The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF), a governmental body, provides the policies, regulation and technical support to agriculture and fisheries production in Samoa. With a wide network of stakeholders, including subsistence and commercials farmers, importers and exporters, NGOs and industry service providers, MAF is a busy organisation and key to implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in Samoa. VSA has been working in partnership with MAF for eight years and recently had three volunteers placed with MAF in Samoa.
Lagi Natanielu (left), Programme Manager in Samoa, with the wonderful volunteers working across Samoa, including Alex Whyte and Michael Baer volunteering with MAF
At present, MAF’s focus is on reviewing Samoa’s Agriculture Sector Plan (ASP) 2016-2020, which has had many of its goals delayed by COVID. MAF leads the implementation of the ASP, which aims to increase food, nutrition and income security in Samoa. It does this by increasing investment in food security and inclusive commercial agriculture and fisheries practices, increasing the supply and consumption of domestic food products, improving the sustainability of production and resource management, and strengthening climate resilience efforts.
Our recent volunteers with MAF include Alex Whyte, Jacqueline Neave (e-volunteering from Aotearoa) and Michael Baer. Alex, a Biosecurity Advisor, was involved in analysing import risks for animal products and training local biosecurity officers, while Jacqueline, a Biosecurity Advisor specifically in the Quarantine Division, was involved in strengthening the Samoa Quarantine Service to limit the spread of pests and diseases. Jacqueline was also the Senior Biosecurity Advisor during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting event held in Samoa in 2024. Michael, a Production Animal Veterinarian, helped with building veterinary capability in the local sector.
For Jacqueline and Alex, working with MAF to provide biosecurity support and enhance staff capability and confidence through the development of worksite procedures, systems and processes has been a positive experience. ‘A highlight of our volunteering journey is helping the individuals and teams we work with to realise their full potential and achieve their goals,’ they say.
VSA volunteer Jacqueline Neave (pictured second from right) together with MAF staff
MAF CEO, Seuseu Dr Joseph Tauati, says VSA volunteers have been a great help in building capacity across the organisation, both now and in the past.
‘The current and past volunteers have been very good,’ he says. ‘I’d say they are instrumental and, honestly, if they were not involved with the Ministry, we would not have made this much progress so far.’
He particularly highlights the fact that volunteers are building capacity in the local sector. ‘For example, Michael is training the paravets. That means when he leaves, the knowledge will remain in Samoa. It’s instrumental to our success.’
In the future, MAF hopes to benefit from volunteer assistance in the area of writing. ‘Writing proposals, that’s very important for the Ministry and that’s where the Ministry really lacks. It’s not that the Ministry cannot write, it’s just that there’s no time.’ In particular, Seuseu Dr Joseph Tauati hopes that volunteers may be able to help build local capacity for writing succinct proposals. ‘Each person will have a different line of thought when they’re talking to a funding body,’ he explains. ‘But if you have a proposal that has synchronised all the Ministry’s thoughts [into one document], it’s very easy for the funding body to provide accurate assistance where it’s needed.’
Here's to many more years of fruitful partnership!