Background and objectives
Consultations were held between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and UN-Habitat, through UNDP, about the civil works component of the northern region foodcrops development project, executed by the Government, supervised by UNOPS and funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).  Through these consultations, agreement was reached that the Government would, using part of the proceeds of the IFAD loan, cooperate with UNCHS (Habitat) in rehabilitation and new construction civil works for the northern region foodcrops development project.  As a cooperating agency, UNCHS (Habitat) was to provide technical monitoring and support, including review missions, provision of technical guidance and analysis of technical reports on implementation.  UN-Habitat was to provide technical support to the Government in the construction of a research centre in Malange province and to rehabilitate 18 government facilities in the provinces of Kwanza Norte, Malange and Uige. 

Activities
Minor rehabilitation was undertaken in the provinces of Malange and Kwanza Norte in 1999, and all architectural and engineering drawings for the research centre as well as the tender documents were prepared. 

Results
The selection of bidders was in its final stage when war broke out in the region at the end of 1999.  In light of the security situation, a contingency plan was adopted, and project activities were suspended.  However, in July 2000 the Government informed UN-Habitat that conditions permitted resumption of activities.