On 24 February 2025, the Angolan government awarded Allan Cain and the Development Workshop (DW) the gold medal of honor for Allan’s many years of work for Angola, promoting peace and national development.

The citation translates as follows:

The Commemorative Medal of the 50th Anniversary of National Independence is awarded to entities, individuals or groups, national and foreign, that have made relevant contributions to the achievement of National Independence, to its preservation and to national development.

This is recognition of a long journey that has been made in the field of advocacy in Angola`s housing sector. DW Program Manager Moisés Festo reacted “We are delighted with this achievement and, above all, it motivates us to continue.”

Angola became independent from Portugal in 1975. Development Workshop has been working in Angola since 1981 at the national government’s request to assist in developing policies and programs for human settlements and self-help housing.

This is 44 years of Angola’s 50 years of independence. DW has collaborated with HIC Members since 1982 with the establishment with other NGOs and individuals, including in the Settlement Information Network Africa (SINA), since 1982, and later Rooftops Canada. Angola`s award of the medal of honor to DW is an unprecedented recognition of an NGO`s sustained work in an African state.

Congratulations to Allan Cain and the entire DWA team. It is a proud moment for all of us.

See https://dw.angonet.org/
Contact: devworks@angonet.org

Themes

• Informal settlements • Low income • National • Networking • Project management • Regional • Rural planning • Urban planning