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Kiribati President Anote Tong arrived in New Zealand at the beginning of June as a key international guest for World Environment Day celebrations
As president of a nation that is comprised of low lying atolls that rise in a few places to barely three metres above sea level, climate change issues are particularly poignant.
His visit allowed New Zealand and the wider community the opportunity to hear first hand the challenges which climate change and other resource constraints pose for his country and its people.
President Tong also took the opportunity during his visit to sign a Declaration with Prime Minister Helen Clerk noting the continued growth of the NZ-Kiribati relationship, noting in particular political ties, people to people ties and development assistance ties.
Through NZAID, New Zealand support to Kiribati in 2008/09 totals $6 million, focuses on urban development, improving basic education, strengthening performance of its public sector, and development of Kiribati's human resources.
NZAID supports two projects at the Kiribati Marine Training Centre, includes a $5 million classroom/dormatory construction project. This is a particularly significant contribution given the economic impact that wages earned by Kiribati's overseas seafarers.
NZAID's most recent, and perhaps most significant support is its new partnership with the Kiribati to address the urban development challenges. South Tarawa for example supports almost 10,000 per square kilometre.
The new Sustainable Towns programme hopes to help make Kiribati's growing urban areas dynamic, healthy and sustainable places to live, and plans a contribution over the next five years of around $15 million.
For more information contact bill.mckinney@nzaid.govt.nz
NZAID has allocated $500,000 towards the cost of a green One UN House in Viet Nam. The building is the first concrete attempt to implement the UN Secretary General's greening the UN initiative.
"We wouldn't normally provide funding for a UN building," said NZAID Manager, John Egan, "but the rationale for this really was compelling".
The building contributes to a UN reform by ensuring that staff of all UN agencies in Viet Nam are housed under the same roof and are able to be seated in programme coordination groups that are not agency-driven but theme-driven.
The building will also be the first carbon-neutral, eco-friendly building in Viet Nam. "It is hoped that the demonstration effects of this building will have far-reaching effects on construction in Viet Nam," John Egan added.
For more information contact john.egan@nzaid.govt.nz
Through NZAID, New Zealand has contributed $9.5 million to the international response to the global food crisis.
The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), which focuses on feeding people in life or death situations – particularly women and children, will receive $7 million of the $9.5 million for emergency food aid. As a global organisation with a strong track record of delivering aid effectively, it will ensure that our assistance gets to those who need it most.
The statistics speak for themselves. One child dies every five seconds from hunger related causes, and an estimated 850 million people go hungry every day. Rising food prices threaten to add millions more to these numbers and the impact on the world’s poorest people cannot be underestimated. It is important that New Zealand does what it can to assist.
The government has committed to contributing up to $2.5 million to the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) for a longer term response, aimed at fostering sustainable agricultural growth in developing countries.
“However aid is only one aspect of the response. At a global level, New Zealand is advocating a multi-faceted approach to the food crisis, covering issues such as climate change adaptation, biofuel policies, and a successful conclusion to the Doha Round of WTO trade negotiations.” said Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
This money is the largest humanitarian contribution since the 2004 Asian Tsunami.
For more information contact peter.zwart@nzaid.govt.nz
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NewZAID updates you in brief on key issues and events on the NZAID agenda. Please click on the useful links included in this newsletter to explore issues in greater depth.
 - Foreign Minister Winston Peters speaks at the Pacific Strategy Launch
The government's new Pacific Development Strategy will ensure a focused and effective approach to aid work in the region, where NZAID will spend more than $2 billion over eight years in official development assistance.
Launched on 24th June, the Pacific Strategy acknowledges New Zealand’s place in the world as a Pacific nation, and outlines the future shape of our assistance to our Pacific neighbours.
It sets out the areas where New Zealand’s contribution can be most effective. This allows us to make a sustainable impact on improving health and education in the Pacific; to address infrastructure gaps and promote economic growth, and to improve governance and leadership.
As aid from New Zealand is only part of the answer, the strategy also sets out New Zealand’s expectation that the Pacific region, and individual Pacific countries, will take up the challenge and do the work necessary to lift their own citizens out of poverty.
