Caption: Nelson Mandela with Marie Bopp Dupont, founder of the Pacific Island AIDS Foundation (PIAF).

Pacific Regional Agencies

New Zealand is a strong supporter of regional approaches to development in the Pacific. NZAID funds the following Pacific agencies:

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) which delivers technical programmes in the region, especially in land, marine and social resources ($6.14 million)
The University of the South Pacific (USP) which provides tertiary and non-formal courses for students in the 12 member countries, as well as research and development programmes through its various institutes. Teaching may be through extension courses or teaching at its campuses in Suva, Apia, and Port Vila ($4 million)
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (ForSec) which provides policy advice and promotes regional cooperation especially in trade and economic matters ($3.74 million)
The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) which provides advice on the development of natural resources,(in particular non-living) and the reduction of vulnerability. It does this through applied environmental geosciences, appropriate technologies, knowledge management, and technical and policy advice ($1.8 million)
The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) which provides assistance to member countries nations on the economic and sustainable management of their fisheries, particularly tuna - the main fish resource in the region, and in their dealings with distant water fishing ($3 million)
The Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) which provides assistance to protect and improve the environment and to promote sustainable development in the South Pacific ($1.7 million)
Pacific Island Association for NGOs (PIANGO ) which assists the work of non- governmental organisations in the Pacific region ($ 1.1 million)
The South Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA) which assists in national school examinations and conducts a regional Senior Secondary School Certificate examination ($0.35 million)
The Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) which provides advice on legislation for and promotion of foreign investment ($0.31 million)
Fiji School of Medicine (FSMed) to support health programmes in the Pacific region ($0.50 million)
The Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Center (PFTAC) which provides technical advice and capacity building to 15 Pacific island countries in four key areas of economic and financial management ($0.81 million)
The Kula II Pacific Equity Investment Fund targeted at supporting the development of small and medium enterprises in 12 Pacific countries ($0.22 million).