United Nations in Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Samoa:

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27 April 2023

Spotlight boost civil society movements to end violence against women and girls.

Happy smiles from grateful hearts. These are some of civil societies in Samoa working and contributing to all national efforts towards ending violence against women. They are also the successful grantees of the Spotlight Initiative UNDP CSO Low Value Grant scheme. The Small Grants support the CSO to build and strengthen existing EVAWG efforts and can be used for diverse innovative activities such as; building Internal/institutional capacity; fostering collaborative partnerships; strengthening advocacy and prevention initiatives using creative cultural arts, sports, strengthening response services, case management, and referrals; sharing of good practices and learning and capacity building The grant scheme gives an extra boost to ongoing activities and new activities that CSO are delivering to empower, advocate and contribute to the promise of ensuring that 'every woman and girl lives a life, free of violence.' The grantees for 2023 include, Samoa National Council of Women: The SNCW will continue with institutional strengthening for women leaders and community conversations with village women to advocate and prevent domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV). Samoa Victim Support: SVSG will ensure that there is a framework for a well established Crisis Care Centre that is resourced and capacitated to respond to survivors of IPV and DV cases. They will also ensure that IPV/DV response services for women, children and vulnerable groups in the context of post COVID 19 recovery are effective and efficient. SUNGO: The Samoa Umbrella for NGO will continue with capacity building for Civil Society on EVAWG and strengthening CSO EVAWG Taskforce joint advocacy efforts Nuanua O le Alofa for Disabilities: The grant supports the Nuanua o le Alofa to coordinate and conduct a Women with Disabilities Leadership Forum on Sexual Reproductive Health and rights and linking to gender-based violence. ADRA Samoa: The ADRA Samoa will continue to convene and lead multi-stakeholder community-based awareness campaigns to raise awareness on IPV/DV issues and legal and social support services. Light of Hope – Toe Fuataina Incorporated: The grant will help Light of Hope with their Project Gateway, a counseling and rehabilitation program for young male and female offenders of DV. Tofa Sinasina Incorporated: The grant will help Tofa Sinasina with their counseling programs and awareness raising for male and female police and correction officers in Upolu and Savaii to better address EVAWG. Samoa Cultural Center : To take their minds away from the pain this programme uses the traditional siva samoa to prevent and advocate against violence towards women and girls Ailao Club Samoa : This grant supports an International Women’s competition for Siva Afi and awareness raising in selected communities to advocate for the prevention of VAWG and women’s empowerment through Siva Afi. The grantees are on board to start their programme which must be completed by December of this year. The Spotlight Initiative Samoa programme congratulates and wishes them all the best.

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18 May 2023

They need to hear, and change for peaceful families and societies.

“The advocacy should not stop, even if they don’t want to listen, we need to continue talking about this issue.” The determination in Lualua Namulauulu Tautu’s voice on TV5, during one episode of the Spotlight Initiative National Reference Group Mother’s Day, ‘Let there be light to free our women from violence’, media talk show. Advocating to amplify the Spotlight Initiative’s key messages on ending violence against women and girls is one priority of the work of the NRG. The week leading up to the Mother’s Day weekend, the NRG of ten members committed their time away from their daily organization and community functions to speak on local television and radio stations. Lualua, as the representative of the Traditional leaders and rural villages seat in the NRG, resides on the big island of Savaii and had to travel over to Apia to bring the voice and perspective of the traditional leaders into this advocacy. ‘The matai’s (traditional leaders) are looking into time and opportunities to bring the young men together and create activities where they are educated on spiritual and cultural values that instill peaceful behaviors so that they do not become violent fathers and husbands,’ according to Lualua. “It is an approach and what we need to do, to prevent violence before it begins.” Even the church leaders in every village continue with their role to preach and teach spiritual values of humility and love and living prayerful and peaceful lives, Lualua also emphasized. “However, it falls on the person, if they do not open their ears and hearts to hear and learn these messages, that is the problem.” “But we should not stop advocating, the more we make noise about this issue, the time will come when they eventually open their ears,” Lualua said. With the support of the RCO and the UNDP the NRG members NRG Mother’s Day, ‘Let there be light to free our women from violence’ Media Campaign was live on EFKS TV, Talofa FM radio station, Eye Spy radio and TV 5.

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TV discussion including two men and two women.

Story

30 May 2023

Success of the UN Reforms is evident.

Four years on, the reforms have succeeded. The verdict is in: Resident Coordinators are bringing United Nations entities together in support of countries’ priorities for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres as he presented his 2023 Report on the Implementation of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QPCR) – his promise to Member States on the UN’s work on sustainable development. Evidence from the report shows that despite a complex global context, the returns on investments in UN development coordination are compelling, tangible, and more aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national needs and priorities, according to host governments.   Presenting her annual Report on the Development Coordination Office and the Resident Coordinator system as the Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed noted that “Resident Coordinators are fostering more coherent, accountable and effective UN support for countries. They are leveraging their impartiality and new capacities to channel skillsets and expertise housed across the UN system. The Resident Coordinators are now our backbone to translate global commitments into effective action on the ground.”   This ability to deliver on the ground depends on sustainable, predictable and adequate funding for the SDGs. Yet, as the UN Chief put it, the Resident Coordinator system is “chronically under-funded” and there is a clear need to find a definite solution to bridge the current funding gap of approx. US$80 million. Assistant Secretary-General for Development Coordination, Oscar Fernández-Taranco, urged Member States to live up to their promises to fund the UN’s work on sustainable development [The Funding Compact] to enable transformative change.  “Adjusting the quantity and quality of funding does have a multiplier effect on the implementation of the SDGs”, he noted, and highlighted the importance of core resources for UN agencies, funds and programmes and pooled funding, such as the Joint SDG Fund.   In this vein, António Guterres announced that in the coming months he will be launching a transparent and inclusive consultation process with Member States for a new funding model of the Resident Coordinator system that ensures adequate, sustainable and full funding going forward. With an eye on the SDG Summit and other high-level meetings taking place in September 2023 as well as several conferences lined up in 2024, UN representatives, ministers and delegates from member states alike reaffirmed the need to capitalize on the goldmine of UN experience and ramp up efforts to deliver coherent and coordinated action on the ground.

