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Kiribati
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Snapshot
Kiribati is made up of three groups of coral atolls which span over 3,000 kilometres of the Pacific, right on the equator. Most of the land is only one metre above sea level. This very remote country does not suffer from cyclones or typhoons, but is extremely vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels.
There is little extreme poverty as most households are supported by gardening, fishing, carpentry and handicraft making. Poverty of opportunity however is a significant challenge in Kiribati. With little paid employment available, one person often financially supports a large family network.
Half of the 100,000 people who live in Kiribati reside on part of Tarawa atoll where rapid urban population growth is placing significant pressure on the fragile environment and limited resource base.
A high proportion of young people do not complete secondary school and social problems, particularly among the new urban population, are increasingly a cause for concern. Women do not have the same status as men and there is a high incidence of domestic violence.
NZAID priorities
NZAID and AusAID are coordinating their development assistance programmes in Kiribati. Work with the Government of Kiribati is currently underway to develop a Country Strategy to help guide this common programme of support.
Currently NZAID's programme is focused on four key areas:
- better educational outcomes
- human resource development
- improving performance in the public sector
- sustainable urban development.
NZAID on the ground
Education
Basic education
New Zealand has a long history of support to the Kiribati Teacher's College. At present NZAID provides technical assistance to the College to support and implement their institutional development plans. The College's plans seek to improve the quality of the training it provides and improve the ability of the College to play an active role in upcoming curriculum improvement work.
NZAID continues to work closely with AusAID to develop a comprehensive programme to support all basic education development needs in Kiribati. This will include a more coordinated approach to the way development assistance in basic education is financed.
Human resource development
NZAID has a long history of support to the Kiribati Marine Training Centre which delivers vocational training to I-Kiribati (indigenious people of Kiribati) mariners. Remittances from merchant mariners are the third largest source of revenue in the Kiribati economy. A new phase of NZAID support to the training centre is now entering its second year. NZAID supports the programme by providing advisors, scholarships and equipment and is funding the construction of new classrooms and dormitories which will allow more students to train year round, and will allow increased numbers of women to be trained. A separate block for housing female trainees is being constructed. As well as increasing the number of graduates, the Programme supports improved quality, a wider range of training as well as improved strategic planning and management.
NZAID also currently provides the following scholarships and training awards to support Kiribati's human resources development programme:
- scholarships for undergraduate or postgraduate study at Pacific regional universities (10 new scholarships will be awarded this year)
- scholarships for undergraduate or postgraduate study at New Zealand universities (usually four new scholarships are awarded per year)
- mid-career vocational training in New Zealand
- support to I-Kiribati pursuing tertiary, vocational and 'on-the-job' training opportunities in Kiribati.
Government and leadership
NZAID has started a significant new programme of assistance, supporting the Government of Kiribati to implement the new Kiribati Sustainable Towns Programme (STP). Rapid population growth, limited land and resources and the fragile atoll environment mean that Kiribati now faces a range of serious development challenges in its urban areas. Half of Kiribati's population now live in urban areas lack reliable access to basic services, overcrowding, limited employment options leading to unhealthy living conditions and increasing social problems.
The STP is the first comprehensive and multi-dimensional or holistic approach to addressing the wide range of development challenges and problems faced by Kiribati in its urban areas. Key to the success of the STP will be the central role urban communities will play in shaping and implementing the programme. Support will be provided to strengthen the capacity of all urban ‘actors' in their respective roles in this process, particularly local government. The programme will focus on development of an enabling framework to underwrite planning and management of urban areas and provide support to plan, design and implement a comprehensive, visible infrastructure investment program along improved access to land, public health programs and maintenance of services.
NZAID also currently supports Kiribati's Office of the Attorney-General to meet its core operating costs. Other ad-hoc support is provided to public sector development as requested by the Government of Kiribati.
Gender equality and empowering women
As well as taking gender issues into account in all programme activities, specific activities promoting understanding of gender equality includes support to the Kiribati Counsellor's Association.
Other projects
Support is provided to small community focussed development projects through NZAID's Kiribati Small Projects Fund and the High Commissioner's Fund (often called the Head of Mission Fund, which is managed by the New Zealand High Commission in Tarawa.
NZAID also provides a fund to pay for tertiary medical treatment of I-Kiribati people in New Zealand.
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