15 May 2012

Details emerging about new civil society fund in Cooks

6:28 pm on 15 May 2012

More details are emerging about a new Social Impact Fund being established in the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands government and the New Zealand aid programme are combining their funds to create a single mechanism for civil society groups to access government funding.

New Zealand's expected investment is 1.8 million US dollars over three years and the Cook Islands Government is expected to contribute 466,000 dollars over three years.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says the aim of the Social Impact Fund is to promote greater harmonisation of both governments' funding to the civil society sector in the Cooks.

Wellington says details about how the fund will operate and who will be eligible to receive the funding are still being decided.