USAID/OTI Angola Field Report May 2004
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 forty years of violent conflict. OTI is providing support in three areas: strengthening civil society advocacy capacity; strengthening media; and increasing local-level engagement between citizens and authorities in order to address community problems. OTI’s primary implementing partner is Creative Associates, International (CAII) and the FY 2004 budget is approximately $2.8 million.
Country Situation
The biggest news during May was President Jose Eduardo dos Santos’ official visit to the United States. During his 72-hour visit, dos Santos met with President Bush and discussed various items including peace consolidation in Angola and the status of the Luena Accord; economic issues, focusing on the potential for further foreign investment, mainly in the oil sector; elections (although dos Santos did not provide any new information regarding the establishment of an election date); and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. dos Santos requested additional support for de-mining efforts and for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
During May, the White House also released the name of its nominee for US Ambassador to Angola to replace current Ambassador Christopher Dell later this year, pending confirmation hearings. The nominee, Cynthia Efird, currently serves as Director of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Bureau for African Affairs at the Department of State.
During May, the Angolan government signed a $300 million deal with Chevron Texaco Corporation, extending until 2030 the company’s exploration concession in Cabinda province. The deal marks the first time the Angolan government has allowed signing bonuses to be publicly disclosed. The agreement includes a $210 signing bonus and an $80 million “social bonus,” some of which is earmarked for expenditure in Cabinda. New oil deposits were also discovered by British Petroleum oil company, further raising expectations that Angolan oil production will significantly increase to more than double its current output during the next few years.
The deal with Chevron is seen as an important signal that the Angolan government is making some efforts to implement more transparent foreign investment practices in the oil sector. However, the Angolan government also released an Oil Diagnostic Study prepared by the accounting firm KPMG. Accompanying the release of the study, KPMG issued a statement recommending that the Angolan government take additional steps towards transparency to attract more international oil investment. Some of the recommendations made in the diagnostic report include: the adoption of international accounting standards; payments of oil concessions only to the central government (i.e. not provincial governments); and the creation by the Angolan government of a petroleum revenue management agency. The report’s recommendations can be accessed at www.angola.org/referenc/reports/oildiagnostic/Executive_Summary.pdf Angolan diplomats continue to express optimism that a long-awaited donor conference may take place in the near future; donors have conditioned participation in a donor conference on demonstration by the Angolan government that it is committed to meaningful economic reform.
Opposition parties continue to push for the establishment of a date for general elections. During May, UNITA and other opposition parties made a public decision to withdraw from participating in the work of the National Assembly’s constitutional commission until a definite timetable for elections is developed and approved in consultation with political parties. The ruling MPLA party has released a 14-point plan of tasks that it considers mandatory to complete before elections can be held, including approval of a new constitution, passage of a new electoral law, and creating an electoral council. Opposition leaders continue to insist that elections can take place within the framework of the existing constitution, and emphasize that by withdrawing from the constitutional revision process they are putting additional pressure on the MPLA to establish a clear timetable. Most observers feel that elections are now unlikely to take place before 2006.
The forced expulsions by the Angolan military of illegal Congolese diamond workers during the past few months, often returning them to unacceptable humanitarian conditions along the DRC-Angola border, have evoked more vocal protests from international human rights groups and have been widely reported in the international media. On May 20, the Angolan government announced a 45-day suspension of expulsions of illegal Congolese diamond workers following a joint security conference which took place in Kinshasa, DRC. It was also announced that further expulsions would only be carried out following negotiations between the two governments.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
All small grant activities funded through CAII will be completed by June 30, 2004, with final closeout of CAII’s Angola office to be completed by September 30, 2004. During May, OTI focused on monitoring and assessing existing activities, as the program begins to prepare for a final program evaluation (anticipated in September 2004) and CAII-Angola close-out. Staff traveled to Huila, Benguela and Huambo provinces to meet with grantees and monitor existing activities.
One new grant was approved in May, to provide partial support for a documentary film using interviews and vignettes with Angolan citizens from all walks of life to generate productive discussion on Angola’s wealth and resource distribution.
- A local labor advocacy NGO organized three workshops and six debates in communities in the Luanda area to discuss rights and democracy, specifically focusing on labor issues and the right to employment. Participants provided input intended to support advocacy efforts related to the passage of a new labor law, and discussed outreach strategies to target populations in areas such as the markets.
- Two radio programs (one on the role of labor unions and workplace rights, and one on the role of youth in a democracy) and one workshop were implemented by a local youth organization with the goal of stimulating youth participation in policy dialogue and debate.
- Thirty-seven participants, including political party representatives, NGO members, church leaders, youth groups and theatre groups from the greater Luanda area community of Palanca attended two workshops organized by a local youth NGO on social justice and the right to fair employment compensation.
- Five radio debates were aired by Radio Ecclesia, Angola’s only national independent radio station, on current issues including: a minimum wage; government response to social issues; and the relevance of the current Government of Unity and Reconciliation. The twenty-four invited participants included civil society members, parliamentarians, and political leaders. This Saturday debate program is one of the most widely listened to independent editorial programs in Angola. In addition to weekly FM broadcast which extends throughout greater Luanda, the programs are now being rebroadcast weekly on short wave to reach a national audience.
- A popular twice-weekly radio program titled “Cidade” (“City”), prepared by a local journalist coalition and broadcast in Huila province on the National Radio station, addressed local community concerns such as: the treatment of street vendors by the Municipal Administration; traffic congestion due to trucks traveling between Namibia and southern Angola; telecommunications infrastructure and power supply problems; and other issues affecting daily life for residents of this province. Partially in response to pressure on the local government generated by the radio broadcasts and listener call-ins, the Provincial Governor has announced a town hall meeting with the municipal planning director so that citizens can provide input on local problems. Neighborhood representatives and NGO leaders have been invited to sit on the planning committee for this event.
B. Grants Activity Summary
| Media Strengthening |
$0 |
$ 125,356 |
0 |
5 |
| Civil Society Advocacy Capacity |
$74,993 |
$1,142,588 |
1 |
31 |
| Citizen Engagement with Local Authorities |
$0 |
$ 632,801 |
0 |
15 |
| TOTAL (May 2004) |
$0 |
$1,900,745 |
0 |
51 |
NOTE: Table represents final number of grants funded through CAII through the end of the OTI Angola program. However, as final expenditures are completed, some changes in funds obligated column are expected.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
During June, CAII will prepare its close-out plan and work closely with grantees to ensure successful completion of all small grants activities and a smooth program close-out.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: Angela Martin at 202-712-5434, amartin@usaid.gov
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