Lobito - The municipalities of Catumbela and Cubal, both in Benguela province, have been selected to intensify the actions of the Project to Support Civil Society and Local Administration (PASCAL), ANGOP learned on Monday.
In fact, a delegation made up of the National Director of Local Administration, Cassongo da Cruz, and the Head of the European Union Delegation, Rosário Pais, is in this province to present the focal points (representatives) of PASCAL in these constituencies.
PASCAL representatives will work in harmony with local authorities, Technical Committees for Citizens' Budget Management and civil society organisations.
Speaking to the press in the municipality of Catumbela, the director of PASCAL, Pablo López, said that the work will be more intensified in these two municipalities to serve as an example for the rest of the country.
According to Pablo Lopez, this project of the Angolan Government, funded by the European Union in about six million euros, aims to improve people's quality of life, through participatory and inclusive governance, where services are closer to citizens.
'We intend to support and improve the legislative and regulatory framework in matters of participatory governance, working directly with the public administration', he said.
He added that academic institutions are also involved, to carry out studies that can contribute to the development of laws and strengthen the skills and capacities of the technical staff of the Administrations.
The official said that they work directly with civil society, reinforcing the spaces for participation, namely the Community Consultation Councils and support for the Participatory Budget.
To this end, Pablo Lopez assured, the project has a subsidy line of one million euros for civil society organizations.
'There are also a number of activities aimed at increasing the amount of information and sensitivity of the general population about participatory governance,' he said.
The project is being implemented in five provinces, namely Malanje, Luanda, Benguela, Huambo and Huila, in a universe of 25 municipalities.
In the province of Benguela, the municipalities of Ganda, Cubal, Catumbela, Benguela and Balombo are covered.
'The goal is to draw lessons learned from what works well and serve as an example for the 164 municipalities, within the framework of the decentralization process', he said.
Asked about the results, he assured that they are already beginning to be tangible, especially in the context of Participatory Budgeting.
'We can see with the Technical Committees for Budget Management of Citizens. They can mobilize and promote those projects that they consider most necessary and through the Municipal Administrations they are implemented', he considered.
The project started in June 2021 and will run until May 2025. CT/CRB/DOJ
