Samoa

2009/2010 Allocation: NZ$14.0 million

Snapshot

Samoa lies north of New Zealand near Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands. Approximately 180,000 people live on two volcanic islands, which have rugged mountains in the interior and a narrow coastal plain. Samoa is a small and isolated country with limited natural resources, which is prone to cyclones but is rich in history and culture. Though trade is difficult, Samoa was
one of the fastest growing economies in the region, achieving economic growth of 6.1 percent in 2007/08. However, the global financial crisis has strained the Samoan economy, Samoa's gross domestic product growth for 2008/09 is forecasted to
be -4.9 percent.

NZAID's Strategy for the Development of Samoa 2008-2012: ensuring sustainable economic and social progress reflects a vision of 'Improved Quality of Life for All'. The strategy focuses on strengthening the private sector, accelerating agricultural growth, developing tourism, improving economic and social opportunities at the community level, enhancing student learning outcomes and improving health standards.

In line with the principles of harmonisation, the Strategy for the Development of Samoa provides a strong foundation for NZAID's development programme.

NZAID priorities

A strong partnership between New Zealand and Samoa is founded on historic linkages and a unique political relationship defined in the 1962 Treaty of Friendship.

In 2006, NZAID launched a new joint strategy with the Government of Samoa and Australia. The Joint Samoa Program Strategy 2006-2010 aligns its strategy with the development priorities of the Government of Samoa, specifically the Strategy for the Development of Samoa. Priority areas for Samoa include:

economic and private sector development
improving service delivery in health and education
human resource development
improving public sector performance
community development.

NZAID on the ground

Human resource development

NZAID is providing over NZ$5 million annually towards initiatives that support human resource development in Samoa. These include the New Zealand Development Scholarships and New Zealand Regional Development Scholarships schemes which provide tertiary education opportunities for Samoan students to study in New Zealand and Pacific regional institutions. The Short-Term Training Awards scheme supports the ongoing development of work skills and expertise of Samoa personnel in the public, private and civil society sectors through the provision of training courses and work attachments in New Zealand. The In-Country Training Programme funds training courses in a wide range of vocational and work-based skills areas for the public, private and civil society sectors within Samoa.

Education

NZAID, in partnership with the Samoan Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC), AusAID and the Asia Development Bank, are supporting the Education Support Programme (ESP II). NZAID has indicatively committed to provide NZ$12.5 million over 5 years to the Programme which supports the development of a more equitable and effective education system. ESP II focuses on primary and secondary education. In addition, it is explicitly designed to build the capacity required to manage a full sector-wide funding approach (SWAp) for education. The specific focuses are to introduce curriculum reform and assessment systems, develop effective teachers, improve access to quality education, strengthen capacity to undertake research, evaluation, policy analysis and planning, and strengthen capacity to implement and manage development projects. The Programme also supports the construction of a new MESC Headquarters building.

Health

NZAID is providing over NZ$700,000 annually in support of the Medical Treatment Scheme (MTS) and the Visiting Medical Specialist Scheme (VMS). The Medical Treatment Scheme supports the costs of treatment in New Zealand hospitals for a modest number of Samoa-based patients with life-threatening medical conditions but with a good prognosis for recovery. The Visiting Medical Specialist scheme supports regular visits to Samoa by New Zealand medical specialists in specialties not currently supported by the Samoa health service. The medical specialists treat patients, conduct clinics, and provide training for Samoan health professionals.

NZAID also supports the collective agreement between Government of Samoa, Health Agencies and Development Partners (including the World Bank, AusAID and NZAID) for the delivery of sector wide health development assistance. NZAID will provide NZ$12 million over five years to the health SWAp which focuses on key areas including governance, improved health systems, health promotion and prevention, quality health care delivery, partnership commitment and financing health. The health SWAp focuses on a commitment to improvement of health services both preventative and curative for citizens of Samoa.

Private sector development

NZAID is providing around NZ$700,000 annually towards initiatives that support private sector development in Samoa. Support is provided to the Private Sector Support Facility (PSSF) and Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC). The PSSF is a partnership initiative with the Government of Samoa and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide contestable funding support to build the private sector as an engine of economic development through internal and external trade. SBEC provides advisory services and training to small business and administers a small business loan guarantee scheme. Services provided by the SBEC are designed to expand the private sector, improve livelihoods through increased job creation, strengthen and increase private sector infrastructure which contributes to economic growth and better access to business training.

Governance and public sector reform

NZAID, in partnership with the Samoa Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (MJCA), is supporting an institutional strengthening programme (ISP). This ISP has been established to develop capacity in the areas of policy, planning and evaluation, quality assurance, human resource management, and development and training (including information technology) for the MJCA. The priority areas of focus include courts administration, probation and parole and censorship. NZAID is providing NZ$2.5 million over three years to the programme.

NZAID, in partnership with the Government of Samoa and AusAID, also provides support to the Public Sector Improvement Facility. The Facility's focus is to identify and address critical constraints within Samoa's public sector to provide effective service delivery through a range of institutional strengthening activities in accordance with national development priorities. NZAID is providing NZ$5 million over five years to the facility.

Community development

NZAID is supporting community development in Samoa by providing over NZ$650,000 annually through the non-government organisation (NGO) Capacity Building and NGO Support funds. The NGO Capacity Building Fund focuses on strengthening the NGO sector in Samoa through SUNGO, the Samoa NGO umbrella organisation. The fund objectives are to provide core operational and technical support to SUNGO and it members, coordination of national and regional training for NGOs and funding to allow SUNGO to network and receive peer support from regional umbrella organisations. The NGO Support Fund supports the NGO sector of Samoa by providing core funding to a number of national NGOs to enable them to expand and extend their reach in communities. The fund operates in conjunction with the NGO Capacity Building fund and its core criteria are community engagement, community development and national coverage.

Regional assistance

In addition to the bilateral programme, Samoa participates in a number of regional programmes also funded by NZAID, including those delivered through Pacific regional agencies. The estimated expenditure per participating country is approximately $4.5 million per annum.

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