and 2005. USAID will work with international and local non-governmental organizations in public-private partnerships, including ongoing work with ChevronTexaco and ESSO.
Other Program Elements: In addition to the resources requested in the following data sheets, USAID's Washington-based Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) will support several activities in Angola. In FY 2004, DCHA will continue to support and manage a development relief program with P.L. 480 Title II food commodities to promote food-for-work activities for smallholder agriculture and to promote resettlement and reintegration of internally displaced persons. Health, democracy, and governance principles are integrated into these activities. DCHA's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance will support emergency health activities, including child immunizations, safe and hygienic deliveries for women, and the provision of potable water. DCHA's Office of Transition Initiatives will expand its work with civil society organizations. Funding from USAID's Bureau for Global Health will reduce infant, child, and maternal mortality through home visits; low-tech/high-impact interventions that focus on malaria, diarrheal disease and nutrition; and immunizations.
Displaced Children and Orphans funds will be used to continue a program run by the Christian Children's Fund to help war-affected children and their communities. With funding provided through the War Victims fund, Vietnam Veterans of America will support a center in Moxico province that provides prosthetic limbs to maimed people, many of whom are victims of landmine accidents.
Other Donors: The United States is the leading bilateral donor to Angola, followed by Norway (democracy and governance, energy, and water sectors), the United Kingdom (poverty reduction, micro finance and humanitarian assistance sectors), Spain (health, education, agriculture, civil society, and humanitarian assistance sectors), Sweden (humanitarian assistance), and the Netherlands. France provides assistance in education, agriculture, health, humanitarian assistance, and HIV/AIDS. Portugal provides assistance in agriculture, education, health, democracy and governance, private sector development, and water and sanitation. The European Union is the leading multilateral donor. The World Bank is initiating four new activities: a transition package to support the reintegration of demobilized soldiers; an economic management technical assistance project; support to control the HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis epidemics; and the third Social Action Fund. In addition to the leadership and humanitarian assistance provided by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, the World Food Program, and the United Nations Development Program, other U.N. organizations are also present, including the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund, and the World Health Organization.
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