Angola

What we are doing

Strategic Framework for Programming and Operations UNDP ANGOLA 2006-2008

1. Vision

Based on UNDP’s vision as a global development network, we aim at building a coalition of key partners on the ground to support Angola’s efforts to reduce extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. UNDP Angola is committed to reforming itself through a better alignment of its human and financial resources with the development needs identified by the country. It will integrate its programme and streamline its operational processes, in order to exponentially improve its efficiency and quality of output.

2. Aproach

In implementing our vision and mandate, we connect local and global knowledge and experience, and we will broker resources to help the poor people of Angola build a better life. In applying our human development paradigm, we advocate growth with equity, good governance, human rights and the rule of law, placing people, specially the poor and the marginalized, at the centre of the development challenges. We promote local ownership and initiative as well as South-South cooperation. We use capacity development and gender mainstreaming as cross cutting platforms for our programmatic and operational activities .

3. Situation Analysis

With the signing of the Luena Peace Agreement in April 2002, Angola emerged from more than 30 years of a devastating conflict which immediately followed its independence in November of 1975. During the period of conflict, the UN’s role has mostly been in the field of humanitarian and emergency assistance and coordination, with OCHA, WFP and UNHCR taking the lead.

The achievement of Peace has signalled the beginning of a new era for Angola in which the key priorities are defined within a framework of sustainable peace building and long term development. The National Strategy to combat poverty approved in 2004, as well as the Angola MDG Reports of 2003 and 2005, entirely reflect these priorities.

In spite of its incredible wealth in oil, diamonds and water resources, its potential in agriculture, and its remarkable levels of economic growth, Angola is plagued by notable insufficiencies in terms of its capacity for institutional reform and long term development planning. This is a country in desperate need to improve its public management systems and basic service delivery at all levels and expand its ability to curb corruption and increase accountability; to promote inclusive and democratic governance processes; to create employment; to promote the rule of law, human rights and sustainable human development.

Within this context, UNDP Angola is undergoing a transition, from an agency with a somewhat marginal role during the emergency period, to the UN agency that is the main provider of technical assistance and policy support for sustainable development, in strong partnership with the government, civil society, key donors and the private sector.

4. Frame of Reference

Our overarching frame of reference is combating poverty and achieving the MDGs

Angola signed the UN Millennium Declaration, together with 190 other Heads of State and Government, at the UN General Assembly, in September 2000, and as a result, adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) . The Outcome Document of the summit to review progress on MDGs in September 2005 reaffirms the joint commitment of the United Nations and its Member States in making all efforts to achieve the MDGs by 2015.

The ‘Estratégia de Combate à Pobreza’ (ECP), the national poverty reduction strategy, aims at consolidating peace and promoting sustainable development, namely through the achievement of the MDGs within the national context and in reference to sub-regional and regional strategies (SADC Regional Indicative development plan, NEPAD).

The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Angola, covering 2005-08, has as its stated objectives the consolidation of peace, the promotion of sustainable development and progress towards the achievement of the MDGs.

5. Business Model and Processes

Deriving from UNDP’s mandate to support developing countries to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable human development, UNDP Angola will effectively support the country in its efforts to consolidate peace and national reconstruction, and achieve long term development through the following business model:

• A Mission Statement based on UNDP’s vision and the priorities of the Angolan People
• A definition of strategic goals, and intermediate and long term results, firmly grounded on the country’s priorities and UNDP’s added value.
• The adoption of a programme approach, using a results-based logical framework
• An integrated and coherent Country Programme, designed to respond to the joint priorities of the Government of Angola and the United Nations (frame of reference) . This programme connects its various pillars through a results-based logical framework to ensure maximum impact on the ground.
• Adoption of a toolkit for resource mobilization, outreach, communication and advocacy, as a platform for coordination, knowledge management and significant engagement of key partners in development interventions.
• Asserting our client-base and rules for client relations
• Identification of ‘quick-wins’ within our programme and operations deliverables, for an accelerated change of image and perception, while establishing a sustained institutional culture of efficiency, results and client orientation
• Articulation of the links between programme and operations and impact on delivery, namely through a stronger Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU).
• A highly competent and efficient operational machinery, focused on client satisfaction and delivery of relevant and timely results and Working with the UNDP corporate Management Consulting Team (MCT) to upgrade human resources capacity in order to deliver timely high quality outputs
• Business process re-engineering with the objective of significantly decreasing the time involved in recruitment processes, payments and local and external procurement. Optimizing programme and project management through proficiency in latest processes and tools such as Atlas and the new platform - Capacity for Efficient Delivery of Achievable Results (CEDAR Project).
• Undertake preparations to consider the establishment of a business centre in 2007/8
• Improvement of the work environment in terms of physical conditions and interpersonal working relationships. (Collaborating with co-located UN agencies to resolve pressing problems of space, staff security, electricity, sanitation and connectivity)
• Enhanced collaboration with key donors, other development partners and the private sector, to strengthen a coordinated approach in supporting government and civil society to meet their stated goals and development challenges.

