Country Assistance Strategy
ANGOLA

1. National context

1.1 Socio-economic and humanitarian evaluation

Potentially one of Africa's richest country with large reserves of oil, diamonds and other minerals, an enormous hydroelectric potential and plentiful agricultural, forestry and fisheries resources, Angola remains one of the poorest due to the protracted civil war. It was ranked 156 in the UNDP 1998 Human Development Index (HDI) with 60 per cent of the population living below the poverty line. Life expectancy is 40.7 and 44.2 years for men and women respectively. Adult literacy rates are 56% for men and 28 % for women. Access to health services is very restricted due to the limited availability of such services The under 5 infant mortality rate is 274 per thousand live births. The percentage of children under one year vaccinated is 16.7, and the population with access to drinking water and sanitation is 37.9% and 38.4% respectively

Since gaining its independence from Portugal in 1975, Angola has endured almost constant conflict. The 1994 Lusaka Peace Accord and the formation of the United Government of National Reconciliation in April 1997 gave rise to hopes of sustainable development and peace in the country. However, clashes between the government and UNITA continued and in May 1998 both sides prepared for war. Fighting increased dramatically from December 1998, once again plunging the country into a full scale civil war and increasing the numbers of internally displaced people (IDPs)

Agriculture is hard hit, millions of land mines make land unfit for farming and force increasing numbers to abandon their farms. Government support to health and education remains low as funds are diverted to defense. Infrastructure such as roads, bridges and railways already war damaged has been further eroded. Most roads are now closed due to the ongoing insecurity.

Liberalization of the exchange rate by the government has resulted in the equalizing of the official and parallel rates. However, the market prices of staples, imported goods and scarce locally produced food remain high and continue to increase adding to the serious problems affecting the growing population of hungry, jobless and desperate people.

Angola's current external debt stands at approximately US$ 11 billion, with a reported annual rate of inflation of 185%, as of April 1999.

1.2 Vulnerability analysis

The humanitarian situation in war torn Angola is increasingly desperate, creating major social and economic difficulties for growing numbers of vulnerable people including IDPs who are forced to flee from insecure rural areas to Luanda and safer government controlled provincial capitals. The number of new IDPs since mid 1998 has reached nearly one million. Many are elderly people and young children.

In addition, the large scale population displacement in the rural areas has seriously affected food production in Angola, and the deteriorating humanitarian situation has made the population more susceptible to malnutrition, and disease, particularly polio, malaria, TB and diarrhoeal infections.

1.3 Analysis of the funding and assistance/cooperation environment

The resumption of open hostilities all over Angolan territory during 1999 has forced many humanitarian organizations to reduce their staff and activities in certain areas. Despite funding difficulties relief operations have continued albeit at a lower level and only a few operations have been completely closed.

Given the present levels of insecurity resulting in a lack of access to populations in need and the execution of proper assessments to measure the real humanitarian needs in the country, many humanitarian assistance programmes are now being designed with the view to addressing the needs of the vulnerable populations (resident communities and urban poor) and concentrating less on IDPs. In addition, the Angolan government has announced that agricultural activities including dam and irrigation restoration projects aimed at guaranteeing basic food intake and self sufficiency to one million persons will be concentrated in safer areas of the littoral strip and some parts of the north, centre and south of the country. The American government through USAID has approved funding for local agricultural projects implemented by NGOs. Currently access to UNITA held areas for humanitarian aid is denied by the Angolan military.

Following the withdrawal of MONUA (UN Peacekeeping Mission to Angola) during the first quarter of 1999 there have been ongoing discussions between the UN and the Angola government regarding the future role of the UN in Angola. Although the Angolan government may agree to a small UN mission in country that would include political, information and humanitarian components it has a particularly negative view of any future UN military presence or the presence of human rights monitors in Angola.

Humanitarian activities in Angola coordinated by the United Nations Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit (UCAH) and implemented by UN Agencies cover 6 international organizations, 194 national NGOs and 98 international NGOs.

ECHO continues to fund a large number of NGOs operating in Angola and 70% of this funding is allocated to health, principally Primary Health Care, including the funding of health posts, provincial hospitals (principally to paediatric services, laboratories and supplementary feeding programmes). The remaining 30% supports non food procurement (family kits) and distribution through NGOs, and contributions to WFP passenger transport services.

