COVID-19 assistance

Samoa Agriculture Ministry implements PIRAS Grant Disbursements

The assistance is being disbursed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in partnership with the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the Australian Government to the selected organisations.

The PIRAS Facility aims to support Covid-19 food systems and economic recovery across villages by targeting women and youth actively working in the sector to improve sustainable food production and nutrition while also strengthening inclusive local chains.

ADB provides $20 million grant to help Samoa respond to COVID-19

The grant will help fund measures to upgrade Samoa’s health sector and support the government’s economic stimulus programme.

“As Samoa works to keep the disease from entering the country, ADB’s support will help to strengthen the health sector by funding the training of workers, upgrading facilities, and bolstering medical supplies,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa. “ADB’s assistance will also help support the livelihoods of the many people in Samoa affected by the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.”

Australia works with PIF to combat COVID-19 in the Pacific

This vital Forum initiative ensures the passage of humanitarian and medical supplies within the Pacific as we work together to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simon Kofe, Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers, welcomed the initiative and said: “Australia’s support will ensure that the Pacific Humanitarian Pathway will be able to deliver much needed humanitarian and medical supplies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through its actions, Australia is working to achieve values of familial ties and care for neighbour’s key throughout the Pacific.”

ADB provides $2.9 million assistance for Samoa's COVID-19 response

A state of emergency was declared in Samoa on 20 March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scale of the emergency is expected to be beyond the capacity of the government’s health sector to meet the immediate expenses needed for adequate public health services during the crisis. The Government of Samoa had already announced a 66.3 million tala ($23.78 million) stimulus program to cope with the economic impact of the pandemic.