Samoa

The Context

Samoa, like other Pacific Islands, shares similar challenges and opportunities as a small and remote island economy. They are small in size with limited natural resources, narrow-based economies, large distances to major markets, and vulnerability to exogenous shocks – all of which can affect growth and have often led to a high degree of economic volatility.

These are also some of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the effects of climate change and natural disasters. Eight Pacific Island countries are among the 20 countries in the world with the highest average annual disaster losses, scaled by gross domestic product.

Samoa has one of the most stable and healthy economies in the Pacific region. The country is in the lower-middle-income category and has made impressive progress in social development.

Although extreme poverty does not exist in Samoa, many rural communities suffer from poverty of opportunity and unequal distribution of benefits as compared to urban areas. About 20 per cent of Samoans live below the national poverty line.

The Strategy

In Samoa, IFAD loans enable the rural poor to overcome poverty and hardship by enhancing livelihood opportunities and by reducing vulnerability.

Our strategy promotes and supports interventions based on the principles of community ownership, self-reliance and sustainability. Specific development outcomes relate to strengthening the capacity of the rural poor and their organizations, improving equitable access to productive natural resources and technology and increasing access to financial services and markets.

Activities target women and young people and are particularly directed toward outer islands and remote rural areas, where rural people are most disadvantaged. IFAD is also helping governments and other partners design investments that provide results and evidence which decision makers can use to scale up the most effective programmes.

Key objectives include:

• providing more of its own financial resources for joint investment partnerships
• attracting new partners and additional financing to agriculture and rural development
• providing beneficiaries with greater access to technology and knowledge from our partners in other regions
• facilitating dialogue and joint initiatives in the agricultural sector