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Story

10 April 2023

Pam, driving the vehicle of change for community women movements.

Fuatino Pam Sua or affectionately known as ‘Pam’ first became involved in the business of the Samoa National Council Women (SNCW), simply by being the driver for its founding President, Masiofo Fetauimalemau Mataafa. In 1972, I was sent home after schooling in New Zealand. While in NZ, I taught myself how to drive. Thankfully, it was my driving skills that the late Masiofo Fetauimalemau, called me to drive her around and do the bidding of the old ladies of the SNCW, taking them to meetings and so forth. I enjoyed the driving because I also got to sit in, listen and understand the governance and operations of the Council. Most important was the relationships with the old ladies and the knowledge and wisdom shared amongst them that I even learnt so much from it. Some years later, Pam was assigned the role of managing the SNCW finances. Fast forward to 2012, just before Samoa’s celebration of its independence, Pam was organizing lunch and making transportation arrangements for the SNCW members from Savaii and Upolu. I was about to leave, but the Hon. Fiame Naomi, the daughter of the late Masiofo Fetauimalemau and the President of the SNCW called me over and said, “before you leave, you’ve just been appointed the new secretary”. That day my responsibilities multiplied. I am in charge of managing the organization and trying to live up to the expectations and vision of the Samoan matriarchs that came before us and paved the way for the women’s movement in Samoa for generations that followed. Pam is at the heart of mobilizing and uniting women from the villages around Samoa under the umbrella of the SNCW and she was involved for over fifty years. The SNCW was set up in 1953 and is an umbrella organization for village women’s committees in Samoa. The SNCW is premised on the value of Samoan women’s traditional statuses and social standing, namely ‘Sa’o Ao (daughters of village men and women), faletua ma tausi (wives of paramount chiefs and orators), and āvā a taulele’a (wives of untitled men). This social group plays an integral role in supporting the village’s local governance with its developments and advocacies filtering across to the other influential players of the village, namely, the village council, untitled men and the youth. In 2015, the SNCW embarked on an institutional strengthening programme to redefine its purpose and review the organization’s constitution and to explore whether its purpose and existence was still relevant. At the time, the SNCW was a member of the CRC and CEDAW Partnership Committees coordinated under the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD). One of the key development issues requiring a whole-of country approach, was family violence. The SNCW received funding from the Government of Australia to fund the Samoa Shaping Women’s Development programme through MWCSD to implement a nationwide advocacy campaign on the prevention of violence against women and girls using traditional learning methods through the art of community conversations. Spearheaded with technical assistance from Palanitina Tupuimatagi Toelupe, 41 villages were covered, and we collaborated with the women’s committees, women’s church fellowship, including youth groups to deliver this advocacy with the hope that the women themselves will drive their own destiny and facilitate social change through this movement. This community-centered programme was our steppingstone into reviving our focus on ending violence against women and girls (EVAWG) and linking it to good governance and leadership. Building on from the momentum in 2015, the support from the EU & UN Spotlight Initiative in 2020 has elevated this work with 16 women’s committees from Upolu and Savaii engaging and joining in the movement. The Spotlight’s involvement added weight to the community conversations to strengthen the advocacy of eliminating violence against women and girls. And the Spotlight focus was through leadership programmes to empower the women’s committees to gain confidence as they are the gatekeepers of what is happening within their own communities. Contextualized trainings were offered to women members of the SNCW on EVAWG using the transformational leadership tool to advocate and disseminate the information and learnings to women in their villages to address violence against women and girls including intimate partner violence. Our training content and practical exercises worked on confidence and advocacy building within their own women’s committee settings and when advocating for support from the village council of chiefs. For instance, they were reminded through the programme to remember and understand the order of the Alii ma Faipule – village council of chiefs. There was nothing worse than coming in only just to be chased out. The Spotlight Initiative programme was well received, the lessons learned, and the work of the trained women was effective to create awareness and advocacy for other committees to grow the need and the urge to be part of the SNCW. A testimony from Mrs Vine Sefo Samia, Samatau Council Women, participant in the SNCW leadership trainings – Spotlight gave us the tools to run our own advocacy activities in the village reaching all age groups, especially the young men and women, who have a better understanding than before. We visit families and encourage mothers to not be afraid to speak out and seek help. We encourage open communication and dialogue between the mothers and their daughters on sexual reproductive health and rights of women and girls, and how to prevent sexual and physical violence. We lobbied for leadership and good governance support from our Alii and Faipule and church ministers which led to having in place village policy and laws to address violence against women and girls, we remind the families and fathers about their duty to protect and keep the peace in the village. Conversations are being made, collaborations amongst the traditional structures of the village and women have been made stronger. We do not see nor hear of any new incidents of violence these are the good changes that have come about due to the strong advocacy by the women of the Samatau council. We cannot afford to be complacent, we have to continue the advocacy as we are the Spotlight champions in our village to effect the change in norms, attitudes and behavior to end violence. The leadership training was to advance the work we had already started and become self-reliant to not wait for handouts but to stand up and lead from the home and from the community, to be caregivers and oversee their communities and the issues that pertain to women and girls. This all tied in when in times of crisis especially when the measles epidemic hit Samoa in 2019, the committees mobilized into action in terms of ensuring sanitation and caring support to prevent the spread of measles amongst our most vulnerable groups, our children. The Spotlight Initiative-UNDP partnership with SNCW dovetailed into the community conversation programme and expanded it. The leadership programme under Spotlight allowed the committees of women and girls to flourish and build confidence in themselves to such a degree it enabled them to lobby, speak out and empower the traditional village setting to listen and consider their needs and issues. Women and girls must lead from the front, because they are the ones who understand what is needed and to collaborate with each other, amplify and complement each other’s work. They have the capacity and know how to carry out their work and the leadership programme through the Spotlight Initiative brought about the change in confidence and know-how to be the voice for women, girls, and children. We utilized the Samoan ways and tools we have in place to put a focus on bringing to light the violence against women, girls and children and advocating for a better change. "As you witnessed, our perseverance bore fruit with the President of the SNCW becoming the first woman Prime Minister for this country.” The rest is history. This story has been rewritten from its original form as published in the Spotlight Initiative Magazine 2022 | Stories of Change.

