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Multilateral organisationsAustralian Multilateral Assessment (AMA)The Australian Government is undertaking an assessment of its key multilateral development partners. Multilateral development banks, United Nations organisations, global funds and Commonwealth organisations Australia commits over 30 per cent of the aid program to multilateral organisations such as United Nations organisations, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and global funds in core and non-core funding. Multilateral organisations extend the reach of Australia's aid program as their large size enables them to undertake programs on a scale beyond the capacity of bilateral donors such as Australia. They have the international standing to help coordinate donor efforts and have neutrality which allows greater scope for dialogue with recipient countries. In some cases they have a clear mandate to address global or regional problems in areas that need the concerted efforts of the international community, such as environment and health. Multilateral organisations are also able to coordinate donor resources to address major humanitarian and reconstruction needs, especially for countries emerging from conflict. Multilateral organisations receive funding from various sources, including contributions from donor countries like Australia. Australia's partnerships with these organisations influences the international development agenda in important areas, particularly in donor coordination, cross-border issues, good governance and sound economic policies. An important component of Australia's aid program is multi-year commitments to multilateral replenishment funds, including the World Bank's International Development Association, the ADB's Asian Development Fund and the Global Environment Facility. Multilateral development banksAustralia works closely with multilateral organisations that have demonstrated effectiveness, and whose activities complement our own bilateral programs and are consistent with our wider national interests. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank are important multilateral partners who are able to leverage significant financial resources and expertise for sustainable development and poverty reduction. The World Bank is the world's largest development organisation. It is an unparalleled source of development analysis and specialist program implementation, and a leading forum for global development policy. The Asian Development Bank's regional focus makes it an important partner in promoting growth and stability in the Asia and Pacific regions. Australia's membership and financial contributions to the World Bank and the ADB provide an opportunity to influence their policies and priorities at the highest levels. An ongoing objective of our relationship is to ensure that the activities of both banks recognise and effectively target key development priorities in our region. Australia provides support to the World Bank and the ADB through replenishments to the concessional lending arms that assist low-income countries. In 2010, Australia committed $830.35 million to the 16th replenishment of the World Bank's concessional lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA), for the period 2011–12 to 2014–15. This contribution includes $105.13 million for debt relief. During IDA16 negotiations, Australia achieved important outcomes in improving the World Bank's assistance to small and fragile states, especially the Pacific, and sharpening IDA's results orientation. In September 2011 AusAID and the World Bank Group signed a partnership framework, taking the relationship to a more strategic level. In 2008, Australia committed $333 million to the ADB's concessional lending arm, the Asian Development Fund (ADF) for the period 2008–2011. Australia will also contribute $230 million over ten years to the ADB's fifth capital increase which will enable the Bank to increase its finance to middle-income countries. AusAID is implementing new reporting mechanisms to provide greater transparency in Australian contributions and the results achieved from this. In September 2009, AusAID signed a partnership framework with the Asian Development Bank focusing on building a stronger, more robust partnership. The Australia-World Bank Group partnership Asian Development Bank Partnership Brief: Cofinancing with Australia [external website] United Nations organisationsThe United Nations (UN) system offers Australia the opportunity to cooperate with the widest possible range of countries in pursuing global development. Support for UN organisations extends the reach of Australia's aid program. These organisations can mobilise and coordinate resources on a scale beyond the capacities of individual donors, and play a significant role in consensus building on key development issues. The UN system also provides specialist expertise in a number of areas. As part of revitalising our engagement with the UN, since 2008 Australia has entered into formal partnerships with 11 UN development and humanitarian organisations. The frameworks specify the increased multi-year funding priorities for joint work and how we will measure partnership achievements. Objectives in these partnerships include commitments to:
Partnership frameworks have been signed with:
AusAID also has relationships with a number of key UN organisations, including:
