Children at Mutale Primary School, eastern Zimbabwe
Note: Click for enlargement of map.
Southern Africa
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Snapshot
The latest statistics for sub-Saharan Africa indicate the region continues to face immense challenges in reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). According to the World Bank, although economic growth reached 5.4 percent in 2005 and 2006, 40 percent of Sub-Saharan Africa's population continue to live on less than US$1 per day. As the global economic crisis deepens in 2009, developing countries are forecast to be severely affected, and the number of people living in poverty will rise. Athough the spread of AIDS is slowing, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria continue to cause declines in average life expectancy in 21 countries.
The NZAID Africa Strategy 2008-2017 is designed to contribute to the overarching goal of reducing poverty in Africa . The key components of the strategy are a focused partnership programme in Zambia and Zimbabwe and further development in the South Africa relationship. These programmes are complemented by contributions to multilateral agencies scholarships for African students provision of humanitarian assistance and the NZAID funding schemes for New Zealand-based Non Government Organisations (NGOs) who work with African partner organisations.
NZAID Africa Strategy 2008-2017
Southern Africa Partnership Programme
The Southern Africa Programme focuses on health and associated livelihoods of vulnerable children, youth and women in two focus countries: Zambia and Zimbabwe. Activities are delivered by partner agencies from civil society and multilateral agencies.
Programmes are based around supporting and learning from community-led initiatives in the following areas:
- bringing about improvements in child health and nutrition, and maternal health
- alleviating the impact of HIV and AIDS
- supporting related livelihoods
- seeking to learn from and improve programmes collaboratively.
The capacity of NZAID and partner agencies is being developed through the NZ-Africa Learning Initiative.
South Africa relationship
South Africa is New Zealand's most significant partner in southern Africa in political, diplomatic, and trade terms. Under the NZAID Africa Strategy, the relationship between the two countries is being progressively moved to one of mutual benefit based on people-to-people and government-to-government contact and exchange.
Contributions to multilateral agencies
NZAID continues its commitment to supporting multilateral development institutions in line with its policy of engagement with these institutions.
New Zealand NGOs
Civil society organisations based in New Zealand have played a prominent role in New Zealand's engagement in Africa, and continue to play a vital role in New Zealand 's responses to the development needs of Africa. NGOs will also be encouraged to contribute to and share from the learning emphasis of the programme.
Scholarships and exchanges
The New Zealand Development Scholarship and Commonwealth Scholarship programmes will continue as in the past, with approximately 14 scholarships per year allocated for African students. Where opportunities arise, scholarships will be awarded that complement or link to other aspects of the programme, including the possibility of short term training awards and other exchanges (linked, especially, with the South Africa Partnership described above).
Humanitarian assistance
As a responsive and good global citizen, NZAID is committed to making swift and appropriate contributions when disasters strike. Other pressing global needs and related donor response will be taken into account. The complex emergencies and natural disasters guidelines provide support for decision making on an appropriate contribution.
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