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Press Release

27 April 2023

UNDP Samoa Accelerator Lab wins global Japan SDG Innovation Challenge

Apia, Samoa – In a first for Samoa, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab (AccLab) has won one, of only two spots, for the Japan SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) Innovation Challenge. Samoa and Zimbabwe are the only AccLabs selected from a pool of 91 UNDP AccLabs across the world. The Challenge will enable the UNDP Samoa AccLab to implement an innovative project to convert fish skin into sustainable fish leather. This project aims to maximize the economic benefits of the entire fish caught, instead of just the flesh whilst discarding other fish parts, thus lending the project its name: “100% Fish Use”. The fish leather will be manufactured through a sustainable process. The eco-friendly fish leather is an exotic leather and will be an addition to the existing Samoan handicrafts/products such as wallets, business card holders and other items, popular as souvenirs. There is also a huge demand for fish leather overseas and this has the potential to increase additional avenues for export. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) AccLab is partnering with Think Sea Corp, a Japanese company, to implement this project through funding from the Japan Cabinet Office (CAO). This Challenge is facilitated by the Japan Innovation Network. The contract between UNDP Samoa and Think Sea Corps was signed in March 2023 and the project is now ready for implementation. “Over 40 to 60% of the caught fish is currently being dumped or underused. Furthermore, there is very little data on the amount of fish waste generated in Samoa. This project, in addition to assigning economic value to fish waste, will also boost the data on fish waste,” said Jorn Sorensen, Resident Representative, UNDP Samoa. The founders of the Think Sea Corp will spend two months in Samoa to experiment with the fish skin type available locally and create samples of leather. They will also train the target communities on the low-cost process of leather production, enabling communities to take up new entrepreneurial opportunities of producing, utilizing, and selling fish leather. "We are thrilled to embark on this project to contribute to the protection of the marine environment and sustainable development with the team at UNDP Samoa. As awareness of the importance of marine conservation continues to grow, we take great pride in being able to support sustainable economic development while making use of ocean resources. Through this project, we hope to make valuable contributions to the local communities by leveraging our respective expertise and skills to pursue meaningful impact,” said Tomohisa Noguchi, Founder, Think Sea Corp. The 100% Fish Use project is a critical milestone for Samoa not only in terms of expanding the blue economy, but also a successful example of connecting technology and innovation from the private sector to local contexts, accelerating progress on the SDGs. -ENDS- For media queries, please contact: Tomohisa Noguchi, Think Sea Corp, totoleather@gmail.com, https://www.tototoleather.com/en Laufaleaina Lesa, UNDP Multi Country Office, Samoa|Tel. +685 23670|E: laufaleaina.lesa@undp.org www.ws.undp.org @UNDP in Samoa, Cook Islands, Tokelau & Niue @undpsamoa

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23 May 2023

Our ambitions for a better world are off track.

