24 Aug 2012

Businesses invited to tend for overseas aid funding

11:01 pm on 24 August 2012

The Foreign Affairs Minister is inviting businesses to tender for millions of dollars of overseas development aid spending.

Murray McCully has announced a new contestable fund for New Zealand organisations carrying out development work offshore.

Mr McCully 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.

He says the New Zealand Partnerships for International Development Fund will make nearly $26 million 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.