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Rehabilitation of Wood Processing Capacity in the Huambo Region (UNIDO)
Project / Programme Summary

I. Basic data

Sector(s): Wood processing and products
Title: Rehabilitation of wood processing capacity in the Huambo Region
Donor country / organization: Swiss Humanitarian Aid
Other donors / organizations involved: UNIDO; Development Works, Canada
Beneficiary countries / regions: Angola
Implementing agencies in beneficiary countries / regions: Provincial Government; Obra de Insercao da Crianca S. Francisco de Assis (OISC - SFA, an NGO)
Duration: 18 months
Starting Date: February 1997
Project / Program budget: US$ 193,230
Finance / Type of cooperation: Technical cooperation

II. Project / program description

  1. Objectives
    To re-establish wood processing activities in Huambo and support the Swiss Humanitarian Aid road improvement programme by introducing the UNIDO prefabricated modular wooden bridge system and complementary wood products.
  2. Activities / contents
    UNIDO provided the technical inputs enabling the cooperative MUBELA (a religious-based NGO) to produce all components from imported steel plate and domestic eucalyptus plantations, assemble them and, under the supervision of Swiss and UNIDO experts, erect bridges with spans from 9 to 24 metres capable of loads of up to 35 tonnes. Other products such as school furniture were introduced to make use of the smaller sections of sawnwood and improve profitability of the cooperative.
  3. Expected outcomes / impacts
    The rural areas around Huambo suffered greatly from many years of civil war with many bridges having been destroyed, thus making rehabilitation difficult. This technology has enabled the Province to hasten the process of stabilization by linking outlying farming areas with the provincial capital as well as providing employment for some 20 people in Huambo and many others at bridge sites. The plan is for MUBELA to sell bridges to other international aid programmes thus ensuring sustainability.
  4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
    Capacity building (of wood manufacturing), improvement of technical and managerial skills, agricultural development (by improving physical infrastructure, i.e. road transport).

III. Contact point:

Director, Agro-industries and Sectoral Support Branch
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
P.O. Box 300, A-1400 Vienna, Austria, Tel: (+431) 26026-3853; Fax: (+431) 26026-6849

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