Samoa is among 12 Pacific nations which could benefit from a partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

This partnership aims to improve health systems, waste management, and climate resilience in the Pacific Islands region.

USAID Pacific Islands Deputy Mission Director Betty Chung and KOICA Fiji Office Country Director Kapchae Ra signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on June 12 to strengthen the impact and increase the efficiency of USAID and KOICA’s programs in the Pacific Islands.

“Climate change is a top priority for the region - it is a serious existential threat directly impacting livelihoods,” said Ms. Chung at the signing ceremony in Suva.

“Through this partnership, USAID will work to strengthen our partnerships to increase the efficiency of our programs and achieve positive, measurable outcomes for the people of the Pacific Islands.”

“This MOU serves as a testament to our shared vision and commitment to fostering meaningful change,” said Mr. Kapchae Ra.

“By joining forces, we aim to enhance our collective capacity to address and identify key challenges for the South Pacific Region.”

This partnership supports the 2050 Strategy for a Blue Pacific Continent, which seeks to drive strong collective action to advance Pacific Island countries’ priorities, including climate change mitigation, environmental resource protection, people-centered development, digital connectivity, and gender inclusion.

This new partnership with KOICA follows USAID’s global memorandum of understanding with Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2022 to identify areas of collaboration to address shared global challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

In August, the United States will also open a regional USAID Pacific Islands office in Fiji to oversee programs in 12 Pacific Island countries.

The melting of glaciers and ice sheets also contributes to sea-level rise. Instruments mounted on satellites and tide gauges are used to measure sea level. Satellite data indicate the sea level has risen near Samoa by about 4 mm per year since 1993.

Within Samoa's islands, there is a diverse range of ecosystems that support endemic and highly endangered species. However, unsustainable development, invasive species and land clearance associated with commercial and subsistence agriculture all threaten to unsettle nature's longstanding balance in Samoa.