Serious difficulties remain regarding the funding of emergency operations in Angola. Currently the response to the UN consolidated appeal only stands at around 29%.

A revision of the 1999 UN Consolidated Appeal for Angola is being prepared by UN agencies. The original appeal totaling US$ 67 million will be increased to US$ 100 - 115 million and target one million beneficiaries.

ICRC has recently broadcast its special appeal for CHF 105 million to address land mine victims in Angola and worldwide.

2. National Society priorities.

The National Society has been running health, Disaster Preparedness and Relief and mine awareness activities for a number of years with support from the Federation and the ICRC. An Integrated Community Health and Development Programme (ICHDP) was initiated in 1997 in particular geographical areas and facilitated by a number of Project Delegations funded by PNSs and co-ordinated by the Federation Delegation in Luanda.

Following discussions with the Federation Delegation in Angola and an internal planning process, the ARC has identified the following priorities in an ambitious 3 year plan covering the period 2000 to 2003.

Health: including construction, rehabilitation, maintenance and strengthening the capacity of Health Posts, organization of mobile health teams to assist the displaced, water and sanitation programmes, community based health care through home visits by volunteers, preventative and curative services through the health posts, first aid programmes, promotion of maternal and child care activities, supply of food and essential medicines, the setting up of mobile and permanent laboratory services, and STD/HIV projects;

Disaster Response, Preparedness and Mitigation: including emergency relief through the procurement, storage and distribution of non food and food items to the victims of conflict and natural disasters, promotion of education campaigns, mines awareness, training of trainers programmes at provincial level, mobilization of Red Cross volunteers, reactivating of first aid teams, creation of first aid services, provision of ambulance services, support to Orthopaedic centres through the mobilization of resources for the physical rehabilitation of amputees, and the mobilization of blood donors;

Youth: including the identification and training of Red Cross Youth leaders to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS and the dangers of mines in the communities.

Institutional Development: including strengthening and differentiation of governance and management at central and provincial levels, convening of provincial assemblies to install governance structures at that level, increasing the numbers of members and volunteers, improving the organization of the ARC through convening of regular meetings between staff and volunteers, income generation and resource development, improved networking with the components of the Red Cross movement, government agencies and international and local NGOs, improved public image, internal and external communications through the effective use of the media and regular information bulletins.

Other programmes and activities: including the provision of support to children (war victims, slum dwellers, those separated from their families, disabled and orphaned), participation in school construction and delivering of school materials and furniture, home visits to slum dwellers, material and social support to those in need of professional training, provision of agricultural materials, seeds and fertilizers to vulnerable farmers, and the implementation of tracing programmes in collaboration with the ICRC.

3. Priorities and objectives for Federation assistance.

Following an analysis of the successes and failures of past and present Federation/ARC programmes and activities, it is evident that many of the institutional development initiatives undertaken by the Federation in Angola have not produced the desired results and have not had the expected substantial impact and lasting change on ARC.

The Federation and the ARCS will, therefore, in the next planning period be extremely selective in its support for specific institutional development activities of the ARC at this time because of the slow progress in this area. Dialogue and lines of communication between the Delegation and the ARC will remain open regarding institutional development issues.

Despite the lack of progress of institutional development initiatives, Federation support to the ARC regarding the operation of existing programmes in Health and Mines Awareness have been and are largely successful; providing valuable and necessary assistance to vulnerable peoples and communities in Angola, and at the same time building capacity within the National Society. This has been and continues to be an effective strategy for the development of the National Society, and should be supported by the Federation as a matter of priority.

The ARC has drafted a very ambitious 3 year development plan. The Federation will assist the ARC in developing a more realistic and achievable plan.

Federation support to capacity building within the ARC will continue to be a priority through the training of staff and volunteers in Health, Disaster Preparedness and Mines Awareness etc. The Federation will also support the training of key ARC staff particularly in management and good governance. The Federation will ensure that appropriate ARC staff are identified to participate in these trainings, as well as relevant workshops, seminars, exchange and field visits particularly within the region. This will require close cooperation with the Federation Secretariat in Geneva and the Regional Delegation in Harare.

