Review of Technical Assistance to the Angolan Ministry of Energy and Water

The Technical Assistance to the Angolan Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA) by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) (hereafter called ‘the Programme’) was initiated in 2011 upon a request from MINEA.

The three-year Programme is financed by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Luanda, and started in 2013. It is currently in a no-cost extension phase until the end of 2017.

This report presents the findings of a review undertaken by Multiconsult ASA (the Team) in October and November 2016. The review aimed to answer three key guiding questions:

• What are the Programme’s main achievements?
• How have these achievements been reached, and what are likely reasons for any lacking results?
• What actions, adjustments and prioritizations might improve the Programme achievements in the last period?

The Report culminates in a set of recommendations aimed at improving the Programme’s management and implementation efficiently, while avoiding major adjustments to the Programme structure and implementation modalities due to the short time that remains.

The Programme’s most positive progress and results are mainly found in two areas: Legal and regulatory framework and management of hydrological resources. In the final period of the Programme, the focus should be on leveraging the achievements and progress to date, and ensuring sustainability of the results that have been achieved in these areas.

Very little progress and achievement have been identified related to the planned strategy-level work on renewable energy and rural electrification, as well as in the activities related to rehabilitation of Angola’s national hydrometric network. In these, the basis for producing real, lasting results is considered weak and it appears appropriate to discontinue certain activities.

The Programme has been affected by a number of significant challenges, some of endogenous nature, but factors outside the control of any of the Programme Agreements’ partners have also been significant. Overall, quite limited progress is made towards the Programme’s overall goal: Increasing the capacity and knowledge base within MINEA and its daughter institutions in the three Activity areas.

In the remaining period, Programme management should also focus on strengthening coordination, communication flow and information sharing. It should be expected that Angolan partners demonstrate political ownership and commitment to the Programme through clear prioritization and appropriate resource allocation in the final phase.