AusAID-Samoa Partnership

Among the Pacific Island nations, Samoa is one of the countries that have taken the greatest strides toward the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Samoa has already surpassed the goal of reducing hunger by half and is on track to meet gender, maternal mortality and water targets. These achievements have been a result of steady economic growth, propelled by remittances from Samoan migrants. But equitable distribution of social and economic benefits remains a challenge: 10 percent of the poorest households earn only 1.8 percent of the total national income. These households have limited access to public services such as health care and education. Exacerbating their condition is the lack of quality employment opportunities in urban and rural areas. The Samoan government is seeking to work closely with the Australian Agency for International Development to achieve the goal of raising domestic productivity to ensure the country’s sustainable development and improve living conditions. This vision is defined in the Strategy for the Development of Samoa 2012-2016. Funding levels One of Samoa’s key development partners, AusAID is the Pacific island nation’s largest donor. The majority of funding for this fiscal year will be provided bilaterally and a third will be channeled to finance regional programs. Click on the image to view a larger version of the table. Official development aid to Samoa has been constantly increasing since 2010. AusAID is working closely with the New Zealand Aid Program, World Bank and United Nations in national programs and projects. Funding priorities AusAID has invested $148.4 million in Samoa over the past three years. It has primarily utilized its funds to improve the quality of education and health care. It also provided humanitarian assistance during the aftermath of Cyclone Evan in December 2012. Aside from the said sectors, AusAID is set to assist in strengthening the country’s economy and improving institutional management. Click on the image to view a larger version of the table. The Samoa-Australia Partnership for Development identified five strategic priorities sectors: - Private sector growth and employment. - Improved health. - Improved education. - Improved governance. - Climate change. For fiscal year 2013-2014, Australian aid to Samoa focuses on stabilizing the Pacific island nation’s economic, boosting the quality of and access to education and health care, and creating stronger and more accountable public institutions. In line with the second priority, AusAID currently provides funding for the Health Sector Management Program Support Project in Samoa. An estimated $4.5 million has been channeled to this program, which is aimed to improve the efficiency of the health sector and expand Samoans’ access to quality health care. Devex analysis One of the main goals of Australian aid to Samoa, as indicated in the Port Moresby Declaration, is to help the Pacific island nation meet the MDGs. Given Samoa’s vulnerability to natural disasters, Australia has also consistently provided humanitarian assistance to the island state and will continue to do so in the future. Just this April, AusAID and the Samoan government signed a 6.75 million Australian dollars ($6.1 million) agreement for a post-cyclone assistance project. With Samoa expected to graduate from least developed country status in January 2014, Australia aims to ensure the Pacific island nation will continue to receive financing for public investment. The donor is looking at drawing on grant financing, where appropriate, to take advantage of concessional borrowing for Samoa. Australia also intends to support post-graduation strategies for Samoa’s economic diversification and growth. Contact: Australian High Commission, Samoa Email: ahc.apia@dfat.gov.au Tel.: (685) 23-411 Fax: (685) 23-159 Join the Devex community and gain access to more in-depth analysis, breaking news and business advice — and a host of other services — on international development, humanitarian aid and global health.