The Pacific is NZAID’s main development focus, accounting for 70 percent of our bilateral aid, and over 50 percent of New Zealand’s total aid. The Pacific Development Strategy will be implemented by NZAID, with support from other government agencies.
Copies can be downloaded at www.nzaid.govt.nz
Literacy and numeracy levels in Vanuatu compare poorly with other Pacific countries, and many children are missing out on education altogether.
In mid-June a milestone was achieved with the signing of the Vanuatu Education Support Action Plan (VESAP). This 12-month workplan will help build the capacity of the Ministry of Education deliver a higher standard of education to all children in Vanuatu.
The funds will also enable the Ministry to renovate 25 primary schools, purchase stationery and reading books in English and French, and bring together a dual education system with different curriculum and languages of instruction.
As a major donor in Vanuatu’s education sector for many years, NZAID has been working hard to improve donor coordination to make sure that aid assistance reaches its full potential.
To achieve this, VESAP is an important step towards a sector-wide approach (SWAp), where donors and the partner government work together to support basic education in Vanuatu.
Co-funded by NZAID and AusAID with each agency providing $4 million, this plan is a joint initiative between Vanuatu, New Zealand and Australia, and marks a new era in education for Vanuatu.
For more information contact nicci.simmonds@nzaid.govt.nz
 - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a new Human Rights website
New Zealand is standing for election next year to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the term 2009-2012. A new website www.votenz4hrc has been launched that provides information about New Zealand’s bid for election to the council, and our work to advance human rights standards.
New Zealand played an active role in setting up the UN Human Rights Council and wants to use this opportunity to ensure that the global human rights body realises its full potential.
New Zealand is the first country from the Pacific region to stand for election to the 47-seat council, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is coordinating New Zealand's campaign for membership.
Internationally, NZAID works closely with Pacific Island nations to support and protect human rights, which can lead to changes in attitudes and practices that make a lasting difference to people’s lives.
The NZAID Pacific Regional Health Programme for example supports the rights of persons with disabilities by funding the Disabilities Officer at the Pacific Forum Secretariat. NZAID also participates in the Pacific Regional Meeting of Experts Group on Disabilities.
In May New Zealand’s work to improve the rights of people with disabilities both domestically and internationally was recognised through the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award.
For more information visit www.votenz4hrc.org
NZAID has given a further $1 million to the United Nations Development Programme “Peace through Development Programme”, bringing its total contribution to $1.8 million.
The programme aims to help local governments and non-government organisations to develop policies and implement programmes on crisis sensitive development in the provinces of Maluku, North Maluku and Central Sulawesi in Indonesia. It will also help develop the local economy, support long-term peace building and strengthen legal frameworks.
“New Zealand has a high level of engagement in the Maluku region, where health, water, education and nutrition remain serious concerns in the post-conflict era, especially for women and children. Even though New Zealand is a relatively small donor, it is keen to do what it can to assist the conflict-affected people, helping pave the way for a better future,” said NZAID Manager, Frederik van der Vloodt.
NZAID has also committed a further $900,000 to the United Nations Development Programme “People-centred Development Programme" in Papua and West Papua Provinces, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to UNDP to $2,900,000.
This programme also supports local governments and non-government organisations to develop, implement, and monitor human development by working closely with the Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), provincial governors, provincial development planning agencies (Bappeda), and regional technical government services (Dinas).
For more information contact merinda-lee.hassall@nzaid.govt.nz
Formally adopted at a signing ceremony held in Ha Noi on 20 June, the One United Nations initiative in Viet Nam has taken a significant step forward by including another eight specialised United Nations agencies into the revised One Plan (2006-2010).
All 14 resident UN development organisations are now part of the One Plan and the next step will be to prioritise the UN’s work within the plan framework, to make the most of Viet Nam’s fast-developing economy.
New Zealand is one of ten donors that have committed US$34 million in funding for the One Plan following its adoption by six UN organisations in 2007. NZAID committed US$4 million in November 2007.
New Zealand's Ambassador to Viet Nam, Dr James Kember noted that the authority, responsibility and accountability of the UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam has been growing in the last 12 months. "We expect to see this further consolidated in 2008 and beyond", he added.
A results framework has also been adopted by which government, donors and the UN country team will measure progress with UN reform in Viet Nam.
For more information contact john.egan@nzaid.govt.nz
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