Below are some common questions asked about the Pacific Aotearoa Community Outreach - Social Enterprise Fund. If you have a question that's not answered here, please email [email protected].
This fund was available for all eligible Pacific enterprises looking to achieve the outcomes of the PACO 3.0.
If your application is successful, you'll need to start your funded initiative/projects on or after 1 April 2023 (not before this date).
The fund closed at 5pm on Friday 27 January 2023. All applications will be assessed, and all applicants will be notified of the outcome on or after 31 May 2023 (date extended due to volume of applications). Any unforeseen circumstances that impact on these dates will be notified on our website.
Subject to applicants providing required documentation on time, all third-party suppliers will be paid within two weeks of receiving all required documents.
Following a successful funding application, the next steps in the process are as follows:
All successful applicants are expected to deliver on agreed outcomes. Where issues arise with delivering on their contract, each situation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The PACO 3.0 cannot directly create a new role or fund a salary as it is not for wage subsidies. Please see the Ministry of Social Development website for this support.
However, where an enterprise is successful in obtaining funding for an asset and/or training, for instance, the Ministry expects that it will enable the environment to expand on economic growth, resulting in additional employees/s being hired in a current or new role.
No. This is the first time we're rolling out the Pacific Social Enterprise Fund and we want to maximise the impacts of the fund by supporting key standout innovative initiatives across Aotearoa.
Yes, enterprises already accessing other government funding or grants can apply for PACO 3.0. However, enterprises who are currently already receiving funding from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of project and the information you provide on the application form about what you are wanting to achieve holistically.
There is no universal definition of social enterprise. Definition varies based on context and sources; however, a common theme is underpinned on the reinvesting in the community for better social outcomes.
For PACO 3.0, Pacific social enterprises are registered community-based organisations across Aotearoa who are constantly reinvesting back into the Pacific communities for better social and economic outcomes. These can include:
The fund closed at 5pm on Friday, 27 January 2023.
No. All eligible applications are subject to a robust assessment process in accordance with the timeframe provided.
In anticipation of oversubscription because the fund is limited, we would have to selectively choose who would receive funding. For this reason, we ask that you please ensure your application is complete and of a high standard.
The fund closed at 5pm on Friday, 27 January 2023.
As part of the completion of the application form, applicants could self-assess where their organisation was best placed in the social enterprise phase of doing business - that is, whether it operated in the Start-up, Emerging, Growth or Established phase.
Please refer to the table below for maximum funding available. Note that all amounts exclude GST.
| Start-up | Emerging | Growth | Established | |
| Maximum funding | Up to $5,000 | Up to $10,000 | Up to $20,000 | Up to $50,000 |
| Number of initiatives to be funded | Approximately 20 | Approximately 15 | Approximately 10 | Approximately 10 |
The fund closed at 5pm, Friday 27 January 2023.
We have $1m to support community social enterprise capital investment initiatives in the current financial year 2022-2023. PACO 3.0 is expected to support at least 55 Pacific social enterprise capital investment initiatives/organisations in this round.
There are four key categories across the social enterprise spectrum to determine where your organisation may currently be:
This initiative will fund about 20 capital investment initiatives/enterprises in the Start-up phase of doing business, with up to $5,000 (excluding GST) to deliver the requested project.
About 15 capital investment initiatives/enterprises in the Emerging phase of doing business will be funded up to $10,000 each (excluding GST) to deliver.
Similarly, about 10 enterprises from each of the Growth and Established phases will be supported, with up to $20,000 and $50,000 respectively (excluding GST).
PACO 3.0 is aiming to achieve the following outcomes:
Capital investment in the context of this initiative are tools and services to increase skills, health and safety, capability and capacity requirements, equipment, capital to increase productivity and revenue generation.
Enterprise must demonstrate how the capital investment will increase employment, wealth and sustainability of the organisation. Wages and salary are not considered capital investment.