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NZAID: Mandate and Policy Settings (Paper Three) | Cabinet | Minute of Decision | CAB Min (09) 13/3C | PDF 29k.................................................................................................................................................................
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CABINET | Minute of DecisionCAB Min (09) 13/3C |
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This document contains information for the New Zealand Cabinet. It must be treated in confidence and handled in accordance with
any security classification, or other endorsement. The information can only be released, including under the Official Information Act
1982, by persons with the appropriate authority.
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New Zealand Agency for International Development: Mandate and Policy Settings (Paper Three)
Portfolios: Foreign Affairs
On 20 April 2009, following reference from the Cabinet External Relations and Defence Committee, Cabinet:
1 | noted that the paper under ERD (09) 16 is one of a suite of papers relating to
New Zealand's official development assistance (ODA) and the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), and that this minute should be read in conjunction with the related minutes ERD Min (09) 4/3 and ERD Min (09) 4/4;
2 | noted that in September 2001, the previous government agreed that New Zealand 's ODA should have the elimination of poverty as its central focus [CAB Min (01) 28/8];
3 | noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Executive Director of NZAID, has undertaken a review of NZAID's mandate and policy settings to reflect the priorities of the government;
4 | agreed that New Zealand 's ODA outcomes should be consistent with, and support,
New Zealand 's foreign policy and external relations outcomes under the direction of the Minister of Foreign Affairs;
5 | agreed that New Zealand 's ODA have the support of broad-based sustainable economic development as its central focus;
6 | agreed that:
6.1 | the mission statement for New Zealand 's ODA be to “support sustainable development in developing countries, in order to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world”;
6.2 | within this, the core focus be on sustainable economic development;
7 | agreed that the Pacific remain the core focus, and receive an increased portion of,
New Zealand 's ODA;
8 | endorsed the Prime Minister's agreement with his Australian counterpart on the need for closer co-operation on development in the Pacific, especially helping Pacific Island countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals;
9 | confirmed , in setting an overall growth path for ODA funding to 2012/13, some reallocation/reprioritisation across overall commitments (bilateral, regional, multilateral, and non-government organisation programmes);
10 | agreed to support flexibility in reallocating overall ODA resourcing among some partners who do not have formal bilateral programmes;
11 | agreed that the cross-cutting and thematic issues (including gender, the environment, and human rights) be pursued as a means to ensure good outcomes and to manage risks;
12 | agreed that New Zealand 's ODA programmes will pursue concrete measurable results through programmes that are well co-ordinated with other donors, especially Australia , and closely aligned to partner country needs;
13 | agreed that New Zealand's ODA programmes ensure that development approaches and practices represent the best value for money for New Zealand and partner countries;
14 | agreed that the overheads of New Zealand 's ODA programmes should achieve improved efficiencies;
15 | directed NZAID to continue to strengthen mutual accountability processes and results reporting;
16 | noted that further work is being undertaken on the arrangements for the announcement of the government's decisions on New Zealand 's ODA and NZAID, and that the Minister of Foreign Affairs would consult the Prime Minister on the timing and nature of the announcement.
Secretary of the Cabinet
Reference: CAB (09) 167; ERD Min (09) 4/5; ERD (09) 16
Secretary's note: This minute supersedes ERD Min (09) 4/5. Cabinet added paragraph 16.
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