Working together to end poverty and injustice

Samoa

Samoa lies half way between Hawaii and New Zealand.

Samoa's economy is highly dependent on agriculture and family remittances from Samoan workers employed overseas. It has a very young population though underemployment remains a critical issue.

Oxfam New Zealand in Samoa

Improving livelihoods

• Women in business
  Oxfam is working with Women in Business Development Incorporated (WIBDI), supporting a range of community-based projects in rural areas aimed at alleviating poverty, creating sustainable village economies and revitalising the agricultural sector.
• Planting the fetau tree
  The fetau tree not only offers protection from cyclones, tsunami and rising tides, but harvesting its oil could offer a new income stream for local communities.
• Trading coconuts
  Oxfam's enterprising partner WIBDI has already turned coconuts into a viable income for more than 200 rural families, enabling a break-through contract to supply virgin coconut oil to cosmetic giant The Body Shop.
• Voices from Samoa
  An income generation and microfinance project, aimed at improving livelihoods in local communities has been a life changing opportunity for many. Here's what Mano and Fagaote had to say ...
• Samoan sweetness
  A special partnership between Oxfam, Women in Business Development Inc. (WIBDI) and All Good Bananas is bringing Samoan Organic Dried Banana Chunks to New Zealand.

Emergency response

• Emergency response: Samoa Tsunami
  Oxfam's emergency team responded immediately to the devastating tsunami on September 29, 2009. We provided safe water and sanitation to devastated areas, and we continue to work with WIBDI to help to rebuild people’s livelihoods.

Our partner in Samoa

• Oxfam New Zealand works closely with WIBDI, a key partner in Samoa, supporting a variety of income generatnig opportunities. Discover more about the organisation that is bringing about real difference to people's lives.

Country profile

A former German protectorate until 1914, Samoa was then governed by New Zealand until its citizens voted for independence in 1962 – the first country in the Pacific to do so.

• Read more in the Samoa country profile

Oxfam Unwrapped in Samoa

By buying a gift from Oxfam Unwrapped you can help support our work in Samoa. Take a look at Oxfam Unwrapped's gifts with a difference and help lift people out of poverty, for good.