Energy and Environment
In Angola, the protection of the environment and natural resources is constitutionally recognised as a duty of the State, which has the responsibility to formulate environmental strategies, policies and laws as well as engage in the international and national programmes that seek to protect the environment and promote sustainable use of natural resources. The Environmental Framework Law goes further by providing guiding principles for the prevention and combat of pollution, and standards to protect the environment. Angola has developed in the last decade comprehensive environmental legislation regarding water resources, petroleum, mines, and land, and have increased engagement with regional and international bodies and partners.
As a result, the UNDP Country Office has been also engaged in environment projects in Angola in the last few years and this continues to be a key area of intervention, not only because of the UNDP’s global strategic plan but also as a direct result of the Angolan State’s continued focus on this area.
Based on UNDP's advice, the Government has demonstrated a new commitment on addressing climate change, which in addition to the drafting of an adaptation plan, as well as finalizing its First Communication to the UNFCCC which had been pending for several years. Up until 2011, Angola was one of the few countries that had not drafted a First Communication document which is now in front of the National Assembly waiting to be debated.
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Main Achievements in 2011
Mainstreaming environmental issues into the national development received a boost during 2011. The National Adaptation Action Plan was developed and approved. A Designated National Authority for coordinating the national Green economy Strategy was appointed. A robust integrated programme on environmental protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity and disaster risk reduction was formulated with support from UNDP. UNDP also was the lead coordinating agency in preparing the GEF IV proposal on biodiversity.
UNDP was asked to be a member of the official Government of Angola COP-17 delegation and was instrumental in providing advice on accessing various climate change funds in this regard, financial mechanisms and priorities for each of funding sources have been identified and UNDP strategic and technical advice on which opening Angola should try to access.

Sustainable Land Management in the province of Huambo |
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Additionally, with UNDP's assistance the preparation of Angola's Hydro-chlorofluorocarbon phase-out management plan was approved by the Montreal Protocol Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund at the 65th meeting in Bali in November 2011. As a result, Angola approved its adherence to the de Montreal Protocol amendments in January 2011 and became a full member of the Montreal Protocol in June 2011. The Regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer entered into force on June 15, 2011, Presidential decree No.153/11.
During 2011, UNDP also supported the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango River, which brought together Angola, Botswana, and Namibia, to jointly discuss resource management of one of the most important watersheds in sub-Saharan Africa. |
With UNDP support, and based on a Tran-boundary Diagnostic Analysis, three national strategic action plans were developed and publically presented in 2011.
Financial Information in 2011 (amounts in US$ thousands)
By 2011 Project
ID Project |
Project |
Budget in 2011 |
Expenditure in 2011 |
% |
| 00052416 |
Sustainable Land Management |
522,501 |
250,004 |
48 |
By 2011 Energy and Environment budget (amounts in US$ thousands)

By 2011 Energy and Environment expenditure (amounts in US$ thousands)
|
Corporate outcomes |
2011 budget |
2011 expenditure |

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Mainstreaming environment and energy |
429,071 |
|
293,297 |

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Catalyzing environmental finance |
18,130 |
|
12,066 |

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Promoting climate change adaptation |
91,050 |
|
63,512 |

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Expanding access to environmental and energy services for the poor |
209,538 |
|
102,817 |

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Unit defined key results |
36,908 |
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31,402 |
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Total |
784,696 |
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503,095 |
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Key results in 2011
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Support to the Ministry of Environment in project formulation/coordination for the GEF, policy advice on several climate change iniatives (in collaboration with UNEP)
- Governement of Angola/UNDP Environment Programme endorsed and approved by the Government. The programme set up and coordination unit put in place.
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Support to the Government preparation for the COP-17, including the articulation and validation of the first national adaptation plan and the first communication to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- Benguela Current Regional Management Plan completed and being operationalized No regional plan on water management of the Okavango River.
- Transboudary Diagnostic and Strategic Action Plan for the Okavango River endorsed by the three Governments (Angola, Botswana and Namibia).
- Training and awareness campaigns on Sustainable Land Management contributed to building capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture, NGOs, Universities, rural communities, and private institutions.
Lessons learned
Coordination and joint planning between Angola, Namibia, and Botswana on the Okavango River Basin is recognized as a best practice model for transboundary water resource management in Africa.
Challenges for 2012
- Capacity building programme in support of the Designate National Authority for Climate Change.
- Support for sustainable land management practices aimed at reducing deforestation in peri- urban areas will add to climate mitigation and improve community residence.
- Access to Adaptation Fund and to LDCF for Adaptation interventions
- Support Angola in legislative and international convention aspects, particularly the Ottawa Convention, making full use of the international capacity in this regard available to UNDP.
- Community based climate change adaptation projects under preparation in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment.
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