Peace came to Angola in 2002 – after 27 years of civil war - and the preceding 14 years of struggle for independence. 

At that time it was a country with destroyed infrastructure, a generation lost in war and conflict, very few educated people and an economy characterised by colonial heritage and years of war. In addition, there were challenges in all areas that are the very foundation of a functional community and society.

Today Angola can show high economic growth, mostly due to the large oil revenues. Aid accounts for 0.5 per cent of the state income. Angola is Norway’s largest partner for economic cooperation in Africa, primarily due to the petroleum industry and petroleum related exports by the Norwegian companies.

Petroleum

Since 1987 Norway has been assisting Angola with building systems to ensure that natural resources are utilised and the large monetary gains are used to benefit the people. 

Norway today gives little traditional aid to Angola – the limited aid goes mainly towards technical assistance whereby Norway offers Angola access to recognised expertise in highly important areas such as oil, fishing and clean energy (hydroelectricity). Much of the monetary assistance goes towards payments to Norwegian institutions for their services – Angola itself pays much of its expenses and mainly seeks technical assistance.

The Norwegian assistance has contributed to the following:

• Drafting of the new petroleum legislation that came into effect in 2004. Since then a number of regulations under the law have been prepared, including regulations relating to safety and the environment.
• The government’s share of revenues from petroleum has increased. Transfer of expertise from Norway has had a major effect.
• There is greater transparency around government revenues from petroleum. For instance, the state budget is available on the internet and Angola’s state oil company SONANGOL now accepts international audit.
• Based on experiences from the Norwegian Government Pension Fund, the Angolans are considering a similar fund.

Norwegian petroleum interests

So far Statoil has invested around 60 billion NOK in the country. Statoil’s production share in the country is 200 000 barrels per day. This is 34 per cent of Statoil’s production in foreign countries. The company has big expectations of further growth because the company has received operatorship in two new large promising blocks in deep water. Norway’s delivery of goods and services to the petroleum sector also covers a large part of the petroleum market. It is estimated that annual investments in the petroleum field, including upgrades of older production fields, amount to 70- 80 billion NOK. Norway has at least 10 per cent of the deliveries. The export figure in 2010 was eight billion NOK. 

Women and gender equality

Angola is one of the seven countries where Norway is particularly focusing on gender equality. Action plan for women’s rights and gender equality is aimed at improving women’s rights to power and participation in the society and right to life without violence. In 2011 a new law about domestic violence was passed. Implementation of the law has been slow due to cultural factors and institutions like the police and hospitals are yet not prepared to intervene and handle the incoming cases. However passing of the legislation is still an important step in the right direction.
From Norway’s side a gender equality fund has been established which initially has been planned for three years (2011-2013). The aim is to support strategic and creative political work in order to strengthen women’s position in Angola. The support is channelled through women’s networks and organisations. United Nations’ Development Programme (UNDP) is administering the fund which becomes operative from 2012.

Vocational training

The project is a solution towards the high priority goal for increasing the number of local employees in the petroleum industry. As an oil nation and a rising industrial nation Angola has met the same challenges as Norway; a clear need for foreign expertise in the start phase. The project which started in 2009 is run in collaboration with Rogaland Training and Education Centre (RKK) and Angola’s institute of vocational training, INEFOP. Tens of instructors are receiving training in three selected local centres. Equipment has also been purchased so that the instructors can in turn teach students.

Good governance

There are many challenges concerning governance and public administration in Angola. The embassy took initiative to do something about it by starting a collaboration between the Catholic University in Luanda and Chr. Michelsen Institute. Since 2006 research has continued – and important information has been published in regards to governance of the country. The result is a more open debate and increased transparency around public spending. Now annual reports are prepared on the country’s economy, social development and energy situation. These are widely mentioned in the media and also create an important meeting place where representatives of the society can discuss the challenges.

Human rights

The embassy succeeded in 2011 in establishing the first bilateral consultation programme with Angola on human rights. This is now led at the political level and the academia, voluntary organisations, justice ministers of both countries, employers and employees participate in consultations. The main objective of this initiative is to contribute in creating a «human rights culture», which is incumbent in a country where such values were not a priority on the agenda in the very long conflict period.

Aid to Angola

After peace was restored in 2002 Norway, like many other countries, has reduced the aid portfolio. Angola is no longer a war-torn aid recipient; it has become a nation with substantial income of its own. But at the same time there is a pressing need for expertise in many areas in order to ensure a sustainable development and to establish good governance. Angola primarily seeks technical assistance. In all agreements Angola’s emphasis is on operating as an equal partner, not as a recipient of kind donations on the donor’s terms. Norway’s work has therefore emphasised technical assistance, and at the same time, provision of some support to build the civil society which we consider very important in the future democratisation process.