As the second-largest petroleum producer in Africa, Angola has been hard-hit by persisting low oil prices after more than a decade of incredible growth rates. It might be hit, but how hard has the landing been? What lessons are being learnt? Not, least, what can we expect will happen in Angola going into an election year?
In taking leadership of Angola’s state owned oil company, the president’s daughter and wealthiest woman in Africa Isabel dos Santos has promised profound reform and increased transparency in the oil sector. What can we expect? How grave are the issues surfacing in the crisis, and not least, what will it mean for business as well as human right actors.
Angola has long been Norway’s most important commercial partner on the African country. Angola at a crossroads will provide both an international and Norwegian perspective on current affairs in Angola.
Program
08:45 – 09:00 Registration and Coffee
09:00 – 09:10 Welcome
Johan Hermstad, Director, Norwegian Council for Africa
09:10 – 10:40 Panel 1. Continuity or change: Tackling Commodity Prices and Promoting Economic Transparency
Current levels of Poverty and Development in Urban and Rural Areas
Iselin Strønen, Associated Researcher, Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI)
Transparency reform in Angolan budgetary processes
Søren Kirk Jensen, Associate Fellow, Chatham House
Changing Angolan petroleum policies in a time of turmoil
Flavio Inocencio, Associate, Coventry University
Capturing potential for economic diversification in Angola - Vegard Benterud, Senior Investment Manager, Norfund
10:40 – 11:00 Coffee
11:00 – 12:00 Panel 2. Continuity or change in the Angolan political environment – long and short term efforts for realization of political rights
Economic and social crisis and the longevity of the dos Santos presidency: do the elections in 2017 spell change?
Aslak Orre, senior researcher, CMI
Activism for Human Rights and Social Change in Angola
Maria Lúcia da Silveira, President, Association for Justice Peace and Democracy (AJDP) (TBC)
Registration: afrika@afrika.no