New Zealand
New Zealand Aid Programme
The International Development Group (IDG), a division within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, leads the New Zealand government’s official development assistance (ODA) response to humanitarian crises in developing countries, and is committed to the promotion and implementation of established international principles and good practice in humanitarian action. In line with GHD principles, the IDG advocates for increased predictability and flexibility in humanitarian funding; including reduced earmarked aid, early payment of pledged funds, and flexibility for re-programming unspent funds.
New Zealand provides core untagged funding to international humanitarian agencies and where a bilateral or regional programme is unable to respond to a crisis, the Complex Emergency & Transition Facility (CETF) and Natural Disaster Facility (NDF) are mechanisms to provide funds in support of humanitarian crises caused by conflict in developing countries outside the Pacific.
New Zealand’s commitment to the Pacific in terms of humanitarian assistance is equally strong, particularly in the area of supporting Pacific countries to be better prepared for and able to respond to natural disasters such as flooding, cyclones, tsunami and earthquakes. Once immediate needs have been assessed and identified, New Zealand assists by providing emergency funding to partner governments, multilateral agencies or NGOs; sending relief items or approving funding for their purchase; and providing technical assistance or support.
New Zealand is the current 2010/2011 Chair of the OCHA Donor Support Group (ODSG).
Links:
NZ Aid: www.aid.govt.nz