Excellencies, Halfway through the timeline of the 2030 Agenda, we are leaving more than half the world behind. Poverty and hunger are again growing. The climate crisis is escalating. Conflict and persecution have forced one hundred million people from their homes. And the economic destruction and dislocation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic was prolonged and amplified by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The cost of food, energy, and finance has risen sharply, with a devastating impact on vulnerable countries and communities. Inequalities and gender discrimination are on the rise. The Sustainable Development Goals – our only comprehensive solution to these crises – are far off track. We have gone into reverse on more than 30 per cent of SDG targets – including our most fundamental goals of reducing poverty and hunger. Progress on another 50 per cent is weak and insufficient. But it is not too late to turn the tide. And we are determined to do just that. The SDG Stimulus, the proposed reforms of the global financial architecture, the Acceleration Agenda on climate, the Transforming Education Summit, Food Systems transformation, the Global Digital Compact, the Global Accelerator on Social Protection and Jobs, the Black Sea Initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding on promoting Russian food and fertilizers to global markets – all these initiatives are aimed at reducing poverty, inequality and hunger, and getting the 2030 Agenda back on course. Around the world, United Nations country teams lead our efforts for sustainable, inclusive development. They are our eyes, ears and hands, supporting governments, convening stakeholders, and striving to translate global and regional commitments on the SDGs into action. When we started the reform process, no one foresaw that our country teams would be operating in such challenging conditions. Despite that, four years on, the reforms have succeeded. My report on the QCPR implementation demonstrates that. The verdict is in: Resident Coordinators are bringing United Nations entities together in support of countries’ priorities for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. They are also working together to help address crises that cross borders. The overwhelming majority of host governments agree. Fully 88 per cent say that Resident Coordinators provide effective and strategic leadership in support of their national plans and priorities. All Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries surveyed said the UN’s activities were closely aligned with their needs and priorities. And all small island developing states said collaboration between UN entities has improved since the reforms. The system is data-driven – which is delivering new levels of transparency and accountability. In Egypt, the reinvigorated role of the RC was a catalyst to mobilize UN expertise and comprehensive action to support the Egyptian Presidency of COP-27 on the climate crisis. In Pakistan, the newly-empowered RC system coordinated across the entire UN family with the government, in response to the devastating floods that affected 33 million people. The Cooperation Framework was the blueprint for a long-term approach to support recovery, going beyond the immediate humanitarian response to involve international financial institutions. In Small Island Developing States, the integrated support provided by our multi-country offices is helping to address issues ranging from climate adaptation to debt distress. Excellencies, The transformative vision of the 2030 Agenda relies on a global partnership and unprecedented investment. But that investment has not been forthcoming. Many developing countries simply cannot afford to invest in the SDGs because they face a financing abyss. The annual SDG funding gap stood at 2.5 trillion dollars before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the OECD, it now stands at some 4.2 trillion. Developed countries adopted expansionary fiscal and monetary policies and have now largely returned to their pre-pandemic trajectory of economic growth. Developing countries have been hobbled by their inability to do the same. Vulnerable Middle Income countries are denied debt relief and concessional financing; and the Common Framework for Debt Treatment is not yet effectively working. If they go to the markets, developing countries may be charged interest rates up to eight times higher than their developed counterparts. It is clear that something is seriously wrong with the rules and governance structures that produce these results. I have therefore called for an SDG Stimulus – an emergency measure to scale up affordable long-term financing for all countries in need, by at least 500 billion dollars a year. At the same time, we are working on long-term proposals to right the fundamental injustices and inequalities in global financial architecture which reflect the global realities of 78 years ago. I count on your support for these proposals, and for all our efforts to accelerate the 2030 Agenda. Excellencies, Meanwhile, we rely on our partnerships with the governments of developing countries to get the most out of every development dollar. And to do that, we need adequate, predictable and flexible funding for the UN development system. I thank those Members that have maintained or increased their financial support to the UN development system. However, the Resident Coordinator system is still chronically under-funded. We are far from reaching the targets we committed to four years ago. The Resident Coordinator system is the anchor for all our efforts to support countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda. Yet, in 2022, the RC system suffered from a funding gap of 85 million US dollars. The Joint SDG Fund is far short of the Funding Compact target of 290 million US dollars per year. Unless Member States step up, we are effectively starving the UN development system of the support it needs to deliver for Member States. A recruitment freeze is reducing our ability to deliver. With every month that passes, further reductions will have to be made, affecting our ability to coordinate the UN system and convene beyond it. We have responded to the concerns of Member States. We are now turning to Member States to meet their commitments. Let us recall we are talking about 85 million dollars – a tiny investment for the returns we are already witnessing. Development coordination saves lives by eradicating poverty and preventing humanitarian crises. Countries are spending more than two trillion dollars a year on military budgets. It is simply not credible to pledge support for peace, if they are not prepared to invest a tiny fraction of this amount in sustainable development – the greatest conflict prevention tool we have. I therefore urge Member States to reconsider my recommendation for a hybrid 2.0 funding model for the UN development system. The current funding model for the RC system is far too vulnerable to fluctuations in voluntary funding, making it unpredictable and unsustainable. It has also failed to provide sufficient resources. The most logical, principled solution is to fund the Resident Coordinator system with a greater share of assessed contributions under the Regular Budget of the United Nations. Therefore, in the coming months, I intend to launch a transparent, inclusive consultation process with Member States so that all views are heard before a formal proposal is submitted to the General Assembly. I ask you to approach these consultations with a sense of urgency, solidarity, and resolve. We must address this unfinished business from the reforms as we head towards the SDG summit in September. Creative new approaches have not worked. A new funding model, with a greater share of assessed contributions through the Regular Budget, is the only sustainable, predictable, and realistic option. Excellencies, Together, the United Nations and countries around the world are working towards a generational shift in global development – a shift towards fairness and justice in development financing, and a dynamic in-country support system that is aligned with the needs and priorities of Member States. The SDG Summit in September must be a moment of unity to provide a renewed impetus and accelerated action for achieving the SDGs. It must deliver concrete progress on the means of implementation and a clear commitment to overhaul the current international financial architecture. The next weeks and months are an important opportunity to prepare the ground. This will be the most important initiative of the 2023 calendar. We have made significant progress, but we still have a way to go. Member States are our partners on this journey. We count on your continued engagement and leadership at the highest levels. A robust resolution from the ECOSOC Operational Activities Segment would be an important first step in this direction. Together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all people, everywhere. Thank you. Read the 2023 Report of the Chair of the UNSDG on the Development Coordination Office launched at the ECOSOC segment here.

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A man standing on a stage at the microphone giving a speech

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05 April 2023

Learning is exciting with digital tools.

Deciding on the correct answer for the online quiz, the excitement on her face was apparent. Eleven years old Elizabeth attending the Manunu Primary School, finds learning over digital tools engaging, simple and exciting. “I have never used a tablet device before, and using it for school work is fun,” Elizabeth said. The Manunu Primary School opened its new school building in 2015 and while it’s a small school with around 81 students in one of the outer villages in Samoa, it is not left behind in all efforts to develop inclusive and resilient education systems. Manunu Primary School is one of the 20 schools benefitting from a project that integrates Information and Communications Technology tools, increasing digital literacy for education, particularly for teachers to support blended teaching and learning and to enhance steps to redress the digital divide in education plans and strategies. The project, Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in Education in Samoa: Developing Resilient Education System through Online and Multimedia as the Countermeasure against COVID-19 Pandemic was approved by the Government of Japan funding of US$ 954,545 and technical assistance from UNESCO for the implementation of the project over two years. The selection of the 20 schools from Savaii and Upolu is based on their geographical location, low socioeconomic status, and gender imbalance, and includes children with learning disabilities. This year, the installment and set up of equipment, and training for teachers have been completed and the schools are progressing into adapting online lessons to their normal school day schedules. The 20 schools were visited to observe the progress of the project and the Manunu Primary School was the last school visited before the official closing of the project. The Director for the UNESCO Pacific Office Ms Nisha said that, “the ICT in Education in Samoa project per se is coming to a close, but the work of integrating ICT in education is not over. Learning is a lifelong endeavor. ICT, or the technology itself, is only as effective as the users’ capacity to continuously apply it for promoting learning.” In a traditional reception, the chiefs of Manunu welcomed the delegation including the Japanese Ambassador Excellency Kensuke Senta, Ms Nisha and the Chief Executive Officer of MESC, Aeau Christopher Hazelman, and their staff. They acknowledged this great assistance and the inclusion of their small school in the digital transformation journey, and they are committed to managing these resources with due diligence and attention to security. The delegation observed a demonstration of how devices, learning material and teacher training work together to enhance learning and teaching. A’eau Christopher Hazelman encouraged the students that these resources are valuable for them as the world advances into digital transformation, and they must make good use of them. “You students give us a purpose, and all these facilities and resources are for your educational pursuits so that you excel and achieve your dreams”, he added. As a teacher himself, he reminded the students that “one of the most important skills for learning is to listen, we are given two ears and one mouth, so listening is more powerful.” Excellency Keisuke Senta added to this by stressing the importance of critical thinking. He also stated the use of ICT in education will improve the “quality of education in many ways will open doors to a wealth of information, knowledge, educational resources, and training for capacity building of teachers in the use of new technologies.” This project has installed a Wi-Fi system to operate the tablets and other digital resources for online learning lessons. The tablets has a safety and security system ensuring that they remain within the school compound and cannot be used outside of the school. The schools Internet connectivity, tablet devices, networking equipment, projectors and laptops are worth over WST 1,375,000.00 (over USD 500,000) and the project has supported a range of trainings for different categories of users, including administrators, technical staff, teachers and students. The ICT in Education project builds on the resources created through the UN Samoa Knowledge Society Initiative implemented jointly by UNESCO and UNDP, under the UNESCO specific outputs, namely, Soifua A'oa'oina, MESC's Innovative Lifelong Learning Lab (MILLL) and professional development resources housed virtually and physically in the Soifua A'oa'oina. At the closing event, the students with disabilities who are also key beneficiaries received their tablet devices. The project is expected to significantly enhance the quality of education in Samoa and equip students and teachers with the necessary digital skills to excel in the digital age.

