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Aotearoa New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Development Cooperation Division

Draft NZAID policy framework

cited: 24 march 2002 At: http://www.mfat.govt.nz/nzoda/nzaiddrafts/policyframework.html

Vision: NZODA seeks to be a trusted development partner in working for a safe and just world free of poverty. Mission: To work with our partners to eliminate poverty through sustainable and equitable development. Focus: The elimination of absolute poverty, poverty of opportunity and vulnerability to poverty.

What is NZODA ?

New Zealand Official Development Assistance (NZODA) is the programme through which the Government provides overseas aid. It supports New Zealand's special relationships with the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. It is managed by the SAB ( Semi-Automous Body within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade - MFAT) located within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. NZODA is one of New Zealand's major contributions to building a better world. It reflects the nation's desire to be a good international citizen. NZODA focuses on poverty elimination and helping those most in need to achieve sustainable and equitable development. It aims to improve the quality of life of women and men by protecting and promoting their human rights and extending the choices available to them. The NZODA programme is consistent with New Zealand's foreign, trade and security policies by fostering a peaceful and stable environment in our Pacific neighbourhood and beyond.

The NZODA Strategy Framework

This Strategy Framework is supported by more detailed strategy and policy documents prepared by the SAB, including an annual Business Plan and regional, country and sectoral strategies.(1) The Framework will be reviewed and updated periodically.

Core Business

The core business of the SAB is to:

forge and maintain strong and effective relationships with developing country partners, other official and unofficial aid donors, development agencies and regional and multilateral organisations, and the New Zealand community provide high quality policy advice and advocacy on effective ways to eliminate poverty through sustainable and equitable development in developing countries, especially in the Pacific; and, design and manage effective development assistance programmes and projects and disburse official aid monies transparently and accountably.

Poverty Elimination Focus

Poverty elimination is the central focus of NZODA's work. There are various types of poverty

Absolute poverty an inability to meet basic needs, frequently intergenerational; Poverty of opportunity where opportunities to participate in economic, social, civil and political life are seriously limited; Vulnerability to poverty where individuals, communities and countries are particularly vulnerable to circumstances likely to damage their: livelihoods ability to meet basic needs; and, ability to participate actively in economic, social, civil and political life.

The focus on poverty elimination guides the allocation of NZODA resources and the way in which assistance is delivered. NZODA will draw on poverty analyses in the preparation of country strategies and to underpin engagement with regional and multilateral agencies.

NZODA works to achieve poverty elimination by:

improving the well-being and expanding the opportunities of individuals experiencing poverty; enhancing the ability of partner countries at government and community level to sustain and expand opportunities for their people; working with the international community to minimise partners' vulnerability to poverty.

NZODA provides development assistance where experience has shown that a useful contribution can be made to poverty elimination.

Human rights, gender equity and environmental principles are integrated into all aspects of its work.

Good results come from keeping a tight focus. A small range of project areas tailored to priority needs is selected in co-operation with community and country partners.

NZODA supports activities that contribute most effectively to poverty elimination (2). This happens at many levels - from the development of international, regional and national policy frameworks to working with communities at the grass roots. NZODA recognises that effective aid can be direct and indirect. Direct assistance aims to provide help to communities and individuals to meet their basic needs. Indirect assistance aims to create and sustain environments conducive to meeting these basic needs. NZODA seeks to ensure that there are mutual reinforcement and coherence between activities supported at these different levels.

NZODA fosters:

sustainable livelihoods; sustainable resource management; human rights, including gender equity; safe, healthy and inclusive societies; good governance; peace and stability.

Operating Principles

NZODA seeks to be a trusted partner in development. Five key operating principles inform the way it conducts its core business.

Sustainability and equity

NZODA is committed to achieving sustainable and equitable development benefits for women and men, girls and boys in the social, economic and environmental areas.

Protecting and Promoting Human Rights

NZODA is committed to protecting and promoting fundamental human rights - civil, political, economic, social and cultural - as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the core international human rights treaties.