6. The Country Programme

Within the framework of the Estratégia de Combate à Pobreza, the Country Programme for 2005-8 builds on four goals of the multi-year funding framework (MYFF- Democratic Governance, Poverty Eradication, Combat HIV/AIDs and Crisis Prevention and Recovery) and eight of the UNDP Service Lines. It is consistent with the findings of the CCA rights-based approach and with 8 of the intended outcomes of the UNDAF. In adopting our plan of action and key deliverables for the remaining period of 2006-2008, UNDP focuses on the entry points where it has a leadership role within the United Nations system in Angola, namely:

• Institutional development
• Democratic governance and community
• Peace building and security consolidation ( including de-mining)
• Democratization (includingsupport for democratic processes, elections and parliaments)
• Decentralization
• Pro-poor growth , employment creation and private sector development
• Response to HIV/AIDs
• Basic social servicesdelivery (including at local level)

7. Country Office Achievements

In recent years, some of the notable accomplishments by the country Office include:

- Support to Policy and Legal Framework

Technical advice was provided to the 4th Commission of Parliament responsible for decentralization and supported study visits for Members of the Commission to Uganda and Tanzania, thus promoting south-south comparative experiences.

This experience and expertise was valuable for the development of the study of fiscal decentralization and the draft proposal for the Municipal Development Fund.

Also noteworthy was the Approval of the Decree Law 02/07, which incorporate proposal made by both the DLG and the Decentralization Working Group, namely the creation of Budgetary Units and Conselho de Auscultação e Concertação Social (CACS- Social Consultation and Coordination Council) having Civil Society Organization as members.

- Revised Project for the support to DLG in Phase II

As part of the continued commitment of UNDP to the Angolan decentralization process a Project Implementation Plan was formulated for the period 2008- 2010 in a comprehensive consultative process that included field visits and assessments in the targeted 15 Municipalities, consultations at central, provincial and municipal level as well as with development partners.

- Institutional and Human Resources Capacity Development

In 2007 UNDP focused on strengthening of the health system infrastructure to provide better HIV/AIDS services. The Global Fund project was instrumental in creating, rehabilitating and equipping VCT centres, PMTCT services, day hospitals and laboratories in Ministry of Health facilities. Over 20 laboratories were established and equipped, 24 health centres with PTV service and over 15 day hospitals to treat infections. Also 35 surveillance sentinel sites were effectively developed.

- Support to Stockpile Destruction

In 2007 Angola successfully fulfilled its obligation under Article 4 of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Treaty and joined 74 other State Parties that have completed their Article 4 obligations, destroying a total of over 39.5 million stockpiled anti-personnel landmines around the world.

With the support of UNDP project, CNIDAH (national authority for mine action) identified a total of 83,557 anti-personnel landmines in stocks throughout the country. Of this total, 81,045 mines were successfully destroyed and the remaining 2,512 was retained by the Government of Angola for training purpose under Article 3 of the treaty.

- Capacity Development for the National Mine Action Authority (CNIDAH) at Central and Provincial Level and of National Institute of Demining (INAD )

Under auspices of CNIDAH, with support from UNDP and Survey Action Centre, the socio-economical Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) in all 18 provinces of Angola has been completed and officially certified by UNMAS certification committee.

- Poverty reduction and MDG achievement

2007 saw the final phase of programmes which focused on supporting the national poverty reduction efforts through downstream interventions, with the phase out activities focusing on granting sustainability to the programmes and ensuring successful capacity development. At the same time, 2007 witnessed a greater focus on support for upstream interventions, with particular emphasis on supporting policy formulation and advocacy on the MDGs.

In implementing programmes and projects within the focus areas stated above UNDP sought to build wherever possible strong coordination mechanisms and increase dialogue between various stakeholders such UN agencies, private sector, Civil Society, Donors and in particular with Government.

- Business Support for Entrepreneurs

Through various business services offered by assisted institutions, AEP has enabled a total of 8,570 entrepreneurs gain greater access to business and financial services to help start, operate and expand their business. In most cases, AEP supports entrepreneurs who usually have limited access to formal banking and business support services owing to their inability to provide collateral and other security requirements as well as inability to afford these costly services

7. In Addition

In implementing the Country Programme, UNDP will enhance its capacity to work at both national and sub-national levels.

An overall listing of Unit/CO Key deliverables for 2006/7 will be attached to this strategy document. Also attached will be a table of indicators and a framework for monitoring progress and assessing individual and unit responsibility for programme delivery.