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Policies and priorities

To deliver on its mission of supporting sustainable development, the New Zealand Aid Programme has several priority themes.
A more detailed version of the policy information on these pages is available in the New Zealand International Development Policy Statement (PDF 536KB).
The three year Strategic Plan, Development that Delivers (PDF 1.6mb), guides the focus of the New Zealand Aid Programme’s efforts and provides an improved framework for measuring results over the three year period 2012-2015. The New Zealand Aid Programme's Sector Priorities 2012-15 (PDF 2.93mb) is a companion to our Strategic Plan. Its purpose is to provide sector-specific guidance in the delivery of the Strategic Plan priorities and mission, which is to support sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable, and prosperous world.
Investing in economic development
Economic development is intrinsic to sustainable development. It helps provide the means for developing countries to meet their own development needs.
Promoting human development
The New Zealand Aid Programme invests in education and health in order to promote human development and support sustainable development.
Improving resilience and responding to disaster
Developing countries are often especially vulnerable to natural disasters. New Zealand plays a particularly important role in disaster preparation and response in the Pacific.
Building safe and secure communities
The New Zealand Aid Programme supports activities to break cycles of violence and poverty and to build safe and secure communities. 
Making aid effective
Internationally agreed principles of aid effectiveness guide New Zealand's development activities to ensure efficiency and accountability, and to make sure that aid reaches those who need it most.
International goals
New Zealand supports internationally-recognised global goals and targets, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to reduce poverty and improve lives around the world.