New Zealand Agency for International Development
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) is the New Zealand
Government's international aid and development
agency. NZAID is a semi-autonomous body within the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(MFAT). Its Māori
name is Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti – the paddles that bring growth from afar. Its Executive Director is Dr Peter Adams, and is responsible directly to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully
.
with the launching of a new overseas aid policy, "Towards a Safe and Just World Free of Poverty". The establishment of NZAID as a semi-autonomous body marked a significant shift in the management of New Zealand official development assistance (ODA). Prior to 2002, ODA had been managed by MFAT using largely non-specialist staff, policies and procedures.
A Ministerial Review in 2001 found that New Zealand's management of ODA lacked a clear mission: "Management and staff are pursuing poorly defined
development assistance, foreign policy and trade objectives. There is a serious confusion of purpose. At the implementing end, desk officers are uncertain and concerned about the core mission of their work." The 2001 Review found that NZ ODA lacked focus; poverty analyses on which to base decisions; systematic analysis of past performance; and systematic use of good practice in aid design and delivery. The rotational staffing system (whereby career MFAT staff were rotated through the aid management division, rather than recruited specifically for skills and experience in ODA issues) had led to the relevant area of MFAT being regarded as "both a training ground for diplomats and a dumping ground for non-performers". Basic issues of staff and document management were found wanting. The establishment of NZAID was a response to these and other problems.
The Cabinet Minute (01) 28/8 which mandated the creation of NZAID "set the following major directions for New Zealand's ODA:
NZAID makes extensive use of consultation processes, teams and committees that work across these five Groups. The top decision-making body is the Aid Management Committee. Other key groups include an Evaluation and Research Committee.
, particularly of Polynesia
. Over 50% of NZ aid goes to the Pacific.
and Audit New Zealand released critical reports on NZAID procedures and systems, leading to negative comments in New Zealand Parliament and critical media coverage. NZAID has responded with a programme to "strengthen internal systems and processes".
NGOs in New Zealand have defended the performance of NZAID. The most significant NGO criticism of the New Zealand aid programme is that it should be larger.
The New Zealand National Party
have claimed that overseas aid needs "fresh thinking" and that "Over many years and various Governments, New Zealand
aid has encouraged the growth of political structures and bureaucracy that are not sustainable." and that "there is no evidence that the major problems identified in the 2005 report by Professor Marilyn Waring have been rectified."
Trevor Loudon, a member of the free market liberal ACT Party, has criticised NZAID as an organisation, and individuals within it, for having a "socialist bent" and funding organisations that are "more political than aid oriented". However, there has been noticeably less criticism of this sort in New Zealand than in Australia.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Government's international aid and development
Development aid
Development aid or development cooperation is aid given by governments and other agencies to support the economic, environmental, social and political development of developing countries.It is distinguished...
agency. NZAID is a semi-autonomous body within the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the New Zealand Government ministry responsible for promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and international relations....
(MFAT). Its Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name is Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti – the paddles that bring growth from afar. Its Executive Director is Dr Peter Adams, and is responsible directly to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Murray McCully
Murray McCully
Murray Stuart McCully is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Sport and Recreation, and Minister for the Rugby World Cup.-Early life:...
.
History
NZAID was established in 2002 by the Fifth Labour GovernmentFifth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand between 10 December 1999 and 19 November 2008.-Overview:The fourth National government, in power since 1990, was widely unpopular by 1999, with much of the public antagonised by a series of free-market economic reforms,...
with the launching of a new overseas aid policy, "Towards a Safe and Just World Free of Poverty". The establishment of NZAID as a semi-autonomous body marked a significant shift in the management of New Zealand official development assistance (ODA). Prior to 2002, ODA had been managed by MFAT using largely non-specialist staff, policies and procedures.
A Ministerial Review in 2001 found that New Zealand's management of ODA lacked a clear mission: "Management and staff are pursuing poorly defined
development assistance, foreign policy and trade objectives. There is a serious confusion of purpose. At the implementing end, desk officers are uncertain and concerned about the core mission of their work." The 2001 Review found that NZ ODA lacked focus; poverty analyses on which to base decisions; systematic analysis of past performance; and systematic use of good practice in aid design and delivery. The rotational staffing system (whereby career MFAT staff were rotated through the aid management division, rather than recruited specifically for skills and experience in ODA issues) had led to the relevant area of MFAT being regarded as "both a training ground for diplomats and a dumping ground for non-performers". Basic issues of staff and document management were found wanting. The establishment of NZAID was a response to these and other problems.
