Thirteen years after the civil war ended in Angola the country continues to face challenges but has steadily been working towards rebuilding its infrastructures and consolidating on its commitment to sustainable development.
In September, global leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York and adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Agenda includes 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, significantly, includes a pledge to end poverty.
The aim of the SDGs is to balance environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable development.
The Angolan Government welcomed the 2030 Agenda which also seeks the promotion of gender equality and human rights.
In his statement to the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post 2015 Development Agenda, the Vice President of Angola, Manuel Vicente, said: “Angola wishes to reiterate that it will implement and interpret the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in full accordance with its national laws and development priorities, as well as the values and ethnic, cultural and religious beliefs of the Angolan society, and in line with internationally recognised human rights.”
However, the Government is acutely aware that more work needs to be done as millions of people continue to live in extreme poverty set against a backdrop of human rights violations and environmental destruction.
Angola’s main exports include diamonds, minerals, coffee, fish and timber but its economy is dominated by oil and the energy market. The country is working towards creating an energy system which not only meets demand but which is also established in a sustainable way.
The Government has therefore implemented a number of projects in order to rebuild the infrastructures (eg:new cities like Kilamba) and to achieve sustainable energy which it believes will be key in bringing wealth to rural areas, reducing poverty and improving living conditions.
Angola is rapidly growing after decades of conflict but it is the oil sector which forms 98% of its merchandise exports yet only accounts for a small percentage of the country’s employment. So whilst Angola is one of Africa’s major oil producers and economic growth continues this does not necessarily aid the vast majority of the population as it remains one of the world’s poorest countries.