2023-24 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$29.0 million

2023-24 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$53.5 million

2022-23 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$27.0 million

2022-23 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$52.0 million

2021-22 total Australian ODA [actual]

$56.9 million

Samoa also benefits from non-ongoing COVID-19 response measures. Funding from these measures will be included in actual figures published in the relevant Australia's Official Development Assistance: Statistical Summary.

Samoa and Australia have an enduring partnership strengthened by increased engagement which focuses on shared governance, trade, development and security priorities.

Economically, Samoa is reliant on tourism, agriculture, remittances and development assistance. Samoa’s economy, particularly its tourism sector, has been heavily impacted by COVID-19.The Samoan Government and businesses face pressing challenges in the face of COVID-19.

Our development partnership supports Samoa to strengthen its health system, to enhance its state capabilities and support vulnerable populations to access essential services, and to mitigate and recover from COVID-19’s economic impacts and enhance its resilience to future shocks.

Pillar 1 – health security

Australia is one of Samoa’s largest health partners and has responded to Samoa’s acute health needs and priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our support has built capability to plan, deliver and monitor responses to COVID-19. Australia also supported Samoa’s Ministry of Health to enhance and strengthen testing and tracing capabilities, including through the provision of equipment, consumables, and training.

We have also provided medical supplies and equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE) to support Samoa’s response to its COVID-19 outbreak.

Australia also supported developments in Samoa’s eHealth including mSupply (a pharmaceutical logistics management information system), Tupaia, (a health data aggregation and visualization tool and Tamanu (a patient level electronic medical record) that was used as a COVID-19 immunisation register.Tamanu and Tupaia played a major role in Samoa’s vaccination program which is now one of the highest in the region. Australia has committed $4.7 million over three years (2020-23) for COVID-19 vaccine access in Samoa, including delivery support and vaccine procurement, drawing on Australia’s Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative (VAHSI). Through VAHSI, Australia is supporting Samoa and other Pacific island countries to achieve comprehensive vaccine coverage. This is in addition to Australia’s $215 million commitment to the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Advance Market Commitment. In 2021-22, Australia shared over 175,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses and associated consumables with Samoa.

We are also continuing our longstanding support to address ongoing communicable and non-communicable diseases, and access to sexual and reproductive health services.

Further information on programs addressing health security can be found at Pillar 1 – health security in Samoa.

Pillar 2 – stability

Against the backdrop of a tighter fiscal environment, Australia is assisting Samoa’s government institutions to maintain frontline service delivery for the benefit of all. We are supporting measures to improve planning and coordination to ensure more capable, efficient and transparent institutions. We continue to focus on strengthening basic education and making it more inclusive. Australia also supports the economic participation and well-being of vulnerable communities, especially women and girls, and people with disabilities.

Further information on programs addressing stability can be found at Pillar 2 – stability.

Pillar 3 – economic recovery

Australia is partnering with New Zealand, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to support policy reforms that help to restore the business environment in Samoa, promoting long-term economic recovery and resilience. We also support Samoa through labour mobility opportunities and tailoring skills training through the Australia Pacific Training Coalition to address sectors hardest hit by COVID-19. Our support for the Pacific Islands Forum’s Pacific Humanitarian Pathway will enable Samoa’s connectivity with Australia and the region, supporting the movement of critical supplies and people, and in turn mitigating severe health and economic impacts.

Further information on programs addressing economic recovery can be found at Pillar 3 – economic recovery.