Angola

Energy and Environment

Despite the growing focus at the global level on climate change, environmental degradation and the need for sustainable management of the natural resources, there has not been an efficient global response to these issues.

UNDP’s 2008-2011 Strategic Plan highlights that poor people continue to be the most affected by the slow progress in addressing these issues, with 1.1 billion in developing countries without access to clean water and 2.5 billion who not have access to modern fuel for cooking and heating, which results in the continued pressure on the ecosystem and the increases threat to livelihoods and local development. Hence one of the four key areas of intervention of UNDP’s Strategic Plan establishes the goal “To strengthen national capacities to achieve sustainable development through environmental management, adaptation to climate change, and expansion of access to environmental and energy services for the poor.”

 Within this global goal the strategic plan establish the following as key expected outcomes:

• Mainstreaming environment and energy
• Catalyzing environmental finance
• Promoting climate change adaptation
• Expanding access to environmental and energy services for the poor

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.

With two key projects engaged in natural resource management, the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango River Basin (EPMSO) and the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME) and third project on Sustainable Land Management, the common thread is that all projects seek to build capacity of all the relevant stakeholders in protection the natural resources (Okavango river, Benguela Current, Land) as well as increase the benefits of these resources to the poorest populations. All of these projects engage various stakeholders including regional institutions such as OKACOM (Permanent Commission for the Okavango River), as well as different donors such as the Angolan Government and UNDP’s Global Environment Fund (GEF):

UNDP Country Office also supported the Angolan State in the drafting and definition of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan in 2007, which define various interventions and key activities including: research and information dissemination, education for sustainable development, biodiversity management in protected areas, institutional strengthening and the role of communities in bio-diversity management.

With continued engagement and close partnership with the Angolan State, international donors as well civil society, UNDP Angola will continue to strive to meet the MDG goals on environment as well as the UNDP 2008-2011 strategic plan.

Ongoing Projects (by MYFF Service Lines)

3. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Project ID	Title
3.1 FRAMEWORKS AND STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
00053536	Sustainable Development Network
3.5 CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY
00046510	Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango River Basin – EPSMO
00046510	Integrated Management of Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem – BCLME
00052416	Sustainable Land Management Capacity Building in Angola