ORSB – ANGOLA COUNTRY STRATEGY PAPER 2011 - 2015
IV.
Experience and Lessons 5.1.
4.1. From the Previous CSP
4.1.1. Limited Government interest and ownership was singled-out as the main shortcoming during previous
CSP. The preparation of the present CSP places a strong emphasis on ownership. The Bank makes full use of available
country strategic programs and project pipelines for its intervention. Other lessons learned and recommendations are:
4.1.2. The monitoring and evaluation framework of the previous strategic document revealed weaknesses. The
selected performance indicators should have been less ambitious, narrower in span, focused on more concise and
measurable outcomes and outputs. The adoption of the Bank’s new evaluation framework in this CSP provides a crucial
tool to improve on this area.
4.1.3. Relatively small to medium sized projects design, has proven problematic to manage. Obstacles included
high operational costs, scarcity of qualified staff, and low-volume bidding processes often crowded-out by abundant larger
scale contracts in Angola’s booming economy. The Bank should favor either larger scale projects, which allow operational
and financial economies of scale and gather governmental interest (vis-à-vis ownership), or small logistically simple
projects with narrow and focused objectives.
4.1.4 The geographic and sector diversity of past portfolio decreases strategy efficiency. In a country with
debilitated infrastructures and considerable regional asymmetries, the Bank should try to focus its activities in
agglutinating areas to increase economies of scale and contribute to less cumbersome implementation logistics.
4.2 From the Portfolio Management
4.2.1 Since the 2008 CPPR, there have been efforts both by the Bank and the Government of Angola to overcome
the challenges identified in the Country Portfolio Improvement Plan. However, some of the issues addressed remain
problematic and further actions are needed to meet the targets set by the Bank and the Government.
4.2.2. The expected opening of the Angola Country Office, staffed by lusophone professionals, will facilitate the dialogue
with the Government of Angola and other local partners and donors, and will enable close assistance to PIU’s.
4.2.3. In recognition of its weak institutional capacity, the Government of Angola has requested technical and financial
assistance from the Bank toward the establishment of a Project Implementation Unit (PISU) within the National
Department of Public Investment of the Ministry of Planning. The PISU will help to strengthen the institutional capacity of
10