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23 March 2023

Water is Life: How the UN in Samoa is responding to the Triple Planetary Crisis

Water is life. No other definition captures quite so aptly what this essential element means for our lives, livelihoods and the natural environment.
Although it is considered both a renewable and a non-renewable resource, water is becoming scarce and is expected to reach a critical point by 2040. Out of the total volume of water present on earth, 97.5% is saline- coming from the seas and oceans, while only 2.5% is freshwater, of which only 0.3% is present in liquid form on the surface, including in rivers, lakes, swamps, reservoirs, creeks, and streams. Due to irresponsible usage, including pollution from agriculture and the construction of dams, liquid freshwater on the surface of the earth is rapidly diminishing. We are the only known planet to have consistent, stable bodies of liquid water on its surface, yet we are not doing enough to preserve and provide access to all people everywhere to this critical source of life. According to the 2021 UN Water report, in 2020, around 2 billion people (26% of the global population) lacked safely managed drinking water services and around 3.6 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation. Some 2.3 billion people live in countries facing water stress of whom 733 million are in high and critically water-scarce environments. Samoa's connected crises In Samoa and other Pacific Small Island Developing States, access to clean water represents a huge challenge. Although these islands enjoy abundant rainfall – 2 to 4 times the average global annual precipitation, poor waste management systems and lack of adequate infrastructure means that the availability of clean water is severely limited. Only 55 percent of people across the Pacific Islands have access to basic drinking water, and just 30 percent have sanitation services—the lowest rate in the world. According to a joint study by the National University of Samoa, the Ministry of Natural Resources and other partners, water sources tested contained a high concentration of minerals, toxic pesticides, microplastics and bacteria such as e-coli, which increases the rate of water-borne diseases and poses significant health risks. For our UN country team in Samoa, improving water quality is a central, cross-cutting priority which not only protects communities and helps prevent disease, but also feeds into our broader efforts to address the Triple Planetary Crisis of climate disruption, nature loss and pollution. The use of the Triple Planetary Crisis framework provides a valuable basis for the measurement of losses and damages which countries like Samoa experience due to climate change and pollution including deterioration of water ecosystem services. With this in mind, we have engaged extensively with communities and partners across Samoa over the past six months to develop the Vai O Le Ola (Water of Life) Report. Launched ahead of the UN Water Conference in New York (22-24 March), the report draws on insights from these consultations to set out a response to the Triple Planetary Crisis and propose integrated approaches of restoring the quality and resilience of Samoa’s water system.
An integrated path forward From rivers, mangrove swamps, lakes, wetlands, territorial waters, and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – water represents a major part of the environment system which supports the livelihoods for over 200,000 people in Samoa and also forms a significant part of Samoan cultural identity. Improving the quality of this critical source of life must begin with the integration of all relevant policies and strategies on climate change, ocean management, socio-economic development, waste management, and biodiversity conservation into one overarching framework. Targeted interventions including the Vai O Le Ola Trust Fund and Knowledge Crowdsourcing Platform, and programmes on Innovative Climate and Nature Financing, Social Entrepreneurship for Climate Resilience, Community Access to Clean Energy, Zero Plastic Waste, are central to the Triple Planetary Crisis Response Plan in Samoa and across the Pacific. Nature-based Watershed Management is another key initiative outlined in the Vai O Le Ola report which will support agro-forestry, reforestation and invasive species management, flood management and biodiversity conservation linked to water systems. On the legislative side as well, new opportunities to strengthen environmental protection and conservation are emerging. Last year, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing for the first-time access to a clean, safe, and sustainable environment including water as a fundamental human right. With the adoption of this resolution, global attention on the legal rights of ecosystems and natural resources has significantly increased. In 2022, Ecuador was the first country in the world to recognize and implement the “rights of nature” followed by Colombia which established legal personality for the Atrato River in recognition of the biocultural rights of indigenous communities. In Samoa, the National Human Rights Institution is already discussing how the right to a clean, safe and sustainable environment will be operationalized into law. As an ‘ocean state’, water is a defining feature of Samoa’s national wealth and people’s way of living – known as ‘Fa’a Samoa.’ To find long lasting solutions to water scarcity and pollution across Samoa and other Pacific Islands, we must therefore look not only towards science, technology and innovation, but also to the centuries of wisdom and experience of the communities who live here. We must recognize that for the people of Samoa, as Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa explains below, their waters are a source of life as well as a source of beauty. “A continuum of land and ocean deeply connected by culture and history defines our identity as islanders, voyagers, and people of the Pacific. For more than two millennia, our islands have been our home; our rivers and ocean; our pathways.”

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20 March 2023

The UN committs to strengthen its support to the development prorities of Tokelau.

