NZAID

KOHA-PICD

The Voluntary Agency Support Scheme (VASS) has been renamed Kaihono hei Oranga Hapori o te Ao (KOHA) Partnership for International Community Development (PICD). First established in 1974, KOHA-PICD is a peer-assessment based co-funding scheme for New Zealand Non Government Organisations (NGOs) focused on supporting community development activities through in-country partners . The scheme is co-managed with New Zealand NGOs via a Programme Management Committee (PMC) consisting of four elected NGO representatives, an NZAID officer, and a soon to be appointed independent chair.

The Scheme recognises that NGOs have expertise in working at the grass roots level and are able to work in ways that governments and donors cannot. In addition NGOs have experience fostering self-reliance by working in long term partnership with communities. The KOHA-PICD acknowledges that NGOs make a significant contribution to governments' efforts to help eradicate poverty and promote equitable development.

NZAID recognises civil society as an important partner in development in its policy statement, Towards a Safe and Just World. The Strategic Policy Framework for relations between NZAID and NGOs, developed jointly by the NGO community and NZAID, also demonstrates the importance of the relationship and value attached to NGO development activities.

The KOHA-PICD is the single biggest support mechanism for the work of New Zealand NGOs, with a budget in 2007/08 of $18 million. The co-funding approach recognises NGOs’ capacity to generate funds from the public to support international development projects. The KOHA-PICD places particular emphasis on: partnership; gender equity; participation and strengthening the capacity of developing country counterparts.

Financial support is provided for New Zealand based project management costs and for appraisal, monitoring and evaluation visits.

Regular KOHA-PICD users are subject to 4-5 yearly Organisational Reviews to ensure funds are being used in line with the scheme’s criteria and to identify issues and lessons for wider dissemination.

Important Notice

Following recommendations made in the 2004/05 VASS Evaluation, all grants are now on a 4:1 basis, including general projects which were previously on a 2:1 basis. This means that for every dollar provided by the New Zealand NGO, NZAID will provide four dollars.

 

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Page Last Reviewed: 23 October, 2007