Angola is rich in natural resources, such as oil, natural gas and diamonds. Still, the country is struggling with widespread poverty and unemployment at a rate between 50 and 70%. Angola’s natural resources gave the country great opportunities when the civil war ended in 2002. Today, Angola is one of the two largest oil producers in Africa. The country’s elite has become wealthy, and foreign companies, including Norwegian ones, are taking great wealth out of the country. But most Angolans are still poor. Corruption, a lack of transparency and a weak civil society all contribute to perpetuating large disparities in income.
Norwegian Church Aid works specifically to promote budget management and full transparency in public revenue and expenditure.
Our work
Economic justice: Norwegian Church Aid works for transparency in public financial management in Angola. We do this by challenging the national and local authorities and holding them responsible for how they use and distribute funds from the oil industry. Women and men receive training in how to claim their rights to national revenues. The church network is mobilised to be active and responsible in promoting reliable management of oil revenues and other benefits, such as clean water and sanitation.
Gender justice: Gender-based violence is an important focus for Norwegian Church Aid in Angola. Decades of war have resulted in a violent legacy that affects the entire society, but especially women. Norwegian Church Aid is working against gender-based violence as a structural problem. We employ measures both against domestic violence and that prevent girls from being married while they are still legal minors. Together with our partner organisations, we are also empowering women to participate in management activities and contribute to structural changes.
Cooperation through the ACT Alliance
Norwegian Church Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance’s international network. There are both national and international ACT members in Angola, with whom Norwegian Church Aid cooperates in emergency situations and in other situations where it is natural to do so.