Advancing impactful development support for Tokelau in the next five years remains a commitment for the United Nations Country Team serving the Cook Islands Niue Samoa and Tokelau based in Apia. The setbacks and achievements of the UN engagement and support for Tokelau in the last five years and development priorities of Tokelau for stronger and more meaningful collaborations with the UN in the future were discussed with the Tokelau Liaison Office. ‘The shortage of manpower to organize and deliver better results continues to be a challenge for the Government of Tokelau and it’s important to find a new way of working to ensure that Tokelau benefits well from the UN development support’, according to Ake Puka -Mauga of the Office of the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau. The Resident Coordinator Simona Marinescu who co-led the discussion with Tokelau also reminded the UN agencies to ensure that the joint UN development support for Tokelau is relevant with the most appropriate strategies, methodologies, and resources to deliver, considering also the lack of UN physical presence in Tokelau. This discussion premised on the development support for Tokelau in the next two years (2023-2024) as proposed under the Country Implementation Plan. The CIP is an integral component of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), as the planning tool that clearly informs the UN agencies of the development priorities of a country where its support, whether in financial resources or technical expertise adds value to. The overall vision within the UNSDCF 2023-2027 is to improve the lives of the people of the Pacific and the UN for the Pacific has organized its development support under four key pillars namely, People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace. Under the People pillar the UN envisions and aims to improve the lives of everyone through enabling access to quality essential services such as education and health; social protection services, sustainable food systems and nutrition. The Planet Pillar aims to build resilience to shocks and disasters, climate change impacts, to ensure that the natural ecosystems and biodiversity are better protected, at the same time, their traditional knowledge and cultural values are integrated and recognized across these efforts. The Prosperity Pillar brings together the work of the UN to ensure equal opportunities to decent jobs and livelihoods and the Peace Pillar focuses on human rights, gender equality and participation. The four Pillars are aligned to the national development pillars of Tokelau and it was important that the UN seeks the validation on the exact development areas for successful development collaborations. The Government of Tokelau endorsed the UNSDCF 2023-2027 in November, 2022. Tokelau consists of three small coral atolls Atafu, Fakaofo, and Nukunonu with a total population of approximately 1400. The coral atolls provide a sustainable subsistence lifestyle but within a fragile environment. Tokelau maintains strong social cohesion, active traditions and a strong communal culture, which places considerable emphasis on collective effort and reward. Tokelau currently has no air transportation, and the only means of transport is by sea from Samoa (the trip usually takes between 24 and 30 hours). All travel and supplies into and out of Tokelau originate and terminate in Samoa its closest neighbour.

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13 March 2023

No more long queues for SNPF members.

About 36729 members of the Samoa National Provident Fund will not stand in long queues to fill out and sign a form to access their funds. The newly launched Samoa National Provident Fund Mobile App is making it all easy. At the official launching event, the Minister of Finance Honorable Mulipola Anarosa Molioo reflected on internal changes that the SNPF underwent to ensure that the members are better served. “In May of 2019, the Samoa National Provident Fund successfully transitioned from its legacy AS400 platform to a modern Funds Management System. Prior to the transition, the Fund had several systems in house to cater for investment loans, contributions, and member loans.” “The new Funds Management system incorporated all the Fund’s core operations into one and allowed efficient management of funds. This milestone has immensely helped in improving staff productivity, online accessibility to its members and employers and overall effective use of modern technology.” In March 2022 when Samoa went into a nationwide lockdown, SNPF facilitated an additional function on the FMS that enabled members to access and apply not only for their small loans on the members portal but also for their special payments. Stemming from this online portal, the SNPF continued its digital transformation journey to develop its own SNPF Mobile application that will be available on all Android and Apple phones. The new mobile app allows members to access their NPF accounts, access services such as member loan top-ups, special payments, and contribution withdrawals, view updated information on NPF products available, and the ability to request an appointment either in our Upolu or Savaii Offices. The NZD156,000.00 mobile app project is a product of the SDG Joint Fund Joint Programme Strengthening Resilience of Pacific Islands states through Universal Social Protection Systems. The SNPF partnered with the UNDP, one of the UN implementing agencies of the project. Under this particular partnership, the focus was to strengthen the availability and accessibility of social protection services, information, programs, and benefits, also through the utilization of digital information management systems and mobile technology. About the Social Protection programme: The Social Protection project for the Cook Islands, Niue Samoa, and Tokelau is a joint programme to support the four countries in all efforts to alleviate poverty and inequality through social protection systems that benefit all families In 2019 the UN mobilised USD 3 million from the Joint SDG Fund to implement this programme in 2020. It contributes to Outcome 3 -Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Empowerment- and Outcome 4 -Basic Services- of the UN Pacific Strategy 2018 - 2022 and is aligned with Goal 1 -No Poverty- of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This programme is implemented by the UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNESCAP and ILO.

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Press Release

05 May 2023

IOM Samoa Launches Project to Strengthen Border Control and Response to Infectious Diseases in Pacific Island Countries

Apia – Pacific socio-economic recovery from COVID-19 will be strengthened through safe resumption of border management operations and enhanced seamless border management infrastructure technology, equipment, and improved capacity. As such, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched a project to improve border control capacity and response to infectious diseases in Pacific Island Countries. The Government of Japan has provided over USD 6.9 million to fund the project, which will see IOM working closely with the Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) and the Governments of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Peseta Noumea Simi, Chief Executive Officer, Samoa Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said “we are a partner, a country, not just a recipient” at the event launch. At the launch event, Ambassador of Japan to Samoa, Keisuke Senta, said “as the Pacific Immigration Development Community (PIDC) is located in Samoa, we are confident that Samoa will be a hub for this project. We firmly believe that the project will create opportunities for cooperation and exchange among border control authorities as well as to build a stronger sense of regional solidarity and resilience.” The project also marks the opening of the IOM Country Office in Samoa. IOM is pleased to open the Samoa Country office to better support the Government of Samoa as well as Pacific regional bodies based in Samoa. Across the Pacific region, IOM supports the countries to contribute towards enhanced resilience, governance, and sustainable development in the context of human mobility in the Blue Pacific. "IOM is committed to supporting Pacific Island Countries in strengthening their capacity to respond to infectious diseases and promote safe and orderly migration in the region. We sincerely thank the Government of Japan for providing the funding for this project and for their ongoing support to Pacific Island Countries.,” said Jacqueline Weekers, IOM Chief of Mission in Australia and coordinator to New Zealand and the Pacific. On behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, the UNDP Resident Representative, Jorn Sorensen, said “a positive probability of another pandemic dictates the need for a more proactive Pacific approach, not only to ensure mitigation of any future diseases, but also to dampen the potential negative economic fallout on the region”. Notably, the project also aligns with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Continent, which will contribute towards building a resilient Pacific Region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, that ensures all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy and productive lives. See also the IOM Pacific Strategy 2022 - 2026 and this video for more information. For more information, please contact Imogen Nicholls at IOM Australia Country Office with Coordinating Functions for the Pacific at inicholls@iom.int

