USAID/Angola : democracy and governance evaluation

Evaluation covers the period 1996-12/99. When USAID"s D&G SO (SO 2) was developed (1995-96), optimism about the peace process appeared justified, and USAID and its partners worked with political parties and parliamentarians toward this objective. Seminars, workshops, and theatrical plays provided training in pluralism and tolerance and were aimed at shaping attitudes favorable to national reconciliation. USAID"s program assisted political parties in strengthening their organizations. For example, three parties reported reorganizations following USAID-sponsored training. The renewed outbreak of war in late 1998 invalidated the reconciliation aspect of the Mission"s SO and constrained, but did not stop, efforts to prepare political parties, parliamentarians, and civil society for meaningful participation in a democratic political system. Despite the resumption of war in several parts of the country, USAID"s partnership activities with NGOs appear to have been effective in strengthening civil society groups. The activities aimed at changing attitudes, some of which have broad radio and TV audiences in addition to the participants and live audiences, have continued. Some government officials attend and participate in these activities. Much of the data on these matters, however, is anecdotal or is testimony obtained during focus group meetings with participants and beneficiaries. Only two of USAID"s partners conduct pre- and post-activity evaluations of target groups/participants. For the future, consideration should be given to revising SO 2 to more fully connect with current realities. With an active war going on, national reconciliation is at best a long-term possibility that would require a strategy for ending the war and actively working with both sides of the conflict. This appears to be beyond the scope and resources of the D&G project. However, the activities being implemented contribute in important ways to the elements of SO 2 that focus on strengthening civil society and Angolan political institutions. A forward- looking program that continues USAID"s focus on these two objectives, perhaps as separate SOs, appears to be well justified. Additionally, USAID is encouraged to include new program elements that can enhance its ability to realize progress in both the civil society and political institutions aspects of its D&G program. A dual transition is underway in Angola. First, the country is moving from a Marxist-Leninist political system toward a democratic multiparty system -- not an easy transition. While not all leaders of the ruling party favor this move, they recognize that with the demise of the Soviet Union and the conditions on economic assistance imposed by Western financial institutions, they must, however reluctantly, take that road. It should not be surprising, therefore, if progress is uneven. The second transition, which is temporarily stalled due to the war, is the transition from a 30-year environment of war to peace and stability. In these circumstances, attention might well be given to working for change by focusing on "targets of opportunity" -- some leaders in the ruling party and government appear willing to work towards democracy and a pluralist system. (Author abstract, modified)