New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is inviting private businesses to tender for millions of dollars of overseas development aid spending.
He has announced the establishment of a new contestable fund for New Zealand organisations carrying out development work off-shore.
He says the government wants to fund projects that will make the biggest difference to the lives of people in developing countries, particularly in the Pacific.
Mr McCully says the New Zealand Partnerships for International Development Fund will make nearly 21 million US dollars available each year for New Zealand agencies across all sectors - non government organisations, state and private.
He says this will open up opportunities to engage the diverse expertise and skills of the private sector, particularly in achieving economic development outcomes.