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NZAID is providing a further $2 million for ongoing relief efforts in Myanmar, bringing New Zealand’s total assistance to the 2.5 million people affected by Cyclone Nargis to $3.8 million.
This follows an initial contribution of $1 million to UNICEF for relief activities to assist women and children, and $800,000 to New Zealand Non-government Organisations for a variety of disaster recovery activities.
Of the $2 million, the World Food Programme will receive $600,000 which will go towards relief rations for the most affected households and a supplementary feeding programme for all pregnant/lactating women and children under five in these households.
The United Nations Development Programme will receive $1.4 million, which as the lead agency for economic recovery; will be spent on a number of activities aimed at restoring livelihoods and helping families get back on their feet. The agency has a long history of working in Myanmar and is experienced in post-disaster programmes.
For more information contact ruth.hubscher@nzaid.govt.nz
NZAID and the Government of Papua New Guinea have signed a country strategy that will increase New Zealand’s development work in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Directed by the strategy, NZAID will support programmes worth more than $300 million over the next 10 years to help PNG meet its development goals. This will be achieved by focusing on two key objectives that are critical if the people of PNG are to build better lives for themselves: improving the delivery in health and education services, and improving rural livelihood opportunities.
“The PNG government is to be commended for its part in developing and consulting on the strategy. We look forward to working with PNG over the next decade to improve the lives and opportunities of its people,” said Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
PNG is New Zealand’s second largest bilateral aid recipient, with an annual programme of $22.5 million, which will increase to $30 million in 2009/10. For more information contact caroline.newson@nzaid.govt.nz
NZAID has started design work on an early childhood and post-early childhood programme in Gia Lai province, Viet Nam.
Involving both consultation with the Ministry of Education and Training as well as field work, this current design mission is the result of more than a year of relationship building that has allowed NZAID to return to the Central Highlands province.
"It is the first concrete step in what we hope will be an expanding relationship with Gia Lai province over the coming seven or eight years", says John Egan, NZAID Manager in Viet Nam.
Following unrest over land and religious freedoms in Gia Lai province, NZAID ceased working in the area. However in March 2007 after keeping an eye on human rights and land issues in the area, NZAID met with the People's Committee of Gia Lai province and representatives from its Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and Education and Training to renegotiate it’s presence in the area.
In 2009 NZAID plans to explore options for supporting rural livelihoods. English language training will also feature in the relationship. For more information contact john.egan@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.
 - Handing over a canoe at Tapurai Village. Mrs Billy receives a canoe for her family from Guy Redding of NZAID.
Following the April 2007 earthquake and tsunami that destroyed many homes in the Western and Choiseul provinces of the Solomon Islands, 15 paddle canoes have been supplied to households on the island of Simbo. As part of the Fisheries Livelihood Recovery Project, these canoes will replace those which were lost in the disaster.
Funded by NZAID, and implemented by Gizo-based NGOs, WorldFish and Village Technology Trust (VTT), the paddle canoe replacement project focuses on communities where the disaster has affected their ability to use local marine resources and aims to give them hope for the future of their fishing livelihoods.
Audrey Manu from NZAID, and herself from Western Province, says that “what I like about this project is that the canoes are made by people from Western Province to help other Solomon Islanders restore their livelihoods.”
Over the next few months more than 800 households across Western and Choiseul provinces, who lost their paddle canoes in the tsunami will benefit from this project. For more information contact audrey.manu@nzaid.govt.nz
NZAID and the World Health Organization are to work together on a three-year, $4.5 million regional programme. The aim is to strengthen nursing services in the Pacific as well as expanding continuing education opportunities for both nurses and other health professionals.
Nurses make up more than 50 percent of the national health workforce in most Pacific countries and play a key role in keeping people healthy through disease prevention activities, and by caring for mothers and babies.
Implemented by the World Health Organization, the projects will help to address the critical shortage of skilled healthcare workers in the region, which presents a serious threat to people’s health.
The joint initiative supports the objectives of NZAID’s health policy in the region and those of the World Health Organization’s Regional Strategy on Human Resources for Health.
“Health is a cornerstone of development, and has always been an important focus for New Zealand’s aid programme. This contribution reinforces our commitment to ensuring a healthy and prosperous future for the Pacific,” said Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
The contribution is part of NZAID’s $11.5 million Pacific Social Development programme. For more information contact megan.mccoy@nzaid.govt.nz
 - Acting New Zealand High Commissioner Caroline McDonald, and PIANGO Executive Director Bakanebo Tamaroa sign the grant funding arrangement.
NZAID has signed a three-year, $4.1 million funding arrangement with the Pacific Island Association of Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO) which will support the implementation of PIANGO's strategic plan - Strengthening NGO Effectiveness through Good Governance and Partnership.
PIANGO is a regional network of NGOs and has 21 national member organisations throughout the Pacific known as national liaison units. Formed in 1991, it facilitates communication, provides a common voice at regional and international meetings, strengthens Pacific forums of social action, and improves the well-being of communities that the NGOs serve.
NZAID has had a long relationship with PIANGO and our funding ensures that its core mission of strengthening the NGO sector is achievable. For more information contact chris.day@nzaid.govt.nz
The Samoan Government has signed an Arrangement with NZAID, the World Bank, and AusAID. It commits these organisations to work together to support the Samoan Government’s efforts to improve the health of its people.
A programme of activities has been developed by the Samoan Government that aims to improve access to and use of effective, efficient and quality health services by Samoan people to improve their health. The three main areas it focuses on are health promotion and prevention; quality health care service delivery; and strengthening policy and regulatory oversight of the health system.
Funding will also cover non-infectious disease prevention, reproductive health, injury prevention and the prevention and management of infectious diseases such as sexually transmitted infections.
Pooling their funding, NZAID will contribute NZ$9 million, the World Bank will contribute US$3 million, and AusAID will contribute AU$14million towards the 5-year Programme.
The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNDP) and UNICEF are also expected to sign the Arrangement. For more information contact mike.seawright@nzaid.govt.nz
A arrangement formally establishing the Tonga Police Development Programme (TPDP) has been signed by the Governments of Tonga, New Zealand and Australia.
Following a joint assessment mission last year which identified areas for reform in the Tonga Police Force, the programme will focus on advisory support and training, while emphasising Tongan leadership and ownership to ensure that assistance meets the needs and priorities of Tonga.
The signing ceremony also provided the opportunity to announce Mr Chris Kelley’s nomination as the next Commander of the Tonga Police Force. Mr Kelley has over 30 years practical policing experience in New Zealand, and in his new role, one of his first tasks will be to establish a staff development programme within the TPDP that will ensure a pool of future leaders for senior police positions.
Tonga’s Minister of Police, Prisons and Fire Services Hon Siaosi 'Aho also took the opportunity to express his appreciation for the efforts of Deputy Commander Taniela Faletau who has served as Acting Commander since December 2006.
Funded by NZAID and AusAID, TPDP will be implemented with the support of the New Zealand Police and Australian Federal Police and will transform the Tongan Police Force into an effective community-oriented Police service.
"It is essential that the community is able to have trust and confidence in their police, and the tripartite development programme will help us in achieving that goal," said Mr ‘Aho. For more information contact kirsty.burnett@nzaid.govt.nz
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