Australia will provide an estimated $3.8 billion in ODA in 2016-17, with over 90 per cent of country-attributable ODA delivered in the Indo-Pacific region.
This will include an estimated $81.9 million in total Australian ODA to the Philippines.
This is part of the outcomes of the Australian Official Development Assistance (ODA) Budget announced as part of Australian Budget 2016-2017.
Minister for international Development and the Pacific Sen. Concetta Fierravante-Wells said this move highights the government’s “ongoing commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. Australia will increase the Emergency Fund to $130 million in 2016-17 to enable timely and effective responses to disasters and other humanitarian crises.
Australia will provide $220 million over three years to address humanitarian and longer-term resilience needs in Syria and neighbouring countries hosting large numbers of refugees.
This year, Australia will also provide $55 million to the Gender Equality Fund to enhance women’s economic participation in decision-making and leadership, promote women’s economic development and help end violence against women and girls. Funding to the innovationXchange will also increase to $50 million in 2016-17, to deliver smart, new approaches to complex development challenges.
In 2016-17, Australia will invest $200 million to support our five-year $1 billion commitment to addressing climate change. This will help developing countries to build climate resilience and reduce emissions.
The Government is committed to ensuring that funding flows to the most effective programs and will continue to focus on priorities outlined in the aid policy – Australian aid: promoting prosperity, reducing poverty, enhancing stability.
Further information on the 2016‑17 aid budget is available on www.dfat.gov.au.