Category: Aid

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Aid and Development – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: OECD DAC 2015 Peer Review of New Zealand

OECD DAC 2015 Peer Review of New Zealand The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) 2015 Peer Review of New Zealand’s development assistance has been released.

The review is a positive endorsement of New Zealand’s approach to development cooperation. It notes the clear vision for the New Zealand Aid Programme and that aid funding is being used strategically and consistently in line with the core focus on the Pacific and on sustainable economic development. 

New Zealand’s record as a good global citizen, including as a strong advocate for small island developing states, is endorsed. Wider New Zealand policies such as Pacific employment schemes also impact positively on development, particularly in the Pacific. New Zealand’s effective approach to reducing and responding to disaster risks in the Pacific is commended to other donors.  

The review also makes recommendations. These recommendations will be considered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as part of our ongoing strengthening of the New Zealand Aid Programme.

Read the full DAC Peer Review report

Each DAC member is reviewed every 4-5 years to monitor its performance and identify opportunities for improvement. The reviews involve input from officials in the country being reviewed and the developing country that is visited, as well as from civil society, the private sector and other donors.

The peer review was conducted by Norway and Ireland, with support from the DAC Secretariat. It included a field visit to Kiribati.

Read more about DAC Peer Reviews

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Aid and Development – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: New wharves providing opportunities for Solomon Islanders

Five new wharves financed by New Zealand, Australia, Solomon Islands and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are set to improve shipping services and reduce barriers to business for Solomon Islanders.  The wharves will allow better access to jobs and opportunities for private sector investment, as well as improving access to copra and cocoa markets.  The new robust wharves are safe and more resistant to the effects of climate change.

Ringgi wharf on Kolombangara Island, Keru wharf on Keru Island, Ngasini wharf on Vangunu Island, and Tatamba and Susabona wharves in Santa Isabel have all been successfully upgraded ahead of schedule.

With the cumulative savings made from constructing the five wharves, a sixth wharf will shortly be constructed in Lambulambu on Vella la Vella Island in Western Province.

The Domestic Maritime Support Project has already rebuilt nine wharves and two landing ramps in five Solomon Islands provinces. It has also supported a franchise shipping scheme to remote communities, allowing private sector operators to deliver to destinations that would otherwise not be commercially viable.

The Domestic Maritime Support Project is financed by the Asian Development Bank, the New Zealand Aid Programme, and the Australian Aid Program. New Zealand has contributed approximately $6.2 million of the total $9 million of the project to the Domestic Maritime Support Project – including additional financing for Susabona wharf and Lambulambu wharf.

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Aid and Development – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: The Partnerships Fund – the story so far

The New Zealand Partnerships for International Development Fund seeks to harness the potential of New Zealand organisations to work with local partners to create ongoing benefits for developing countries. The Partnerships Fund is contestable, and open to organisations across sectors to support a wide range of activities and themes.

The first round of the Partnerships Fund took place in late 2012. Since then:

69 activities have been approved by the Chief Executive of MFAT, and 66 activities are underway (either being designed or being implemented). One activity has already completed.

Of the 67 activities in design, being implemented or completed:

• 34 in the Pacific
• 15 in Southeast Asia
• 18 in the Rest of the world
• 28 countries are benefitting.
• 37 organisations have had activities approved
• 25 charitable organisations
• 11 State Sector organisations
• 1 Private Sector organisation

 Activities by theme:

• 28 support investing in economic development
• 27 support promoting human development
• 6 support building safe and secure communities
• 6 support improving resilience and responding to disasters

Examples of what is being achieved

Supporting business opportunities in Tonga

Partnership with Oxfam

Oxfam is working with its local partner Tonga National Youth Congress (TNYC) to build an economically sustainable social enterprise in Tonga. This five-year activity has value chain coverage for the production and supply of organic certified virgin coconut oil to the global market. TNYC has developed a supply agreement with New Zealand company Heilala and its virgin coconut oil has been stocked in Countdown supermarkets across New Zealand since late 2014. In the month of April 2015 TNYC significantly exceeded its previous production records and supplied 3,300 litres of virgin coconut oil to Heilala, bringing TOP$34,385 of foreign exchange earnings into the local economy. This business venture is providing Tongan people with employment, skills and a cash income that would not otherwise be available to people in rural areas.

Using technology to address Gender Based Violence in Papua New Guinea

Partnership with ChildFund

ChildFund is working in PNG to establish a tele-counselling hotline for victims of gender-based violence. The service is linked to a network of service providers that callers can be referred to. The hotline will be the first integrated service in PNG that offers immediate advice and support to survivors. It will provide a national mechanism to build greater government intervention in gender-based violence. ChildFund is working with a range of other organisations on the tele-counselling hotline, including the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee. A New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad volunteer is also providing support to hotline staff. ChildFund has also partnered with telecommunications company Digicel to enable a free-to-call hotline number for mobiles.

High Tech Skills for education and employment in Fiji

Partnership with High Tech Youth

The New Zealand based High Tech Youth Network is increasing the connectivity and learning opportunities of youth in Lami, Fiji. Youth and their community learn high tech skills and gain access to the potential of the broadband economy, via a community facility and formal and informal learning programmes. The facility is in place and has been in operation for a few months. A number of programmes have been completed, with training empowering local youth and local partners to lead the programme within Lami town delivered. The intention is for youth and community of Lami town to use high tech skills to further their education and employment opportunities within Fiji and also within the global market.