This Common Country Assessment (CCA) is a comprehensive assessment and analysis of the situation in Angola, aimed at providing a strategic vision for the UN agencies working in the country. It is one of the main inputs into the design of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), a programme framework for the entire UN system that will cover the period from 2004 to 2008. At the same time, the document is intended to communicate to its Angolan partners the UN’s main concerns – about the problems facing the Angolan people and what needs to be done to address them.

This is a particularly appropriate time for the UN to engage in such an exercise, as the cessation of hostilities provides the best opportunity in many years for the country to build a sustainable peace, overcome the humanitarian tragedy and start the process of economic and social recovery. While the situation may evolve rapidly in certain respects, the assessment and analysis presented in this document reflect the information available as of June 2002.