Drought in Cunene has caused thousands of people to cross the border into Namibia. Tons of relief supplies from the governemnt and the allocation of land by the River Cunene in Curoca are some of the emergency measures being taken to alleviate the situation. Longer term solutions are major infrastructures including large dams and lengthy pipelines.

ADPP is working on immediate solutions as part of the FRESAN proejct in the south of Angola, constructing concrete water tanks, improving existing wells, installing solar panels to pump water from boreholes and involving community members in the building, running and maintenance of the installations. Despite the severity of the situation, the picture at communities within the implementation area was more optimistic in September.  Prefabricated concrete rings made it easier to renovate and reinforce existing wells, new water tanks came into use, and drip irrigation systems were being extended. On an equally positive note, when the project team came together for a planning meeting this month, they made the most of the occasion by getting their second doses of the Covid-19 vaccination.

Access to water for agriculture: a field installed with the drip irrigation system in Oncocua in the Warú community

3000L tank in Warú filled with water in 4h and 25min.

The number of solar panels in Warú has been increased from 2 to 6, the water pump was changed and it currently pumps 8000L/h of water

Fine gravel being collected in the municipality of Cahama for the construction of concrete tank covers

Concrete rings for the improved wells are being unloaded in Naulila communities along the river

During the planning, the project team took the opportunity to get their 2nd dose of the vaccine against covid-19

Community of Warú in Oncocua had a presentation of the quarterly plan

“Thank you so much to ADPP for the excellent welcome!”

Provincial meeting organized by ADPP with all NGOs working in the FRESAN project in Cunene

Visits made to Chitado commune: contact with GAS members in the community of Table

On the 17th of September, the Municipal Administration of Curoca made several visits to the water sources in the village of Chipa. The Municipal Administrator expressed solidarity with the community that has suffered a lot from the drought, and along with the project, actions were identified that could mitigate the situation.

Concrete tank cover in Xangongo

Promotion of Efficient Charcoal Stoves and Utilisation of Charcoal Residues for Briquette Production is a project involving ADPP Polytechnics in Luanda, Bengo and Huambo. The students gain practical skills as they learn to make the stoves and entrepreneurial skills as they promote their sale and use. Local workshops benefit as craftsmen also learn to produce the stoves, while the population as a whole benefits from an affordable stove that requires less fuel than traditional stoves and has lower emissions of noxious fumes. A key outcome is that fewer trees are needed to make charcoal for these stoves. 

In august, students at ADPP Polytechnic Huambo have been collecting charcoal residue at Alemanha Market in Quissala and learning how to convert the residue into briquettes. 

Once again in 2021, Curoca municipality in Cunene is suffering from severe drought, to the point that the government is distributing emergency food aid. During the month of August, ADPP and CODESPA's work to bring increased access to water in the community of Warú in Curoca was nearing completion, as can be seen in the photos below. The project "Increasing the Resilience of communities in Cunene through access to water for domestic and agriculture" is financed by Camões Institute .

Finalizing the water tank

Almost ready

Drinking troughs for animals

Clean water to drink

Vegetables are growing in the garden at the hospital

Water is pumped using solar energy

An electric pump helps with irrigation

Separate water for cattle helps prevent disease

Solar systems are looked after by community water groups

Transplanting tomatoes, onion and cabbage

Small irrigation systems help vegetables grow

The community in Caxiri, Cuanza Norte is putting the roof on to the new community jango, and many of the family-built latrines are being finalized. The activities are taking place as part of the Community Development project in fishing communities. 

At the same time as working to increase production and earn more money, inland fishing communities face a range of other challenges including inadequate nutrition and limited knowledge about basic preventative health care. ADPP’s community development project aims to organise and work with communities to tackle such challenges. 

Meetings, training sessions, field visits and practical actions have helped fill the agenda across the implementation area during the month of August. 

Malanje Municipal Director for Social Communication and Traditional Affairs led a meeting at the municipal administration with Quessua Chikama production group; three production groups from the Kodiva Kota cooperative in the community of Casteves took part in a technical meeting on the finalization of the outlet system from water tanks and to discuss organizational aspects and internal management of activities; the project met with Quimonha production group where one of the principal items on the agenda was an updating of the remaining documents that were required to proceed with the process of gaining legal status as a cooperative.

Refresher training is key to keeping Community Health Agents up to date with developments, whether changes in the status of the Covid-19 pandemic, in general healthcare, or in the community itself. This month’s meeting was held, as usual, in the open air at ADPP’s office in Malanje, in accordance with measures that reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Field visits continued during the month to evaluate community infrastructures that form part of the project. National Coordination Assistant Marcial Passile saw for himself the progress being made in constructing latrines in the villages to eliminate the practice of open air defecation that is linked to the spread of preventable diseases. 

Practical actions included the beginning of work on a community hut that will serve the people living in Quizanga da Barraca as a meeting place and whatever other purpose is required.

Key actions at the heart of the project continued unabated. For example, Binzale cooperative’s community vegetable garden was in full production this month, supplying nutritious produce for own consumption and for sale.

Technical meeting with with Quessua Chikama production group on the finalization of the outlet system from water tanks

Meeting with the Quimonha production group on the final documents needed to legalise their co-operative.

Binzale cooperative’s community vegetable garden

Meeting with the Municipal Director of Social Communication and Traditional Affairs

Staff meetings take place outside as part of a package of measure to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Field visits were conducted to monitor latrines construction in the villages

The construction of the community hut in Quizanga da Barraca

The community hut will be used for meetings, working groups and other events.

Community members hope to finish the space in September