*2012-13 Estimated Outcome ODA funding breakdown and graphs will be updated from 15 May 2013.
AusAID's development cooperation with sub-Saharan Africa seeks to make a practical and unique contribution by focusing on sectors where Australia has experience and expertise and is best able to make a difference. Australia’s assistance Africa is focused on:
- food security and agriculture
- water and sanitation
- maternal and child health
- helping build Africa's human resource capacity.
We are also supporting African governments’ efforts to improve governance and transparency in the mining sector and are responsive to humanitarian needs in Africa.
To maximise the impact of our programs, Australia is aligning its development efforts with the priorities and efforts of African governments and institutions working primarily through effective multilateral partners and other donors.
Australia has invested $916.2 million in sub-Saharan Africa in the previous three years. Some of the key results include:
- providing food assistance to 7.9 million people in the region
- vaccinating an estimated 2.5 million children against measles, 2.6 million against polio and 25,000 against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus
- providing more than 4,000 Australian Awards (scholarships) to African candidates since 1960.
More results can be viewed under the ‘see our results’ tab above.
Following the Government’s announcement on 17 December 2012 to reprioritise resources within the aid budget, the 2012–13 budget estimate for direct assistance for the sub-Saharan Africa program was reduced by $32.5 million. This primarily comprises:
- a deferral of payments for a Small Towns Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Program for Zimbabwe by one year ($4.0 million)
- a deferral of funding for food security programming to Somalia by one year ($10.0 million)
- a deferral of funding to South Sudan for food security by one year ($5.0 million)
- a deferral of funding of transboundary water management in Southern Africa by one year ($4.5 million)
- a cut in climate change funding for Zimbabwe ($5.5 million).
The $32.5 million reduction in Africa program funds is a minor portion of the overall increase of around $200 million in the aid budget to Africa since 2007–08.
Australia expects to provide $319.7 million in development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa in 2012–13. Australia remains committed to delivering results in sub-Saharan Africa and our development assistance is expected to have a resounding impact in future years. We will:
- be responsive to new and existing humanitarian crises
- deliver access to safe water for 39,000 people in Zambia, 39,000 people in Malawi and more than 100,000 people in Mozambique and restore water services to 1.1 million people in Zimbabwe
- support 4,000 smallholder farmers in Kenya and Uganda to increase food production and diversify their incomes.
More on expected outcomes can be viewed under the ‘see our results’ tab above.