Partnerships

NZODA recognises that sustainable development is achieved only through effective partnerships between donors and recipients based on openness, respect and mutual accountability.

Participation

NZODA recognises the rights of people to participate in decision-making and other processes which affect their lives. It is committed to greater participation of all people, especially marginalised and disadvantaged groups, in the planning and implementation of development assistance.

Co-ordination

NZODA believes that donors must co-ordinate their development assistance in ways which allow developing nations to own, control and achieve their development goals.

Values

The SAB is committed to excellence and effectiveness in development policy and management. It:

places people at the heart of its activities; acts fairly and with respect towards all partners; focuses on partnerships; promotes empowerment of people; responds to people and communities in developing countries; facilitates participation and informed decision-making at all levels; is practical, flexible and adaptable; is inclusive

NZODA is committed to embodying the partnership principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. It draws on and reflects the diversity of New Zealand society.

Assessment Frameworks

The NZODA budget is allocated through various means, including:

bilateral programmes with country partners; contestable funds managed on a regional and/or global basis; scholarship programmes the provision of core contributions and grant funds to multilateral and regional agencies; and, discretionary funds managed by New Zealand Embassies and High Commissions.

NZODA uses assessment frameworks to develop strategic programme priorities and to help choose when, where and how to help. These include the Assessment Framework (AF), the Bilateral Assessment Framework (BAF) and the Multilateral and Regional Agency Assessment Framework (MARAAF). These assess:

relative poverty and need; the regional, national and community context of the partner; the likely impact and effectiveness of aid; human rights impact; gender impacts; environmental impact; any special contribution that NZODA can make; consistency with international development best practice and the relevant policies of partners, as well as with New Zealand's interests and policies; and, the funding and delivery mechanisms which best meet the needs of partners.

Strategies

Regional and Country Strategies

NZODA works primarily, but not exclusively, with the developing countries of the Pacific. Priorities for assistance are based on regional and country strategies developed in conjunction with partners. These strategies periodically examine - at approximately four to five-yearly intervals in the case of country strategies - the rationale for NZODA programmes. They make recommendations on strategic directions, sectoral or other foci, the level of NZODA and partner commitment, delivery mechanisms and administrative support.

Multilateral Strategies

Multilateral and regional agencies are important for the expertise that they bring to bear on development issues. NZODA works with multilateral and regional agencies to help shape the direction of the global development effort through new strategies and approaches. NZODA contributions to these agencies complement the NZODA programme by adding to its geographical and sectoral coverage. In the event of a humanitarian emergency or natural disaster NZODA is likely to work with specialised agencies which have the most appropriate expertise and mechanisms and relationships to provide immediate targeted assistance to those in greatest need.

Sectoral Strategies

NZODA prioritises sectors - such as education, the environment, gender, governance, and human rights - in which it can make significant development contributions that meet partner needs. Sector choices are also informed by lessons learned from international experience. Special attention is paid to sectors where New Zealand has a comparative strength.

Public Outreach and Engagement Strategy

NZODA is committed to increasing public awareness and understanding of development through working with Maori and Pacific communities and a wide range of organisations, groups and communities. NZODA is committed to involving the public in New Zealand's overseas aid efforts.

Quality Assurance Strategy

NZODA measures the effectiveness of its aid activities by means of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) through its Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (MES).

M&E is the ongoing and systematic collection, analysis and use of information on the progress and impacts of NZODA activities, projects and programmes. It involves the primary beneficiaries of programmes in the collection and analysis of data. It aims to improve learning, decision-making and management to ensure that objectives are achieved.

The MES is NZODA's principal quality assurance mechanism. It monitors the application of the Policy Framework and the contribution of NZODA to eliminating poverty and achieving sustainability. It assesses the outcomes and impact of NZODA activities. It directly influences the management of current development activities and shapes future NZODA policy and activities. NZODA programmes and projects incorporate appropriate M&E mechanisms.