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Press Release

01 May 2023

Effective partnerships strengthen Births Registration, and Civil Registration & Vital Statistics system in Samoa

Apia, Samoa – This is reflected in the launch this week of a new report – Strengthening the Birth Registration System in Samoa – which highlights birth registration as a fundamental right, a critical first step for the protection and development of children, yet it remains a challenge for Samoa. The Report is the result of effective partnerships between SBS, through its Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) Division, UNDP through its Accelerator Lab (AccLab), and relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, and actors involved in the birth registration process at the community level. “The Samoa Bureau of Statistics recognizes and acknowledges the need to strengthen the birth registration system in the country. As such, birth registration is part of a wider civil registration system that includes the free and universal recording of the occurrence and characteristics of key events – births, deaths, adoptions, marriages, and divorces – and other civil status events pertaining to the population,” said Leota Laki Lamositele Sio, Minister of Statistics. “In Samoa, every person has a right to a name that connects to the land and matai titles – their fa’asinomaga. The registration of birth protects and instills that right and identity, which enables entitlement to health, education, sports, employment opportunities and many other social and economic benefits. A child’s birth certificate is the primary identity to all social and economic entitlements.” The Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current situation, identifies gaps and opportunities, and proposes innovative and concrete recommendations like using collective intelligence, and leveraging technology and a whole-of-government collaboration across sectors to improve birth registration in Samoa. “Birth registration and related information are key in ensuring effective development planning which benefits all, especially in a country like Samoa, which remains increasingly vulnerable to disasters. We hope this Report will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, practitioners, and advocates working towards ensuring that every child in Samoa is registered and has access to their fundamental rights,” said Jorn Sorensen, UNDP Resident Representative. Based on the success of the initial partnership, SBS and UNDP are continuing to the second phase of this initiative, partnering with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), supported by the Government of New Zealand, to boost the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system in Samoa. “The right to identity is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Samoa ratified in 1994. However, recent estimates by UNDP and UNICEF put the current birth registration rate in Samoa between 60 to 66%, yet more than 99% of children are delivered by a skilled birth attendant, which is quite alarming. We believe that through our revitalized and concerted effort, we can do better,” said Dr. Annefrida Kisesa-Mkusa, UNICEF Chief, Pacific Samoa Field Office. Through participatory design approaches, the team will test and create a prototype of inclusive technologies in CRVS that have the potential to enhance public service delivery. They will also jointly work to revitalize a gender-responsive CRVS committee, co-facilitate policy dialogues and advocacy for open-source tools and open data to build responsive institutions, efficient public services and ensure citizen participation for inclusive development.

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Press Release

29 March 2023

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations supports Samoa to better plan, predict and respond to food system crisis.

As part of FAO’s and World Food Programme (WFP) joint project “5F Crisis” that monitors the rising cost of food, fuel, fertilizer, animal feed and certain finance statistics which aims to support participating governments in increasing their technical capacity to analyse, predict, plan and respond to the impacts of the global crisis of food, energy and finance on their national food systems.
FAO has developed the 5F Light Early Warning System (LEWS), which aids in this effort based on economic statistics such as the Consumer Price Index and key lead indicators such as the cost of fuel and animal feed and their impacts on food costs. The system helps countries better predict economic shocks, thus enabling more informed policy-making by governments in the region. FAO has trained representatives from the MAF Policy Division on the adoption of LEWS and handed over the matrix of indicators to ensure continuous monitoring of the 5Fs.
In addition, FAO also provided short-term physical assistance to MAF including laptops and tablets for monitoring the ongoing 5F crisis among MAF divisions, barbwire fencing for non-commercial cattle farmers, and vegetable seeds and local planting material for rural food security. These items will be distributed by MAF to communities at a later date.
FAO has provided similar training and physical support to the other nine participating countries in the region; Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. FAO will continue capacity-building efforts with national governments around the region as they take over key 5F monitoring infrastructure that FAO has created.
“One of the strongest influences on the cost of food is the cost of fuel. Through this LEWS training, governments around the region now have a better understanding of how, and how soon, global fuel prices affect local petrol prices, and how and when petrol prices affect the cost of food. Similar forecasts can be made with other indicators such as the cost of fertilizer and animal feed as well as trends in remittances. Taken as a whole, LEWS is an effective tool for more informed policy-making by national governments”, said FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Ms. Xiangjun Yao.

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Press Release

15 March 2023

WOMEN IN FISHERIES FORUM TAKES PLACE IN FIJI: WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BLUE ECONOMY HIGHLIGHTED

