Launch of the Project “Promoting the Active Participation of Civil Society Organizations in Local Development”
Today, at the Mediateca 28 de Agosto, the project “Promoting the Active Participation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Local Development Processes” was presented, funded by the European Union through the Support Project for Civil Society and Local Administration (PASCAL). ).
The event was attended by representatives of the Delegation of the European Union, the Ministry of Territorial Administration, the Municipal Administration of Luanda, the Technical Committees for the Management of the Municipal Budget (CTGOM) and several Civil Society Organizations.
Allan Cain, Director of Development Workshop (DW), opened the event by highlighting DW’s long history in Angola and its experience in community participation projects since the 1990s. He mentioned the positive impact of projects such as Sambizanga and the “Fight against Urban Poverty in Luanda” program, which have contributed significantly to municipal development and the integration of community voices in public policies.
Analdina Nouemou, representative of PASCAL, emphasized PASCAL’s role as the project implementer, in collaboration with the Angolan government and the European Union. She stressed the importance of active participation of civil society organizations in local governance, especially for underrepresented groups such as women, youth and people with special needs. Analdina highlighted that the project aims to strengthen the capacity of communities to influence public policies and promote a more inclusive and participatory Angola.
Áurea Dias, representative of the European Union, reiterated the European Union’s commitment to supporting good governance and youth participation in Angola. She highlighted the importance of the PASCAL project in promoting decentralization and empowering civil society organizations. Áurea emphasized the need to include minorities and people with disabilities in the local development process, in line with the principles of the 2030 Agenda of “leaving no one behind”.
The representative of the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MAT) highlighted the historical importance of the project and the key role of DW in promoting participatory governance. He mentioned the challenges of decentralization and the need for collaboration between municipal administrations and civil society organizations to achieve the project’s objectives.
The project will be implemented in the province of Luanda, in the municipalities of Luanda, Cazenga and Icolo and Bengo. The formal act of launching and publicly presenting the project aimed to inform stakeholders and the public, engage CSOs involved in the project, create synergies and identify potential partners.
This initiative aims to promote sustainable development and social inclusion, strengthening local governance and citizen participation in Angola.