G20The G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation. G20 members account for 85 percent of the world economy, 80 percent of global trade, and two-thirds of the world's population. Australia is committed to active participation and policy leadership within the G20. The G20 has a critical role to play in addressing issues that pose systemic global risk through better cooperation and coordination on development issues. A G20 development agenda and multi-year action plans were adopted at the Seoul Summit in November 2010. The G20 Development Working Group met in March 2011 in Paris. In 2011 Australia is leading G20 work on 'growth with resilience' working with Indonesia on social protection and with Italy on remittances. Other Australian priorities are food security and infrastructure The next G20 Leaders Summit will be held in Paris in November 2011. Global fundsGlobal funds provide a single point through which funding can be disbursed for specific development needs. Australia provides significant funds to a number of these, including: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the GAVI Alliance (formerly The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation); the Global Environment Facility; the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol; and the Education for All Fast Track Initiative. Commonwealth organisationsAustralia supports the role of Commonwealth organisations working on democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law. The Commonwealth is an important forum for advocating for the particular needs of small island states. AusAID provides around $10 million annually to Commonwealth programs. Most support goes towards three Commonwealth programs: the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation; the Commonwealth Youth Programme; and the Commonwealth Foundation. AusAID also provides support for Commonwealth small states offices in New York and Geneva which enables small states to have representation at the UN. Commonwealth Fund for Technical CooperationThe Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) is the principal means by which the Commonwealth delivers development assistance to developing country members. The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation provides assistance in the form of workshops, technical advisors for short and long term assignments and advice through the provision of manuals, model legislation and codes of best practice. In October 2011 in Perth, Australia hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) [external link]. Commonwealth Youth ProgrammeAustralia supports the Commonwealth Youth Programme, which provides opportunities for young women and men (between the ages of 15 and 29) to contribute to international youth policy and develop their leadership potential, including through government structures in member countries. Commonwealth FoundationAustralia supports the Commonwealth Foundation's work with civil society organisations and other non-governmental bodies to promote a shared Commonwealth identity and Commonwealth principles of governance and democracy, sustainable development and cultural diversity. More information about Australia's relationships with the United Nations and the Commonwealth Australia monitors and supports multilateral effectivenessAustralia works in a range of ways to promote the effectiveness of multilateral organisations. Australia pursues an increased focus by multilateral organisations on efficiently delivering development results through: participation on governing boards; regular high level consultations with senior management; and extensive engagement in the field including joint design, monitoring and evaluation of multilateral activities. Australia contributes to the current international policy dialogue and work on improving multilateral effectiveness through its membership in the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) and the Evaluation Network of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). Australia's engagement with MOPANThe Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) is a network of 16 like-minded donor countries with a common interest in assessing the organisational effectiveness of the major multilateral organisations they fund. Every year, MOPAN assesses around five multilateral organisations in up to ten countries through a stakeholder perception survey and a document review. Australia joined MOPAN in January 2009 and has been an active member since. MOPAN is a key component of AusAID's approach to assessing multilateral effectiveness, providing valuable information for ongoing efforts to improve the multilaterals' performance and for funding decisions regarding multilateral partners. By working with other donors to assess multilateral performance AusAID reduces the transaction costs and is better able to reach a common view on areas for improvement. 2010 MOPAN reports and organisations' responses [external websites]
Australia's engagement with DACThe Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is the principal body of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that deals with development issues. The DAC is made up of 23 of the 34 member countries of the OECD and the European Union. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations Development Program participate as observers, together with the non-DAC members of the OECD. Australia has been a member of the DAC since 1966 and uses its membership to influence other donors, particularly on the needs of and approach to development in the Asia and Pacific regions, and to stay abreast of international policy trends and best practice in development. The DAC plays an important role as an international forum where donor governments can meet to exchange policy experience, identify good practices, and work in a coordinated approach to increase the effectiveness of their aid. The DAC also plays a critical role in setting standards, with the DAC Peer Review as a key part of the DAC's approach to monitoring individual donor progress against policy, programming and corporate outcomes. Peer reviews of each member country are conducted every four or five years. Australia was reviewed favourably in 2008. Australia (2008) DAC Peer Review of Australia—Main Findings and Recommendations More informationOther websites
Last reviewed: 30 January, 2012
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