The Forum gathered more than 80 participants from relevant government agencies; civil society organizations, non-government and faith-based organizations; regional organizations, fisherwomen associations, academic institutions and other entities that play a relevant role in the discourse of gender and fisheries in Fiji. The event featured discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities aimed at identifying the needs and concerns of fisherwomen and advocating for their rights and continued empowerment. While opening the Forum, Mrs Atelaite Rokosuka, Acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry of Fiji, noted: “It is indeed timely that we convene and meet over the next two days. Such forums are crucial meetings to have because they give us all a chance to connect, stay informed, and talk about ways we can collaborate and support one another in the vital roles we each play in our communities and organizations.” The Forum seeks to enhance the current conversation by creating a continuous platform for exchange, learning, and sharing. Its primary goal is to provide fisherwomen and women fish workers with a voice to express their concerns and needs to policy makers and development partners. Moreover, the Forum aims to facilitate fisheries practitioners and researchers in learning from the target audience, which can help increase awareness and knowledge of gender issues in the fisheries domain. This, in turn, can advance gender debates in the fisheries sector and allow governments to fulfil their overarching commitment to promote gender equity and equality throughout the entire government. Lastly, the Forum seeks to strengthen collaborations among agencies operating in the fisheries and gender space, with a focus on increasing partnerships, interdisciplinary work, and an improved understanding of gender issues in the fisheries sector from different perspectives. Anne-Maree Schwarz, FAO SAP Gender Specialist stressed the importance of the Forum in promoting women's empowerment and gender equality in the fisheries sector: "Women play a crucial role in the blue economy and their contributions should be recognized, valued, and supported. The National Women in Fisheries Forum provides a platform to discuss the challenges that women fisherfolks face and to find solutions that promote their rights and well-being." The Forum discussed four main themes. The first theme "Joining Men at the Blue Economy Table – Let's Boost Equity for a Sustainable Future" highlighted the need to address gender disparities in the fisheries sector and to ensure women's fuller participation in the blue economy. The second theme "Valuing Fisher Women's Indigenous Knowledge and Resource Management Practices for Community and National Well-being" emphasized the need to recognize and promote the unique knowledge and practices of fisherwomen in managing and conserving marine resources. The third theme "Challenging Governance Structures – Let's Hear It from the Women Fishers and Fish Workers" focused on the importance of gender-responsive governance in fisheries and the need to involve fisherwomen and women fish workers in decision-making processes. The fourth theme "Pandemics, Disasters, and Shocks: Women Leading the Way with Resilience and Innovation" showcased women's resilience and innovation in coping with crises such as pandemics and natural disasters, and associated economic shocks. Unrecognized potential People across the Pacific Islands region rely heavily on various fisheries to provide nutrition, employment, and economic growth. Coastal fisheries contribute approximately 50 percent of the total fisheries contribution in the Pacific Islands region. With human populations increasing, achieving proper management and governance of coastal fisheries becomes critical, particularly with the impacts of decreasing production of fish due to climate change, natural disasters and economic incentives. Women and men are actively involved in subsistence and income-generating activities along the coastal fisheries value chain. Women traditionally confined their fishing activities to coastal areas, primarily harvesting (e.g., reef gleaning), seafood processing, and food preparation for home consumption. However, women are now increasingly participating in economic opportunities such as marketing or small businesses that involve the harvesting capture and sale of marine resources. Unfortunately, the role of women in fisheries is often unrecognized, undocumented, or poorly understood, leading to their overall poor engagement in fishing activities and decision-making processes in coastal fisheries management. "Empowering women in fisheries is not only a matter of gender equality but also a smart investment in sustainable development and food security for the whole community." – noted Mrs Xiangjun Yao, FAO Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands. Building on previous discussions The Forum’s discussion program was built on the outcomes of the second national Women in Fisheries Forum which was held in December 2018 under the theme “Rethinking Women in Fisheries Network –Fiji.” Among the challenges identified in 2018, were the lack of disaggregated data and absent data collection systems, poor collaboration between key agencies and the ever-existing lack of recognition of the vast contributions of Fijian women fishers, post-harvesters and market sellers for food, livelihoods and wellbeing. FAO’s contribution FAO’s participation was organized under the Strengthening Small Scale Fisheries in the Pacific (Canadapt 003) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by FAO, which aims to improve the resilience of coastal communities in Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The project, aligned with regional commitments and FAO's strategic objectives, focuses on improving the management and governance of coastal fisheries, with a specific emphasis on gender equity. Canadapt 003 activities are designed in partnership with national fisheries agencies in each country and fall under three project outcomes, with intermediate gender outcomes identified in the project's gender strategy. The project involves partnerships with various organizations and stakeholders to align activities with related small-scale fisheries projects and enhance gender-sensitive approaches. Contacts Maryia Kukharava International Communications Specialist FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific maryia.kukharava@fao.org

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Press Release

01 August 2022

Timely support given to honey production in Samoa.

Apia, Samoa – The recently formed Samoa Apiculture Organization (SAO), is the recipient of a financial grant of US$100,000 from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF-SGP). The grant will go towards improving the understanding and knowledge of apiculture, capacity development and training of local beekeepers to strengthen knowledge and skills in beekeeping to realize better beekeeping practices and greater production. This in turn will assist in improving the capacity of locally-trained and available expertise on-island to create a sustainable apiculture industry in Samoa. An inception workshop was held on Wednesday this week to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the organization and the UNDP GEF-SGP, making official the grant handover. “In light of the global pandemic and everything happening around the world currently, it is imperative that we continue to keep our eye on the environment and climate change. We need to continue to be vigilant in our quest for the protection of our natural heritage, especially in our vulnerable communities. Resilience is built when we build up those who are most at risk. This is where the SGP comes in, and why we are always excited about the work SGP does, working directly with local communities to promote actions and initiatives that benefit vulnerable populations and support efforts on sustainable development. This boost to the local apiculture industry is a great example of this,” said Jorn Sorensen, Resident Representative, UNDP Samoa. SAO currently has more than 40 financial members, with 57% of the membership being women, who are either farmers, growers, hobbyists, or commercial beekeepers. According to recently sourced data, Samoa has approximately 400 active hives. Previously, there had been no consistent beekeeping data collection that had been shared within the industry. Data collection for the apiculture industry is a priority area that SAO aims to address by implementing proper data collection and management systems for the organization and its membership. “I wish to acknowledge and thank the UNDP Resident Representative, Jorn Sorensen, the GEF SGP National Steering Committee Chair, Nynette Sass, and the National Coordinator, Lilomaiava Filifilia Iosefa, for giving SAO this opportunity. It is important for us to work diligently within our mandate of establishing, maintaining, and improving the apiculture and beekeeping industry in Samoa and we can only achieve this through these types of funding opportunities and building sustainable long-term partnerships and relationships with government and the community,” said Richard Wetzell, SAO President. Key stakeholder partnerships are a priority for SAO for the successful rolling out of the apiculture projects. Establishing partnerships with established commercial beekeepers and their apiaries is key for SAO, as well as the important partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries towards the establishment of a Community Apiculture Resource and Learning Centre for the future. Since its establishment in Samoa in 2003, SGP has supported environment-related programmes, delivering an estimated US$5.2 million dollars for 266 small grant projects on climate knowledge and advocacy, capacity building, financing, technology transfer, adaptation and mitigation.

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