Samoa and Australia have signed a $US15 million agreement for the Samoa Fiscal Resilience Programme and the Covid-19 Support Package Assistance.
The Samoa Observer reported that the agreement was signed in a virtual ceremony by Samoa's Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o and the Australian High Commisioner in Samoa, Emily Luck.
The funding is intended to support Samoa's Covid response and recovery. The funding was made available through the Australian Government's development program and the Pacific Covid-19 Response Package.
the Australian High Commisioner in Samoa, Emily Luck and Samoa's Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o Photo: Samoa Observer
In a joint statement Luck said that Australia has worked and will continue to work alongside the Samoan Government to identify the short-term and longer-term priority needs the funding can address.
"Together we are working to respond to Covid-19 while also positioning Samoa, and the region, for a strong economic recovery," said Luck.
Mulipola said the funding partnership will allow Samoan society to adapt and come back clean, green and developed. The goal is sustainable growth with people and communities at the centre.
"The $US15 million grant will help the Government's efforts towards health preparedness as part of its Covid-19 response as well as incentivise financial and economic policy reforms to support growth and recovery; and building resilience particularly of our vulnerable population," the Minister said.
Mulipola said the general budget support will contribute significantly to the operational costs of the country's Covid response strategy.
"Part of the funding will go towards the funding of vulnerability and economic focused grants to NGO and civil society organisations already earmarked by the Government and included in its current budget."
She acknowledged Australia's contribution and its continuous support to the sustainable development of Samoa since diplomatic relations were established 50 years ago.