Millennium Development Goals and International Development Targets

NZODA is committed to working with partners and the international community to achieve the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the International Development Targets (IDTs). These help focus and prioritise national and international aid efforts.

The MDGs build on the IDTs which were agreed by world governments at United Nations conferences in the 1990s. They include targets for economic well being, human development, and environmental sustainability, as well as qualitative elements of accountability, human rights and the rule of law. The targets include halving the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015 (3).

Millennium Development Goals Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Organisational Capability

The SAB will maintain and enhance the following policy, staff and systems capabilities in order to increase the effectiveness of NZODA:

development focus

through a commitment to excellence in aid policy, particularly in knowledge of poverty and poverty elimination, management and delivery and activities; and through a development ethos that bring it national and international respect;

experienced and motivated staff

through valuing and promoting diversity among staff including seconded and locally engaged staff at Post; through fostering learning at the group and individual level; through encouraging enterprise, versatility and flexibility; and through enhancing development and career opportunities for staff;

effective systems

through monitoring, review and evaluation systems that ensure that lessons learned from NZODA activities and wider international development trends are incorporated into NZODA policies and practices; and through maintaining a high quality management system, IT resource and data management capability.

NZODA will invest in a comprehensive staff development strategy that:

enhances professional development through an on-going programme of developmentally-focused staff skills-building, education and training; enhances career paths for staff; increases diversity by encouraging representation on its staff of Maori, Pacific and Asian peoples; promotes and facilitates secondments and exchanges with other relevant agencies and civil society in New Zealand and overseas; helps to build capacity in counterpart agencies of partners through inward secondments and other staff development opportunities; and,

NZODA will ensure that its policies contribute to the achievement of New Zealand's general external policy objectives through:

close and on-going policy coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other appropriate agencies; reflecting the best international development trends in on-going policy formulation; actively participating in international aid policy development and advocacy.

Annex 1: The Millennium Development Goals and International Development Targets

Millennium Development Goals Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Target 1: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day. Target 2: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. Achieve universal primary education Target 3: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary education. Promote gender equality and empower women Target 4: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005 and at all levels of education no later than 2015. Reduce child mortality Target 5: Reduce by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015 the under-five mortality rate. Improve maternal health Target 6: Reduce by three-quarters between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality rate. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Target 7: Have halted by 2015, and begun to reverse, the spread of HIV/AIDS. Target 8: Have halted by 2015, and begun to reverse, the incidence of malaria and other major diseases. Ensure environmental sustainability Target 9: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources. Target 10: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water. Target 11: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers. Develop a Global Partnership for Development Target 12: Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system. Includes a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction - both nationally and internationally. Target 13: Address the Special Needs of the Least Developed Countries. Includes tariff and quota free access for LDC exports, enhanced programme of debt relief for HIPC and cancellation of official bilateral debt, and more generous ODA for countries committed to poverty reduction. Target 14: Address the Special Needs of landlocked countries and small island developing states. (through Barbados programme and 22nd General Assembly provisions) Target 15: Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable long term Target 16: In cooperation with developing countries develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth Target 17: In cooperation with pharmaceutical countries provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries. Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications.

I

International Development Targets a reduction by one half in the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015

universal primary education in all countries by 2015

demonstrated progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women by eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005

a reduction in two-thirds in the mortality rates for infants and children under age 5 and a reduction by three fourths in maternal mortality - all by 2015

access through the primary healthcare system to reproductive health services for all individuals of appropriate ages as soon as possible, and no later than the year 2015

the implementation of national strategies for sustainable development in all countries by 2005, so as to ensure that the current trends in the loss of environmental resources are effectively reversed at both global and national levels by 2015

to reduce the number of undernourished people to half their present level by 2015

Annex 2: Examples of effective past NZODA project areas

Access To Livelihoods

contributing to maximum self-reliance at national and community levels through emphasis on the needs of the most vulnerable;

Agriculture

creating an enabling environment promoting sustainable livelihoods for smallholders through a focus on sustainable farming systems land issues, and bio-security.

