THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE: Angola continues to be ravaged by war and faces a serious humanitarian crisis. Although conventional warfare has ceased, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) guerrilla attacks continue. These attacks and government counterinsurgency measures continue to displace populations. Military action close to Angola's borders has occasionally spilled over into neighboring countries. Despite diplomatic efforts by the United Nations (UN) and others, the 26-year-old civil war continues and more than two million internally displaced people require assistance. Although Angola was at one time an exporter of food, at present it cannot feed itself and relies on imported and donated food. According to the UN, more than 1.3 million Angolans rely on external food assistance to meet basic food requirements. Even in areas of the country where military activity has not caused large-scale destruction and suffering, Angolans face severe hardships. USAID's strategy is centered on addressing emergency, transition and development efforts. Development efforts are hampered by landmines, collapsed infrastructure, banditry, insecurity and inadequate government support.
| On the United Nations Human Development Index, Angola ranks 146 out of 162. One child under five dies every three minutes. Approximately one million children have lost one parent; 300,000 have lost both. |
Yet, Angolan citizens remain willing to help themselves, and pressures are increasing for more accountable government. Civil society has recently spoken out more forcefully on a wide range of issues. Churches, in particular, have become much more vocal in advocating both better performance by the government and stronger efforts to end the war. Town hall meetings and radio debates, with participation by public officials, are on the rise even in the provinces. Although journalists are still harassed and the best-funded media are government publications, media are now able to report more openly than in the past. Health conditions and services, most notably for women and children, remain appalling. Angola has among the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, 1,800 deaths per 100,000 live births. Infant mortality is well over 17% while the mortality rate for children under five is almost 30%. Although malaria kills more Angolans than any other disease, a national campaign to combat the disease is only just beginning. UNAIDS estimated HIV prevalence at 2.8 % in 1999, however, the epidemic appears to have spread considerably. The World Health Organization and UNICEF both estimated prevalence to be 8.6% in 2001. The anti-polio campaign has fared better than other public health efforts in Angola, and approximately 62% of the total population of children under five have been vaccinated against the disease.
U.S. national interests in Angola center on relieving the suffering of war-affected Angolans by providing emergency and humanitarian assistance. Angola is the United States' eighth largest oil supplier and plays a pivotal role in southern Africa's regional stability.
THE USAID PROGRAM:
|
FY 2002 Estimate: $14.119 million | FY 2003 Request: $15.404 million |
USAID is requesting funds for three programs: improving maternal and child health and decreasing HIV incidence; improving food security with a focus on smallholder agriculture; and strengthening civil society. In FY 2002, USAID will continue to be the leading donor of emergency humanitarian assistance. USAID's pilot AIDS education and prevention activity has proven highly successful, and the program will be expanded both geographically and programmatically. Support from private sector partners for HIV/AIDS efforts will grow as well. Polio efforts will continue. In FY 2002, a new USAID health activity focusing on maternal and child health in Luanda will begin. A follow-on activity to strengthen the capacity of institutions and communities to respond to the educational needs of vulnerable children will also begin in FY 2002. In addition to increasing the availability of information and strengthening the advocacy skills of civil society organizations, USAID will seek opportunities to enhance democratic processes through the organization of farmer associations and village health and sanitation committees. Gender remains a crosscutting theme in the USAID program.
ONGOING PROGRAMS FOR WHICH NO FY 2002 OR FY 2003 FUNDING IS REQUESTED: The USAID program in Angola includes the following objectives for which USAID is not requesting new funds, but is continuing to expend funds already appropriated.
| Number: |
Title: |
Last Notified: |
Planned Completion: |
|---|
| 654-001 | Community Resettlement & Rehabilitation | FY 02 CBJ, p. 34 | FY 2002 |
|
654-002 | Increased National Reconciliation | FY 02 CBJ, p. 38 | FY 2002 |
OTHER PROGRAM ELEMENTS: Through the Democracy/Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance bureau, USAID/Washington programs support several activities in Angola. The Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development is assisting Agostinho Neto University in developing a political science and public administration degree program. USAID supports several emergency health activities including child immunizations, safe and hygienic deliveries for women, and potable water. USAID/Washington supports a P.L. 480 food sales (monetization) program that directly supports smallholder agriculture and promotes internally displaced persons resettlement. Another central USAID program supports a child survival program to reduce infant, child and maternal mortality through home visits, community training and a variety of low-tech/high-impact interventions that focus on malaria, diarrheal disease, nutrition and immunizations. Displaced Children and Orphan Funds support a program run by the Christian Children's Fund to provide assistance to war-affected children and their communities. With funding provided through the War Victims Fund, Vietnam Veterans of America support a Center in Moxico Province which fitted 227 people with prosthetics. Most of the recipients were victims of land mine accidents.
OTHER DONORS: The United States is the leading bilateral donor followed by Spain (health and agriculture) and Italy (humanitarian assistance and democracy/governance activities). The European Union is the leading multilateral donor. After several years of suspended activities, the World Bank is re-engaging in Angola and is in the planning stages for economic technical assistance and education programs. Donor coordination within Angola is improving, due to efforts led by the Untied Nations Development Program. United Nations agencies and USAID work closely together, particularly in the health sector. Sweden and the Netherlands are leading donors in humanitarian assistance after the United States.
Program Data Sheets
- 654-005 Enhanced household food security in targeted communities
- 654-006 Constituencies promoting democratic governance strengthened
- 654-007 Increased use of Maternal/Child Health and HIV/AIDS services and/or products and improved health practices
|
