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Australian Government Departments

AusAID works in partnership with other Australian Federal and State government departments to reduce poverty in the Asia-Pacific region.

Many of Australia's immediate neighbours face serious governance, institutional or stability problems. These range from virtual state collapse in Solomon Islands to the case of East Timor where there is the will, but not yet the capacity, to ensure its newly established government institutions function well.

Failing to help these and other 'fragile states' overcome their problems is likely to leave them vulnerable to violence, stagnation and poverty for generations.

Australia underlines the importance of addressing the development, economic, security, and political aspects of fragility with a coherent whole of government approach.

While not suitable in all circumstances, making use of the wide range of expertise available through the Australian Government enables Australia to develop more comprehensive and effective responses to the significant development challenges faced by fragile states.

Recent initiatives in the Pacific demonstrate Australia's comprehensive approach to development assistance. These range from small, few-person placements to large-scale missions involving many personnel from several government departments.

In Solomon Islands for example, the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) involves close cooperation between AusAID and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Federal Police, Department of Treasury, and the Department of Finance and Administration.

This cooperation has enabled Australian officials to work with their government counterparts in Solomon Islands to meet its immediate security and economic needs. Australian involvement has also enabled them to plan for long-term improvement in law and order, economic management, political governance and basic service delivery.

In Tonga Australia has placed an Australian Customs officer as the head of Tonga's customs service to coordinate and revitalise the service and address security issues such as money laundering and people trafficking.

And in Nauru Australian Treasury and Finance officials are assisting the Government of Nauru with planning, budgeting and economic reform.

Formal Agreements

AusAID has formal Strategic Partnerships Agreements (SPAs) with Australian government partners to ensure effective coordination of joint initiatives.

These Agreements identify the shared strategic priorities for each agency and recognise the individual skills and strengths that each agency brings to the partnership. They formalise arrangements to ensure that AusAID and its government partners work in a collaborative and cohesive way at the strategic and operational levels.

AusAID and its partner government departments have also signed Records of Understanding (ROUs), within the context of the Strategic Partnerships Agreements, that govern the practical, operational aspects of the collaboration.

AusAID has formalised Strategic Partnerships Agreements with:

• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
• Australian Treasury
• Australian Federal Police
• Attorney-Generals Department
• Department of Finance and Administration
• Australian Public Service Commission
• Department of Health and Ageing.

See also:

• Fragile States and Australia's Aid Program
• Government Partnership Fund [AusAID Business and Tenders]

Above: Australian and Papua New Guinea customs officers working together in Papua New Guinea

2006

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