The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are proud to announce and launch the successful approval of a USD $2 million grant under the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) Producer Organization-led Window.
This milestone marks Samoa as the first Pacific Island country to benefit from this financing mechanism, demonstrating the nation’s leadership in driving inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems transformation in the region.
The four-year initiative is titled “Improved Food Security, Nutrition, and Livelihoods through Improved Agro-ecosystems.”
It was developed through a collaborative effort between the Ministry, FAO, and local producer organizations.
FAO will serve as the Supervising Entity for the project, providing technical oversight and support throughout implementation, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will Chair the Project Steering Committee to ensure national ownership and alignment with Samoa’s development priorities.
The project aims to strengthen local food systems by improving the productivity, resilience, and market access of four priority value chains: poultry, cocoa, seaweed, and honey. Three Samoan producer organizations will lead implementation at the grassroots level:
Samoa Federated Farmers Inc (SFFI) will spearhead efforts to scale up poultry production and enhance cocoa processing;
Samoa Women’s Association of Growers (SWAG) will launch an innovative seaweed-based fertilizer initiative.
Samoa Apiculture Organization (SAO) will strengthen the apiculture sector to improve honey production and pollination services.
“This is another significant step forward for Samoa’s agricultural development,” said Hon. Niuava Eti Leatiogie Malolo Funefeai, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
“The project not only reflects our national commitment to food and nutrition security but also highlights the crucial role of farmer organizations in building resilient and inclusive value chains that benefit our rural communities.”
FAO’s Subregional Coordinator for the Pacific Islands, Mr. Guangzhou Qu, also welcomed the announcement, stating, “FAO is pleased to support this important initiative and commends Samoa’s leadership. By centering local producer organizations and promoting agro-ecosystem approaches, this project offers a model that can be scaled across the Pacific region.”
GAFSP is a multilateral financing platform that provides resources to support agricultural development in low-income countries. While the majority of its investments are government-led, the Producer Organization-led Window offers direct support to farmer organizations to enhance productivity and rural livelihoods.
Samoa’s successful proposal stands as a testament to the capacity and commitment of Pacific Island stakeholders to lead transformative change in the agriculture sector.
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