The provision of curative basic health care through accessible, existing and functioning ARC Health Posts will remain a high priority complementing a Community-Based Health Programme implemented under the umbrella of ARCH 2010 emphasizing preventative health programmes, health education, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS in the target locations. Given that water quality continues to be a major problem at the health posts, a priority Water and Sanitation programme is planned. Future Water and Sanitation programmes and activities will be examined in cooperation with the Regional Delegation in Harare.

The possibility of the Federation supporting the ARC to implement ongoing health activities in the non conflict areas will be investigated as a matter of priority. The recruitment of a Federation Health Coordinator and collaboration with the Regional Health Delegate will be crucial for this purpose.

Mines Awareness Education at the community level will continue to be a high priority and the major component of the ARC disaster preparedness programme. The development of a comprehensive ARC disaster preparedness programme and policy should be considered as a longer term programme and priority and will require the recruitment of a Federation Disaster Preparedness Delegate.

The Federation will assist the ARC to develop a Red Cross Youth policy and programme. The ARC will be encouraged to take the lead in developing this initiative.

The development of an income generating base and human resources for the ARC will remain priorities for the Federation. The development of these key areas has proved to be a slow process resulting in continued dependency of the ARC on donor funding for staff support costs and the Federation for the implementation of programmes. It should be noted that the Federation support to staff support costs will be completely phased out at the end of the year 2000. It is therefore vitally important that the ARC draft and approve an appropriate policy and develop and implement activities in the key area of income generation during 1999 and beyond.

The Federation will ensure and strengthen the existing close cooperation between the Federation Delegation in Angola and the Regional Delegation in Harare, and will consolidate and maintain its existing close relationship and cooperation with the ICRC in Angola. The Delegation will operate within the framework of the Southern Africa Partnership of Red Cross Societies (SAPRCS), and encourage the ARC to strengthen its relations and networking with the Red Cross National Societies within the Southern Africa region.

The Delegation will encourage wherever possible the ARC to implement the Regional Plan of Action in follow up to the Kampala Declaration.

4. Priority programmes for Federation assistance

4.1 Disaster Response (1 + 1 year)

The Federation does not have any disaster response programmes at the present time. However, if the situation should change the following elements could be considered for Federation support and assistance:

* ARC health posts utilized as distribution points for food and nonfood items to vulnerable people.

* A stock of emergency food and nonfood items maintained in ARC warehouses for natural and man made disasters as part of the society's disaster prepared ness programme.

4.2 Disaster Preparedness (2 + 2 year)

Federation assistance will be in the following areas:

• ARC disaster preparedness programme and policy developed

• Mines awareness education programme continued in Cunene and expanded to Benguela and possibly other provinces focusing on the following outputs:

* Reduction of mines accident victims

* ARC volunteers trained to be instructors in mines awareness.

* Improved knowledge and awareness of mines through the sensitization of people in the target communities.

4.3 Health education and services (2 + 2 year)

The Federation will provide support for the following:

• An agreed number of Red Cross volunteers trained in community participation and health promotion. The ARC supported by the Federation will regularly follow up, monitor and evaluate these trained volunteers.

• Awareness of reproductive health issues raised to enable women in the target communities to have an increased knowledge and awareness of reproductive health with the long term aim of reducing fertility rates in these locations.

• STD/HIV/AIDs projects developed and implemented through trained Red Cross volunteers at provincial level, awareness raising and education programmes and promotion of the use of condoms.

• An agreed number of Traditional Birth attendants (TBAs) trained for delivery and post natal care in order to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rates in the target provinces.

• National vaccination campaigns and services promoted by the ARC through the existing and functioning health posts and the active participation of Red Cross staff and volunteers at community level.

• Target communities mobilized for WatSan activities utilizing trained Red Cross volunteers to reduce the incidence of diarrhea infections in these locations.

• Cost Recovery system developed, established and operational in selected piloted health posts in the target provinces.

4.3 Promotion of humanitarian values (2 + 2 year)

• ARC Youth programme and policies developed.

4.4 Institutional/Resource development (2 + 2 year)

The Federation will provide selective assistance to enable the National Society to achieve the following over the four year period:

• Realistic and achievable Long term (3 year) ARC strategic plan developed during 2000.

