Growth and livelihoods

Have your say on NZAID's draft new Growth and Livelihoods policy

How can countries of the Pacific and beyond meet the economic aspirations of their people, particularly women and growing numbers of youth?

In a globalising world, how can the poor gain a safe and just stake in the local and global economy?

How NZAID help, recognising the governance challenges facing many partners, an often fragile environment, and their need to maintain the integrity of the local resource base, culture, and society?

You can have your say on the draft NZAID Growth and Livelihood Policy now released for consultation: written submissions should be sent, preferably by e-mail, to Paula Suckling (paula.suckling@nzaid.govt.nz) in NZAID's Strategy, Advisory and Evaluation Group before 15 May 2007.

Relevant link: NZAID Draft Growth and Livelihoods Policy

Public Consultation on NZAID's Draft Growth and Livelihoods Policy Document

Background

Over the course of 2006 NZAID has have developed a draft 'Growth and Livelihoods' policy paper. This sets out the Agency's proposed approach to promoting economic development and livelihoods in developing countries.

Following an internal consultation process the draft policy is now available for public consultation. It is being circulated to a wide range of NZAID's partners, including developing country partner governments, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, civil society organisations, private sector organisations and other New Zealand government departments. A copy of the draft policy will also be posted on the NZAID website (www.nzaid.govt.nz).

The consultation process will extend from March 2007 until May 2007. Written comments on the draft policy will be accepted up until Tuesday 15 May. These should be addressed to Paula Suckling in the Strategy, Advisory and Evaluation Group of NZAID (e-mail paula.suckling@nzaid.govt.nz).

Summary of the Policy

The proposed policy is consistent with NZAID's overall policy statement Towards a Safe and Just World Free of Poverty and the Agency's central focus on poverty elimination. It is intended to add to a set of existing NZAID policies in trade and development, education, health, conflict and peace building, human rights and the environment, and should be read in conjunction with them. It will also underpin the strategies describing NZAID's engagement in the Pacific and beyond and the engagement strategies for its key bilateral country programmes and multilateral development and humanitarian assistance agencies.

The draft policy underlines the importance of broad-based economic development for poverty reduction and the operating principles that will guide NZAID's work, including the focus the Agency gives to human rights, gender and the environment and the emphasis that is placed on partnership, participation and sustainability. It also underlines the need to focus on the strengths, aspirations and assets of poor people. Particular attention would be given to the participation of women, youth and disadvantaged regions in economic development.

The policy is intended to contribute to three development outcomes:

a reduction in the number of people living on less than a dollar a day and who live with regular hunger;
an increase in the opportunities for poor people to earn an income and improve the resilience of their livelihoods; and
increased sustainable growth and a reduction in the poverty faced by people living in the poorer regions of developing countries.

The policy emphasizes the importance of macro-economic stability, including through the implementation of sound fiscal and monetary policies, public sector reform, appropriate regulation/deregulation and the strengthening of key institutions. The policy also describes how NZAID can help its partners in government, the private sector and civil society improve productivity, build competitive advantage and thereby create jobs and improve incomes in the sectors of greatest significance to poor people. The policy underlines the need to focus NZAID’s efforts and these partnerships on policies and activities that will make a real difference to poor people's lives.

SAEG, NZAID
March 2007.

Page Last Reviewed: 8 March, 2007

Document URL: http://www.nzaid.govt.nz/what-we-do/consultation.html