The primary mission of Australian Aid, as stated in the government’s official aid effectiveness publication is help people overcome poverty through the agency’s five strategic goals consistent with the Millennium Development Goals: saving lives, promoting opportunities for all, sustainable economic development, effective governance, and humanitarian and disaster relief.
The major recipients of AusAID funding are those countries in Australia’s neighboring Asia/Pacific region.
Australia’s main bilateral funding scheme is AusAid; however, bilateral funds are also channeled through the Foreign Ministry and local offices of the Australian Embassy.
Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Australian bilateral agencies has increased by an average of 20% since 2010, reaching about 5.5 million USD in 2012.
Estimated Breakdown of Australian ODA by Sector 2011-121
Official Development Assistance to developing countries by Australian bilateral agencies focuses primarily on poverty reduction and alleviation. Consistent with the Millennium Development Goals, Australia’s five funding strategies are:
- Saving lives (e.g. health care, and water and sanitation facilities)
- Supporting opportunities for all (e.g. education, women empowerment, enhancing lives of the disabled)
- Sustainable economic development (e.g. food security, employment, income, climate change and environmental degradation)
- Effective governance (e.g. democracy and human rights)
- Humanitarian and disaster relief (response to and prevention of humanitarian crises)
Estimated Breakdown of Australian ODA by Priority Regions
Australia’s aid program is primarily targeted to assist those neighboring countries in Asia and the Pacific.
AusAID
The majority of Australia’s aid program is managed and delivered by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). AusAID’s funding priorities reflect those inveighed in the Government’s aid policy. As such, AusAID’s mission is to help people overcome poverty through the five strategic goals of saving lives, promoting opportunities for all, sustainable economic development, effective governance, and humanitarian and disaster relief.
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)-
ACIAR is an official government agency that supports productive and sustainable agriculture through collaborative projects and with developing country partners, as well as through grants to NGOs. The agency has international offices in seven countries, including China, India, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Other Agencies–
Above we have focused on the key agencies through which bilateral funding is allocated to developing countries. However, please note that, on occasion, there may also be other agencies providing sources of funding for NGOs.
Please note that, due to the recent changes in the Australian government, all information on Australia’s bilateral funding activities and priorities are subject to change.
