The programme consists of thematic modules that address some of the most crucial issues for socio-economic development in Angola. Furthermore, built in to the programme are cross-cutting objectives such as gender mainstreaming and administrative capacity development. Activities aligned to these objectives are implemented across the portfolio of work, to strengthen participating research institutions and build local capacity.
Contents
- Economic Research on Extractive Industries
- Local Governance and Autarquias
- Accountability
- Information as a Driver of Change
- Benguela-based Research
- Cross-cutting research
Economic Research on Extractive Industries
Synopsis
This project and its subcomponents will explore the following questions:
- How have the ongoing restructuring and changing external expectations affected the CSR levels and practices of oil companies and large oil service firms world-wide and in Angola?
- What are the local impacts of the production of diamonds on the livelihood of people living around the mines?
- What has been accomplished so far in terms of non-oil sector tax collection both in nominal and real terms?
- Has the tax base been broadened?
- Will the implementation of VAT increase the value of the non-oil sector tax collection?
Implementing institutions
- CMI
- CEIC
Lead responsibility
- Arne Wiig, CMI
- Manuel Rocha, CEIC
Local Governance and Autarquias
Synopsis
This part of the programme aims to accompany and observe the Angolan local governance reform, with a focus on the promised establishment of autarquias – locally constituted municipal governments. The project will analyse and debate its institutional environment in-making, local finances and the political battle over local power. Studying the reform process from several angles will make it uniquely placed to provide unparalleled breadth of insight: From above, from below, through international comparison and with a gender-lens.
Implementing institutions
- CEA
- CMI
- Scanteam
- CeSP
Lead responsibility
- Aslak Orre, CMI
- Nelson Pestana, CEA
Accountability
Synopsis
Socio-economic development in Angola has suffered from a lack of checks and balances to the former president dos Santos’ excessive power. The project will study institutions like the parliament, election commission, auditor general, the courts and actors like civil society groups and youth organizations to see if there have been any changes in their ability to hold the government accountable.
Implementing institutions
- CMI
- LAB
- Scanteam
Lead responsibility
- Inge Amundsen, CMI
- Cesaltina Abreu, LAB
- Catarina Gomes, LAB
Information as a Driver of Change
Synopsis
The objective of this project is to develop research capacity on economic research of relevance for Angola. It will assess the importance of transparency about information about oil revenue as a driver of change in public sentiment and research the types and sources of information that are important for accountability in Angola.
Under the supervision of CMI and CISE, Master and PhD students will be included in the research to explore how different experimental economics methodoogies such as impact evaluations and ramdomised control trials can be used to analyse the Angolan experience and derive policy recommendations.
Implementing institutions
- CMI
- CISE
Lead responsibility
- Arne Wiig, CMI
- Fernandes Wanda, CISE
Benguela-based Research
Synopsis
Building on projects two and three, acitivities within this project will also explore themes such as local governance dynamics and accountability, but with a specific focus on the Benguela province. It is designed to strengthen inter-institutional research collaboration within the Benguela province and build networks between Benguela and Luanda-based institutions.
Implementing institutions
- CeSP Benguela
- Scanteam
Lead responsibility
- Torun Reite, Scanteam
Cross-Cutting Research
The analysis drawn from the below listed projects are designed to be useful to the programme as a whole The research conducted will apply to each core module
Gender mainstreaming of the project portfolio
Synopsis
This cross cutting theme will engage actively with Norwegian equality and non-discrimination perspectives, and adopt an approach to integrate a gendered perspective into institutional development, the broader outreach and dissemination activities and, as far as possible, in the perspectives of the research projects. From the institutional development through to the research activities, sex-disaggregated performance targets and output data are included in monitoring and reporting for the programme.
Implementing institutions
- Scanteam
- CeSP
- CEA
- Piaget
Lead responsbility
- Angolan Gender Coordinator: Flora Telo, CeSP
- Norwegian Gender Coordinator: Torun Reite, Scanteam
Administrative Capacity Development
Synopsis
The organisational, administrative, financial capacity development will be a demand-driven process, with the clear objective of enabling the universities/research centres to reach a level of documentable competencies that make them interesting partners for international research projects in the future.
Most of the formal capacity development will take place during annual workshops where all the participating institutions will take part. These workshops will be a mix of problem identification, experience sharing, lessons learned and formal training on specific topics that are of most use to the institutions involved.
Implementing institutions
- Scanteam
- Research institutes in Angola
Lead responsbility
- Arne Disch, Scanteam
- Vibeke Skauerud, Scanteam
Umbrella project
Synopsis
This module will monitor and publically disseminate activities originating in each project, through publication of OpEds, media interviews or smaller events for instance in cooperation with NGOs. Research and analysis from this module will monitor the possible political-economic transformations in post dos Santos Angola during the four-year duration of the programme and extract novel insights from the programme at large.
Implementing institutions
- All
Lead responsibility
- Vegard Bye, Scanteam
