Illicit Drugs Initiative (IDI)

There has been increasing recognition that the illicit drug trade has direct and indirect impacts on broader development goals, poverty reduction, stability and sustainability of development gains.

The regional Illicit Drugs Initiative (IDI) was originally announced by the Prime Minister at the ASEAN Summit in November 2004. The Initiative will provide $4 million in grants for projects of up to 2 years in duration to strengthen regional responses to the development impacts of illicit drugs and to increase Australia's engagement in combating the production, trade and use of illicit drugs in the South-East Asia region.

Applications for concept submissions were sought from:

Australian Government departments, agencies and statutory authorities which are actively engaged in illicit drug control, treatment and related activities in South-East Asia
Regional and national organisations in the identified eligible countries, National organisations in the identified countries and Regional organisations, which are actively engaged in illicit drug control, treatment, and related activities in South-East Asia
Australian peak bodies which are actively engaged in illicit drug control, treatment, and related activities in South-East Asia.

An interdepartmental assessment panel (consisting of Australian Federal Police, the Australian National Council on Drugs and AusAID) selected nine proposals, for support under the Initiative. See Summary of Proposals [PDF 12KB]

The successful proposals cover the priority areas for the Initiative and are designed to:

Improve amphetamine type substance (ATS) data and information systems
Improve access for young people with ATS abuse to effective treatment
Develop workforce and local capacities for improved drug treatment
Trial opioid dependence treatment and rehabilitation
Trial pre-release methadone maintenance programs
Increase cooperation amongst participating drug control bodies.

The successful applicants include the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and three Australian organisations: Macfarlane Burnet Institute, Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia, and Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre.

The IDI is administered by the Asia Transboundary Section of AusAID.

Further Information

For more information on IDI, contact idi@ausaid.gov.au or fax +61 2 6206 4875

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August 2006