• Governance and management structures at central and provincial levels consolidated and developed including roles and responsibilities defined for the ARC governing bodies.

• Personnel, Administrative and Financial policies, structures and systems developed, documented and approved at central and provincial levels.

• Policies for ongoing and new income generating and fund raising activities drafted, approved and established to enable the ARC to be financially self sustaining and encourage local and international sponsorship for specific activities.

• Public image of the ARC improved through the raising of awareness of the ARC and its activities locally, within the region and internationally by means of the regular publication of newsletters, radio and TV coverage of the ARC and its activities. The ARC to ensure that the Red Cross Emblem in Angola is respected

• ARC staff and volunteers trained in Health, Disaster Preparedness, Mines Awareness, Dissemination, Gender Awareness etc. using existing curricula and materials already developed for these purposes.

• Inter agency networking and collaboration in Angola reinforced through ARC participation and attendance in inter agency meetings, workshops, seminars and trainings. The aim being to establish the ARC as an active partner with other local and international development and relief agencies and organizations in Angola.

• Networking with other National Societies particularly within the Southern African Region encouraged through exchange visits, field trips and participation of appropriate ARC staff and volunteers in regional workshops, seminars, conferences and trainings.

5. Activities currently supported by donors, particularly those within the Movement.

The Federation remains the prime financial supporter of the ARC programmes and its activities with the Spanish Red Cross supporting a bilateral health programme in Bengo and the Viana Mutilado project. It is expected that support from the Spanish Red Cross to the ARC will continue into the year 2000. However, due to the deteriorating insecurity in Bengo the health programme will be reoriented to Luanda.

In line with the 1997 Seville Agreement, it is anticipated that ICRC will support structural development projects such as setting up an ARC Dissemination Section, as well as with strengthening the Tracing Section of the National Society.

Government subsidies, small contributions from members and income generating activities also contribute to ARC finances.

6. Resource Mobilization Strategy

The principal sources of funding for the Federation supported ARC activities and programmes have been the following PNSs - British, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, Netherlands and Canadian Red Cross National Societies. Significant local funding has been sourced from BP/Amaco through the British Red Cross for Federation/ARC programmes in Benguela province.

The presence of many private companies including oil and diamond companies in Angola due to the abundance of these mineral resources in country may provide local funding opportunities for the Federation and ARC in the future. However, in the present political climate it may not be deemed ethical for the Red Cross to pursue funding from many of the prominent diamond companies in Angola given that many are alleged to have had illegal dealings with UNITA.

7. Criteria/process for evaluating the assistance strategy and assessing possible risks

Monitoring will be maintained by regular security updates, monthly situation reports, and regular field trips by delegates in collaboration with the ARC to ensure the effective running of the programme in the field. Co-ordination meetings with the ARC at national and provincial levels will be revived and held on a regular basis. Quarterly reviews will be conducted internally by the Federation and ARC, and an agreed evaluation will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. Appropriate exit strategies and phasing out processes for Federation assisted and supported activities and programmes in Angola will be discussed with all concerned partners, agreed and implemented.

External. Lack of access throughout the country due to insecurity concerns remains the most serious problem confronting the humanitarian community and will continue to dictate where the ARC/Federation can effectively operate.

The Delegation will require the ARC leadership and key staff to take an active, dynamic and leading role in the development of the National Society. Failure to assume this role will result in a continued lack of development within the ARC.

The Delegation will require appropriate and timely technical advice and service from the Regional Delegation in Harare, and from the Secretariat work units.

The Delegation will continue to maintain good relations with Diplomatic Representatives, the UN, ICRC and NGOs particularly regarding security information.

Regular contact, discussions and co-ordination meetings between the Federation, ICRC and ARC will continue and focus on how the Movement can effectively reach the vulnerable in a country plagued and ravaged by civil war.

Internal. The programme is dependent on external resources. Lack of and insufficient funding would result in failure. The securing of the required funds for the proposed programmes and activities will be necessary to facilitate the institutional and structural development ARC.

A Delegate staffing level to be agreed is required to enable the Federation to assist and support the ARC in the implementation of the planned programmes. Each Delegate will work to an agreed work plan and performance appraisals will be systematically carried out by the Head of Delegation..

8. Budget. (please see annex)