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Development assistance in Samoa

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Pillar 3 – Economic Recovery in Samoa

Screenshot of Australian High Commissioner Emily Luck and Samoan Minister of Finance Hon Mulipola Anarosa Molioo in a Zoom conversation.
Australian High Commissioner Emily Luck and Samoan Minister of Finance Hon Mulipola Anarosa Molioo signing an agreement via Zoom providing up to $20 million to support Samoa’s response to and recovery from the ongoing socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and support key policy reforms. 25 March, 2022 - Apia Samoa. Credit: DFAT.

Overview

Australia is working closely with the Government of Samoa and the business community to actively support measures that facilitate decent work and economic empowerment, nurture an enabling business environment and stimulate long-term recovery and resilience. We are providing budget support through the Joint Policy Action Matrix (JPAM) – a collaboration between the Governments of Samoa, Australia and New Zealand, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank – that leverages policy reforms to boost economic growth and resilience. We are investing in climate resilient infrastructure, including through the funding and construction of the Legislative Assembly Office.

Australia provided an additional $20.5 million (2020-22) to Samoa through the Pacific Regional COVID-19 Response Package to support the Government of Samoa mitigate the fiscal impacts of COVID-19 and to support the needs of the most vulnerable.

Samoa Fiscal Resilience Program

$18 million, 2018-2024

The Program supports the Joint Policy Action Matrix (JPAM) negotiated between officials from the World Bank, ADB, Australia, New Zealand and the Government of Samoa. The JPAM is a mechanism to identify and prioritise policy reforms and to channel and monitor budget support.

Related documents

Name of document Year published
Samoa Fiscal Resilience Program Investment Design 2018

Samoa Private Sector Development Initiative

$2 million, 2020-2022

The program supports the ADB-led Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), which is a regional technical assistance facility co-financed by the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the ADB. PDSI seeks to strengthen the business and regulatory environment in the Pacific, as well as supporting state owned enterprise. PSDI is also providing advisory and other support to the tourism and aviation sectors to support a pathway to economic recovery.

Impact Private Sector Partnerships - Business Partnerships Platform

2020-2023

In 2020, Samoa launched its Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) Covid-19 Recovery round. The BPP supports partnerships between the Australian Government and inclusive businesses to create both development impacts and sustainable commercial returns. The BPP is supporting three partnerships in Samoa.

Samoa Parliament Complex Redevelopment Phase II: Legislative Assembly Office Redevelopment

$15 million, 2020-2025

Following the successful completion of Samoa’s Parliament House in 2019, the second phase of the Samoa Parliament Complex Redevelopment program will support the design and construction of the Legislative Assembly Office. The new building will be cost-effective, climate resilient and exhibit best practice in green building technology. The construction phase is expected to commence in late-2022 and will provide opportunities for local employment and skills generation.

Samoa Procurement Reform Support Program

$1.6 million, 2019-2022

Provides long-term and short-term technical assistance to the Government of Samoa to implement procurement reforms and capacity build relevant stakeholders. The program has supported the development of new procurement procedures and built the capacity of the public service to improve procurement practices.

Samoa Governance for Economic Growth Investment

In design with an estimated budget of $25 million, 2022 – 2026

The new program will span bilateral investments in the fields of inclusive governance, economic growth, private sector development and potentially the governance and growth spin-offs associated with Australia's infrastructure commitments.

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