1994 - 1999

WHY USAID/OTI WAS IN ANGOLA

USAID/OTI’s Angola program opened in 1994 to support the historic Lusaka Peace agreement. In November 1994, after 20 years of civil war, the Government of the Republic of Angola and representatives of the National Union for Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) signed the Lusaka Protocol. The years of conflict had devastated the country’s infrastructure, internally displaced more than a million people and resulted in the exodus of several hundred thousand others who found refuge in neighboring states. Much of Angola’s fertile agricultural zones were littered with anti-personnel landmines, severely impeding resettlement and economic recovery.

USAID/OTI'S ROLE IN ANGOLA

USAID/OTI’s Angola program focused on:

• Increasing freedom of movement;
• Promoting self-help activities identified by Angolan communities;
• Enabling the flow of accurate, unbiased news and information; and
• Responding to windows of opportunity in other areas, such as macroeconomic policy reform.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Nearly 2 million Angolans were reached by USAID/OTI-supported mine awareness activities, and more than 750 others received training in mine removal techniques. As a result, mine accidents were significantly reduced and key areas of the countryside were reopened for commerce, agriculture and the resettlement of refugees and displaced persons.
• Because media can play a critical role in helping a culture of peace take root, USAID/OTI helped to start Voice of America (VOA) daily news programming. VOA was the nation’s only station offering programming for, by and about Angolans.
• USAID/OTI’s program incorporated high levels of community participation and contributions of local resources. Projects included reconstruction and repair of schools, health clinics, markets, roads and bridges, as well as microenterprise development and agricultural support.

2002-2004

WHY USAID/OTI WAS IN ANGOLA

The situation in Angola changed dramatically in 2002 after National Union for Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) leader Jonas Savimbi’s unexpected death, followed by a ceasefire, renewed commitment to the peace process and rapid demobilization of UNITA forces. After 40 years of war, these developments presented a unique window of opportunity for USAID/OTI to assist Angola’s stalled democratic transition.

USAID/OTI'S ROLE IN ANGOLA

USAID/OTI sought to establish the foundation for a more democratic, more transparent and, ultimately, more peaceful Angola. To achieve this goal, USAID/OTI’s objectives were to:

• Promote civil society advocacy on key transition issues;
• Strengthen independent media;
• Promote broad participatory democratic process; and
• Strengthen the deliberative process within the national assembly.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Sponsored programming/articles in independent media dealing with key transition issues, including status of reintegration, land tenure and civil registration.
• Organized workshops, discussion groups and information campaigns to promote national dialogue on critical issues.
• Initiated a program of civic education, including rights and responsibilities of citizenship, constitutional reform and framework for elections, as appropriate.
• Supported civil society organizations to strengthen analytical and advocacy capacity.
• Promoted organizational and communication linkages between the capital, Luanda, and the rest of the country.