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POLITICAL COOPERATIVE NEWS DEPARTMENT — Week of February 8, 2010
Guidelines for Norway's Cooperation
with Angola 2010-2014
Angola independence from Portugal in 1975 was followed by 27 years of civil war that left large parts of Angola in ruins. Since the end of the civil war in 2002, Angola has been through a period of significant change in political, economic and development terms. Priority has been given to national reconciliation, reconstruction of infrastructure, and strengthening the government administration.
Today, Angola is Africa’s largest oil exporter. Oil has given the country rapid economic growth that has resulted in extensive investments in infrastructure, education and health. Aid accounts for only 0.5% of BNI. The government budget tripled from 2005 to 2009.
Angola has other important natural resources as well. According to the World Bank, Angola is one of the countries in the world with the greatest potential for food production. Progress has been made in terms of democratization, and the second election of the National Assembly in the autumn of 2008 was an important step forward.
Nevertheless, Angola still faces huge challenges. Most of the population is still living below the poverty line. Its oil wealth is far from equitably distributed. Despite extensive investments, the health service and the educational sector are still very inadequate. Unemployment is high.
The country needs more legs to stand on; oil accounts for 90% of its export income. Angola still has a low rating on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. Key challenges are ensuring access to qualified personnel, and identifying and implementing measures to reduce social disparity and improve the distribution of wealth.
Relations between Norway and Angola
Norway has long-standing ties with Angola. We provided political and economic support during its liberation struggle. Over the years, our humanitarian assistance and development cooperation have helped to bring about a relationship of trust, which is also beneficial for Norwegian companies.
Today, a key factor in our relations is the extensive engagement of Norwegian companies in the petroleum sector. Angola is Norway’s most important economic partner in Africa. In 2009, Norwegian investments in the country amounted to about NOK 35 billion. These investments have resulted in large tax revenues for Angola. Norwegian private sector engagement in Angola is expected to increase in the years to come as major investments outside the oil sector are under negotiation.
Angola has a large unmet need for knowledge, experience and technical assistance in areas where Norway has relevant expertise. For many years, Norway has provided technical assistance in sectors such as petroleum, fisheries, water and electricity. The cooperation between Angola’s Ministry of Oil, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, and Norway’s Oil for Development initiative is based on valuable input that Norway can provide, as is the cooperation between the fisheries sectors. The interface between the fisheries and the oil sector, where environmental issues are of crucial importance, is another important area where Norwegian expertise is in demand.
Both the authorities and civil society have shown great interest in Norwegian experience with regard to good governance and democracy. Norwegian People’s Aid and Norwegian Church Aid have provided support for Angolan civil society, and this cooperation has been an important element in efforts to promote good governance and human rights.
In addition, the Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway is collaborating with the research centre at the Catholic University of Angola in the areas of good governance, effective use of public funding, and competence-building with a view to industrial and commercial development.
The Angolan authorities have expressed a wish for closer cooperation with Norwegian institutions that is not funded by aid, for example on the judicial system and human rights. This could complement the support provided to civil society.
Cooperation in the period 2010–2014
In the light of the challenges and development trends described above, cooperation between Norway and Angola in the period 2010–2014 should give priority to the following:
• Promotion of industrial and commercial cooperation, with focus on industrial development based on hydropower, safeguarding Norwegian economic interests, and corporate social responsibility.
• Technical cooperation in the fields of oil, clean energy, fisheries, and environment and climate change.
• Consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights, both through support to civil society and through institutional cooperation that is not funded by aid.
• Enhanced political dialogue on issues of mutual concern.
Industrial and commercial cooperation
• Assist Norwegian companies wishing to establish operations in Angola by sharing the knowledge, experience and contacts that have been established.
• Further develop cooperation on corporate social responsibility (see the white paper Corporate social responsibility in a global economy (Report No. 10 (2008–2009)) to the Storting).
Technical cooperation
• Continue the cooperation between the Angolan Ministry of Oil and Norwegian expertise, including the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and the Oil for Development initiative, with focus on sustainable development, environment and good governance.
• Consider requests for technical assistance in areas where Norway has particular expertise, for example our experience with the Petroleum Fund and emergency response in the event of an oil spill.
• Continue cooperation in the fisheries sector.
• Collaborate with the Angolan authorities on strengthening vocational education and training in the priority sectors for our cooperation.
Consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights
• Provide support to civil society with focus on human rights and democracy development.
• Strengthen institutional cooperation that is not funded by aid, for example on the judicial system and human rights.
• Maintain contact between the Storting (Norway’s parliament) and Angola’s National Assembly.
Political dialogue
• Strengthen political contact in areas such as climate change and energy, peace and stability in Africa, economic cooperation, corporate social responsibility, and human rights, in the light of Angola’s development, including its stronger international position, and Norwegian economic interests.
Cross-cutting factors
The gender perspective is to be taken into account in all Norwegian efforts and in the political dialogue. Likewise the fight against HIV/AIDS should be integrated wherever possible. Environment and climate change are key considerations that are particularly relevant in cooperation in the energy sector and in the interface between fisheries and oil operations.
About the Chr. Michelsen Institute
Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) is an independent, non-profit research institution and an international centre in policy-oriented and applied development research. CMI was founded in 1930, and is located in Bergen, Norway. CMI conducts both applied and theoretical research, and has a multidisciplinary profile anchored in four thematic research groups:
The geographical focus is Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern and Central Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, see world map of CMI's activities.
About The Catholic University of Angola
The Catholic University of Angola is located in the capital city of Luanda. The Catholic University of Angola is defined as an open university; its object being the human, academic and professional education of the Angolan people.
As an open university, it will be ruled by principles of absolute liberty of access, regardless of race, sex, religion and social and economic conditions, with the only limits being those deriving from available space and academic selection criteria. As a non-state university, it will be ruled by principles of private law, enjoying statutory, pedagogical, scientific, disciplinary, administrative and financial autonomy.
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