Biodiversity Conservation

assisting partners to meet their priority biodiversity conservation needs, particularly as identified in national strategies, and most notably National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans prepared under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Pacific region assistance coordinated within the regional and international key actions of the Action Strategy for Nature Conservation in the Pacific Region;

Capacity Building

helping to ensure that skilled and capable people are available to ensure the effective functioning of government and civil society through human resource and organisational development;

Civil Society

strengthening the ability of civil society to contribute actively to addressing key issues of development, governance, human rights and vulnerability through working with and through NGOs and others to strengthen citizens' capacities in areas ranging from management expertise to policy and advocacy skills;

Community-Based Development

assisting communities to realise self-sustained development based on partnership and participation;

Community Safety

improving the safety and well-being of individuals and communities through addressing domestic violence and strengthening the resourcing of police and the communities they serve;

Digital Opportunities

increasing opportunities for communities and individuals to share and increase knowledge and understanding through using modern communications technology for the development of Pacific networks of distance education, distance medicine, environmental protection and management;

Education

supporting life-long learning through curriculum and resource development and provision, teacher training, institutional strengthening, English language training, technical and vocational training, scholarships and awards tenable in New Zealand and overseas and resource and facility provision.

Economic Policy

increasing social and economic opportunities by encouraging the development of private sector income-generating activities through the removal of barriers to participation and economic achievement, especially for the poor and vulnerable;

Eco-Tourism And Tourism

increasing economic opportunities and sustainability through developing new options particularly for rural, community-based ventures through both direst assistance to communities with a focus on sustainable livelihoods, and indirectly by facilitating the creation of an enabling environment;

Emergency Response

responding to vulnerabilities to natural and man-made emergencies through the provision of timely and effective humanitarian assistance;

Environment

assisting partners to meet national priorities, and international responsibilities for environmental management, and in the mainstreaming of sustainable environmental management practice into social and, economic development planning mechanisms;

Fisheries

supporting sustainable resource planning and management; facilitating industry development based on creating an enabling environment with a focus on sustainable livelihoods;

Food Security

mitigating food insecurity through identifying vulnerable groups and conditions linked to poverty and conflict and through linking health policies and practices, particularly nutrition, to agricultural policies and practice;

Gender And Development

improving the lives of women and men, girls and boys so that they can participate in and benefit fully and equitably from development;

Governance

improving governance through capacity building aimed at strengthening the civil and public sectors;

Health

improving health through preventing disease, promoting good health, and improving the health outcomes for women, men, girls and boys and acknowledging ill-health as both a cause and consequence of poverty;

Human Rights

developing understanding of, and ensuring respect for, internationally accepted human rights contributing to the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural, political and civil rights for all peoples;

Human Security

addressing vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters by helping partner governments to identify and address vulnerabilities, to mitigate risks, and to prevent and respond to humanitarian disasters;

Integrated Rural Development

improving rural and outer island living standards and sustainability through developing community level infrastructure, governance systems, resource management capacity and livelihood opportunities within an integrated programme driven by authentic community needs;

Sustainable Livelihoods

improving living standards and sustainability by creating enabling environments for the development of local small businesses

Sustainable Resource Use

assisting sustained development and the long-term management of natural resources through local and national initiatives to integrate environmental conservation, cultural and heritage protection, economic benefit and institutional capacity to deliver;

Youth

expanding the opportunities and improving the choices for young women and men so that they can play a productive role in social and economic activities.

Footnotes

1 Current policy documents may be accessed on the SAB website at www.sab@mfat.govt.nz 2 Some examples of areas of activities which NZODA has found most effective in the past are contained in Annex B 3 See Annex 1 for the detailed MDGs and IDTs.

ENDS

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