Angola

• Support to operationalization of UNDAF, through the formulation of the operational guidelines and the holding of a joint annual review of respective country programmes against UNDAF priorities.
• Develop an interagency UNDAF M&E mechanism and methodology .
• Support the Government of Angola in the preparation of the 2009 MDG Progress Report, the first after a long hiatus.
• Continue the MDG Advocacy campaign.
• Pursue to finalization of HACT assessment and roll-out.
• Highlight the UN role and its comparative advantage through increased advocacy, Observance of special UN celebrations, organization of forum for discussions and creation of a UN Website.
• Recruitment of a Senior Coordination Officer.

Key Achievements in 2011

• The technical mid-term review of the UNDAF took place in March led by the Ministry of Planning and the UNCT. Key recommendations included better analyses on the UN results as contributing to overall national results and improving joint preparation for such exercises, including with Civil Society partners.
• Given that 2012 is election year, with the voting scheduled for September, the Government and the UNCT have agreed to request a one-year extension of the UNDAF. This will also ensure harmonization  with the new government’s programmes.
• Angola maintains cooperation partnerships with the World Bank, the IMF, the EU, the USA, Brazil, Japan, and Spain as well the United Nations system. In mid 2011, the African Development Bank formally opened its programme in Angola. The Angolan Government remains reticent in establishing formal donor coordination.  Nor have they signed up to the Paris Declaration principles. This is in part because of the low dependence on ODA but may change in time as Angola itself becomes a development partner with other countries such as Guinea Bissau. The RC and UNCT continue to advocate for greater coherence and have successfully supported the creation of sectoral coordination mechanisms in health and decentralization.
• There is an opportunity in Angola for the UNCT to leverage greater funding for technical support from the Government but also to look at partnerships with the BRICS.
• Operating in Angola continues very costly, posing many challenges in quality and availability of services. The Operations Management Team worked to improve common services and gain cost-efficiencies. Examples include reducing procurement transactions by sharing vendors, best providers and good practices, establishment of a Human Resources candidate database, recruitment of Common Services Receptionist. New areas of cooperation were also identifies: travel, clearing and forwarding and joint banking services; these will be completed in 2012.
• Concerning Common Premises, a part time common services manager hosted by UNICEF but working with UNDP. Was recruited The conditions of the UN building are deteriorating: old electricity fixtures, fire hazards, flooding and poor general physical working conditions. Discussions are ongoing with the Government to find a solution: rehabilitation of the building or finding another suitable premises. Given the cost of the office space in central Luanda and the congestion, the latter is problematic.
• The OMT is reviewing the space allocation in order reconfigure the offices according to staffing needs. Given the changing context of the country and problems with funding, there is likely to be some reduction in staff, freeing up space for agencies currently housed outside the UN Office.
• A challenge in Angola is the recruitment and retention of international staff because of the living conditions and cost. Luanda was considered in 2011 as the most expensive city in the world. This issue has been raised with New York but would merit a special review by the UN and the ICSC[i].
• The HACToperational Manual was updated to reflect changes in operating environment in Angola and agreed with government who designated focal points from key institutions to work with the UN Technical team, especially on the micro assessment of new Implementing Partners and agree on harmonized systems for joint verification exercises. The database for civil society IP’s was updated..
• The RCO recruited a Communications Consultant to support the implementation of the communications strategy approved by the UNCT in 2010. Training was also carried out of journalists on the MDG reporting and the launch of a Development Reporting Award. A UN Angola website has been developed and will become operational in 2012.
• The UN Cares group expanded its work to provincial level. It also reviewed the PEP Kit policy and organized a network of custodians for Pep kits throughout the country. Turnover in the membership of the group also affected its work.

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