Africa-Press – Angola. A memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Territory Administration (MAT) and the Action for Rural Development and Environment (ADRA) was signed this Saturday in Lubango, within the scope of the holding of municipal forums for consultation with communities for the shared budget.
In the memorandum, which is valid for five years and can be renewed, ADRA assumes responsibility for organizing community consultation forums and working in partnership with municipal administrators to collect the priorities of each location where the organization operates.
The memorandum signed during the Angola Cities and Municipalities Fair (FMCA) encompasses 43 municipalities in seven provinces of the country, namely Benguela, Cunene, Huíla, Namibe, Huambo, Malanje and Luanda, where the organization has implemented its projects.
Speaking about the memorandum, the National Director of Local Administration of the State, Cassongo João da Cruz, referred that the document assigns powers to the supervising ministry to ensure the functioning and organization of the Local Administration of the State and communities.
He said that the agreement will respond directly to the questions of the community itself and the citizen’s participation in public policies so that it can contribute to its development, whether in social, political or economic aspects.
“This shows, once again, that the State is willing to dialogue with the population, listen and receive contributions for the development of our country”, he continued.
On his turn, the general director of ADRA, Carlos Cambuta, stated that the memorandum means a reinforcement of the civic commitment that the organization has had since its foundation, an agreement that will contribute to the reinforcement of local governance, in terms of strengthening the exercise of citizenship
He declared that it was important for them to participate in the various challenges of local development, a participation that is only profitable if citizens have access to information and with which they can monitor the execution of public policies in progress in the municipalities.
He referred that the agreement is the formalization of an institutional relationship that exists, in the sense that the municipal administrations see ADRA as a partner and local actor available to be able to contribute with their knowledge in the identification of local needs and in the presentation of local solutions.
“It is a priority to listen to the citizens because they are the ones who know the problems so that they are the ones to say what the priorities are and it is a way to make better use of resources”.
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