Recognised Development Expenditure (RDE)

The RDE principle

Recognised Development Expenditure (RDE) is the total eligible contribution that each NGO receives from the Australian community for the agency's own development assistance, emergency relief or rehabilitation activities overseas and development education in Australia.

Eligible contributions include donations of cash, gifts in kind and volunteer services. Up to half of the RDE can be for gifts in kind and/or volunteer services.

RDE worksheet due date

The RDE is used to calculate the annual level of funding provided to each accredited NGO through the AusAID NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

All accredited NGOs are required to submit their RDE worksheet to AusAID, signed by the agency's authorised officer and Chief Executive Officer, by 31 March each year. A copy of the NGO's Annual Audited Financial Statements is also required by this date.

Any NGO that submits their RDE worksheet after this date risks receiving a zero for that year's RDE. This will affect the NGO's funding level as AusAID uses an average of three years' RDE to calculate ANCP allocations. Newly accredited agencies must supply RDE worksheets for the previous three years.

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February 2009