The Cabinet Minute (01) 28/8 which mandated the creation of NZAID "set the following major directions for New Zealand's ODA:
- Elimination of poverty as the central focus of NZAID, which would need to be incorporated in a new policy framework.
- Integration of the International Development Targets (IDTs) – subsequently incorporated into the Millennium Development GoalsMillennium Development GoalsThe Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
(MDGs) – within the new policy framework, and in Pacific regional strategy papers. - A complete overhaul of the NZODA policy framework that would need to be strategic, accountable and focused, based on international best practice in ODA.
- Bilateral programmes to be based on country-based poverty analysis and country programme strategies.
- A core focus on the Pacific should be maintained.
- Development Assistance to the Cook IslandsCook IslandsThe Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand...
, NiueNiueNiue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
and TokelauTokelauTokelau is a territory of New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean that consists of three tropical coral atolls with a combined land area of 10 km2 and a population of approximately 1,400...
should remain within the NZODA programme. - A bilateral assessment framework should consider the degree to which the ODA programme was too dispersed, and a strategic approach to funding multilateral allocations should be adopted.
- A new education strategy should be developed that would give greater prominence to basic education needs and individual country circumstances.
- NZODA should mainstream human rights, gender and environment throughout its operations.
- A framework should be developed for determining the level of contributions to regional and multilateral institutions.
- Monitoring and evaluation systems to measure the impact of New Zealand ODA should be established.
- NZODA should develop 'centres of excellence' in aid delivery."
Structure
NZAID consists of five organisational groups:- Executive Director's Group (EDG)
- Management Services Group (MSG)
- Strategic, Advisory and Evaluation Group (SAEG)
- Pacific Group (PAC)
- Global Group (GLO)
NZAID makes extensive use of consultation processes, teams and committees that work across these five Groups. The top decision-making body is the Aid Management Committee. Other key groups include an Evaluation and Research Committee.
Development Approach
The New Zealand government policies on aid (on issues such as human rights, gender, education, etc.) are available on the NZAID website, as are NZAID's country and regional programme strategies. NZAID's website says that from 2008, evaluations and reviews will be published in summary form.Area of operation
NZAID's main area of focus are the Pacific Island countriesOceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, particularly of Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
. Over 50% of NZ aid goes to the Pacific.
Controversy and criticism
In 2008, the Office of the Controller and Auditor-GeneralOffice of the Controller and Auditor-General
The Controller and Auditor-General is an Officer of the Parliament of New Zealand responsible for auditing public bodies. The Controller and Auditor-General is Lyn Provost. The Deputy Controller and Auditor-General is Phillippa Smith. Their mandate and responsibilities are set out in the Public...
and Audit New Zealand released critical reports on NZAID procedures and systems, leading to negative comments in New Zealand Parliament and critical media coverage. NZAID has responded with a programme to "strengthen internal systems and processes".
NGOs in New Zealand have defended the performance of NZAID. The most significant NGO criticism of the New Zealand aid programme is that it should be larger.
The New Zealand National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
have claimed that overseas aid needs "fresh thinking" and that "Over many years and various Governments, New Zealand
aid has encouraged the growth of political structures and bureaucracy that are not sustainable." and that "there is no evidence that the major problems identified in the 2005 report by Professor Marilyn Waring have been rectified."
Trevor Loudon, a member of the free market liberal ACT Party, has criticised NZAID as an organisation, and individuals within it, for having a "socialist bent" and funding organisations that are "more political than aid oriented". However, there has been noticeably less criticism of this sort in New Zealand than in Australia.
See also
- New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeNew Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeThe New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the New Zealand Government ministry responsible for promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and international relations....
- Aotearoa New Zealand Development Studies NetworkAotearoa New Zealand Development Studies NetworkThe Aotearoa New Zealand Development Studies network came about to link together New Zealand's 'development community' to foster dialogue and information sharing. In 1993, Massey University organised the 'Development that Works: Lessons from the Asia Pacific' conference...
External links
- NZAID's website
- 2001 Ministerial Review of NZ ODA
- Select Committee Inquiry into New Zealand's relationships with South Pacific countries 10 December 2010
- NZAID Five Year Strategy Part A
- NZAID Five Year Strategy Part B
- OECD 2005 Peer Review of New Zealand's ODA program
- NZAID's blog
- NZAID's Flickrstream