Samoa

2008/2009 Allocation | $10.5 million

Snapshot

Samoa lies north of New Zealand near Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands. Approximately 177,000 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 is a Pacific success story with one of the fastest growing economies in the region, achieving economic growth of 6% in 2004/05. Samoa is expected to continue to grow strongly in 2005/06 at a rate of around 4%.

The Strategy for the Development of Samoa for 2005-2007 reflects a vision of improved quality of life for all by enhancing people's choices. 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 jointly agreed 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. NZAID, the Government of Samoa and AusAID have agreed to jointly develop a strategy to guide development assistance to Samoa over the next five years.

Priority areas for Samoa include:

Education
Health
Governance and public sector reform
Sustainable livelihoods

NZAID on the ground

Education

Building on the successful secondary education curriculum and resources project, NZAID is now supporting the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture to develop a national curriculum framework. The new framework will consist of overarching principles to guide and direct the way schools develop, organise and achieve learning outcomes.

Health

NZAID continues to support the Medical Treatment Scheme and the Visiting Medical Specialist Scheme in Samoa. During the past year, 21 patients were referred to New Zealand for conditions that could not be treated in Samoa under the Medical Treatment Scheme. A visiting spinal and neurosurgeon treated 35 patients during a clinical visit to Samoa in 2005. NZAID continues to work with key stakeholders to identify priorities for health sector support in the future.

Leadership and government

The Public Sector Improvement Facility was established in March 2005 and is jointly funded by NZAID and AusAID. A Samoa Government-managed initiative, the Facility aims to identify and address critical constraints within Samoa's public sector to provide effective service delivery through a range of institutional strengthening activities. NZAID is to provide $5 million over five years.

Sustainable livelihoods

Support continues for small business development through core funding to the Small Business Enterprise Centre and small-scale tourism operators, such as beach fale operators.