Every year, the New Zealand High Commission in Samoa supports a range of local projects that
contribute to wider community well-being and development, through the High Commission Fund.
Recipients are selected according to priorities set by the High Commissioner and the in-country High
Commission Fund administration team, and must be in line with the New Zealand Aid Programme’s
mission of ‘sustainable development in developing countries, in order to reduce poverty and
contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world.’
In Financial Year 2019/2020, eight schools, eight community groups and organisations, and two
women’s committees from across Samoa were awarded support from the High Commission Fund.
“The quality of projects and applicants to the High Commission Fund continues to reflect the
significant role of the community in delivering grass-roots initiatives, here, in Samoa,” said
New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, HE Dr Trevor Matheson.
“This is even more important now as Samoa, like the rest of the world, faces — and responds to —
the challenges Covid-19 is presenting to our health services, economy, social systems, and broader
way of life.”
From providing funding to help Goshen Trust and the Samoa Victim Support Group care for the most
vulnerable among us, to the purchase of sewing machines for Women’s Committees and new
resources, educational material and fences for a number of schools, the High Commission Fund
enables New Zealand to contribute to and strengthen work taking place at the heart of community.
“We’ve seen such brilliant effort and commitment from all who have benefited from High
Commission Fund support here, during the last 12 months,” Dr Matheson said.
“We really want to keep this community momentum going and given the current State of Emergency
in Samoa, and the global pandemic situation, we are inviting applications targeted specifically at
health and economic empowerment initiatives when Round One of the 2020/2021 High Commission
Fund opens on Monday 14 September.”
For media enquiries, please contact:
Sonya Peters, New Zealand High Commission in Samoa
+685 771 9781 | sonya.peters@mfat.govt.nz
