Poverty

The standard framework of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) presents logistical difficulties in Angola. The civil conflict that wrecked the country for almost three decades ended only in 2002, twelve years after the start of the MDG assessment period. Furthermore, human development data tends to be unreliable and out of date, handicapped by the flux of population - at one time 5 million people were internally displaced and over 400,000 refugees have latterly returned from neighbouring countries. A full census is planned for 2010.

Uncertainties over data do not however mask the reality that poverty in Angola is severe nor that distribution of the country’s oil and diamond wealth is so far confined to a narrow elite. The most recent household survey in 2000 recorded over 60% of the population as under the poverty line with over 25% in the more serious category of extreme poverty. Informal polls conducted recently, such as that by USAID, suggest that there has been little subsequent improvement. Measures of the Gini coefficient confirm that inequality is rising.

Angolan boys © Mark Naftalin

The government disputes such conclusions pointing instead to the investment in education with claims that the numbers of classrooms and teachers have almost doubled in the 5 years to 2007. Many more children now attend school and are encouraged to do so, but the quality of public school teachers is extremely poor and the high drop-out rate limited net enrolment to only 56% in 2005. Attendance of girls continues to lag and female literacy may be as low as 50%. Government policy on poverty reduction has been guided by the Estrategia de Combate a Pobreza (2004-2008) which places particular emphasis on rebuilding capacity of government to deliver services at all levels, such was the destruction of the war years.
Health and HIV/AIDS in Angola

Uige Hospital, Angola © Médecins Sans Frontières Canada

Over 60% of primary healthcare centres were destroyed in the civil war, creating a legacy of alarming health indicators. Rates of child and maternal mortality in 2005 in Angola were amongst the highest in the world. Less than 25% of births in 2003 were attended by a qualified health worker. Malaria is the major cause of death, with very low use of protective bednets. Overall life expectancy is only 41 years. Despite mass vaccination programmes in 2007, a small number of polio cases has been reported in 2008.

New health risks are emerging in Luanda, whose infrastructure is unable to cope with millions of poor Angolans flooding into the city in search of work. The poor are forced to buy water from private contractors at prices far in excess of those paid for piped water in the comfortable suburbs. The risks of this form of supply together with non-existent sanitation and waste disposal led to serious outbreaks of cholera during 2006 and again in 2007. In rural areas low access to safe water and sanitation has led to government promises of major investment in a “water for all” programme targeting 80% coverage by 2012.

AIDS awareness through drama in Angola © Mark Naftalin

The 2006/07 national report on HIV/AIDS in Angola records prevalence of only 2.1% which is considerably lower than in neighbouring countries. One interesting explanation suggests a correlation with the unusually high percentage of circumcised men in Angola, lowering the risk of infection. Conversely, the real extent of the epidemic may be understated as data for most of the country is very difficult to gather, especially in the countryside. The common belief that deaths in the civil war have led to a shortage of men increases the incidence of unregulated polygamy and rape, reflecting a lack of cultural or social institutions which protect the health and social status of women. With the added risks of high mobility of returning refugees and internally displaced people, it is very unlikely that the Goal to reverse the trend of HIV prevalence will be achieved. Generous funding for the National Strategic Plan (2003-2008) has concentrated on building capacity for testing and treatment, together with overcoming low awareness of the risks.
The Economy in Angola

Marginal, the harbour road, Luanda © Mark Naftalin

The poor state of healthcare in Angola needs to be placed in the context of the enormous potential wealth of the country's natural resources. Angola is the second highest African oil exporting country after Nigeria and is also one of the world's largest diamond producers - with both industries capable of increasing their output. Together with other natural resources such as iron ore, phosphates, copper, bauxite and uranium, Angola should be one of the richest countries of the African continent and even the world.

However these riches have so far created as much damnation as salvation for the country and its population. The government is notorious in its lack of transparency over oil revenues with no accounts published for the state oil and diamond companies. Angolan diamonds were known to be the currency fuelling the civil war and continue to be associated with corrupt practice. The roles of senior executives of the state oil company, Sonangol, are often indistinguishable from those of government ministries, creating conflicts of interest in taxation and regulation. A national Development Bank has however been established with the task of investing a percentage of oil revenues in diversification of the economy but there are already concerns about its governance.

Infrastructure development in Angola

Cautious western investors have been supplanted by the Chinese whose construction workers are everywhere in evidence. Loans to the Angolan government of perhaps $8-12 billion have been forthcoming since 2004 with no questions asked. In return China gains priority allocation of oil and other natural resources, together with a major proportion of public sector construction projects. The government argues that major investment in road and rail networks will benefit the poor through diversification of the economy and improving the infrastructure for agriculture. Oil-based government revenues should offer protection against the threat of rising food prices and Angola also has the advantage of relatively low population density. Nevertheless, a government proposal to commit 2% of arable land to production of biofuels may prove controversial given the low level of investment in agriculture and neglect of the potential impact of climate change. Damaging floods and drought are already commonplace whilst capacity for disaster management and adaptation is regarded as minimal.



The OneWorld Angola Guide was first published in April 2007 with a text written by Volunteer Editor Sandra D'Onofrio

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