Angola

UN-HABITAT Office in Luanda

Luanda, March 12, 2009 - The United Nations Human Settlements Programme and the Government of Angola signed Accord on Thursday, March 12 for the establishment of a UN-HABITAT Office in Luanda.

The Office, in the light of this Agreement, has legal status and capacity to contract, acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property, as well as to scheme legal proceedings, and is to assist the host government, interested cities, civil society institutions and private sector through provision of public information, training and networking opportunities.

In accordance with the overall mandate of UN-HABITAT, the National Office has responsibility to encourage international cooperation to implement the HABITAT Agenda in Angola; Cooperate with regional and international organizations, national government, local authorities, civil society institutions and private sector; Promote the implementation of UN-HABITAT global programmes and global campaigns in Angola; Raise funds together with UN-HABITAT Headquarters for the formulation and implementation of activities in Angola; Organize international, regional and national conferences on human settlements issues; as well as to Translate selected UN-HABITAT documents into Portuguese and disseminate them in Angola and other Portuguese-speaking countries, in coordination with UN-Habitat Headquarters.

In carrying out these activities, the Office, as part of the Regional and Technical Cooperation Division, will be guided by the UN-Habitat Headquarters, particularly supported by the Regional Office for Africa and Arab States, with periodic support from the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, and will be headed by a chief to be appointed by the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, in consultation with the Government of Angola, whereas, UNDP, in accordance with its regulation, rules, policies and procedures, will recruit and administer national and non-staff personnel to provide services, promote and implement the Office activities in Angola, on behalf of UN-Habitat.

The signing parties were represented by Mrs. Anna Kajumulo TIBAIJUKA, the Executive Director on behalf of UN-HABITAT and Mr. George Rebelo CHICOTY, Foreign Affairs Vice-minister on behalf of the Government, respectively.