Since the merger of AusAID into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the aid program has received criticism for its lack of transparency, openness and communication with stakeholders, partners and the public. DFAT has heard the critique loud and clear, and on Feb. 17 in Canberra, it took one of several steps to respond by bringing together the commercial sector, nongovernmental organizations, multilaterals and private contractors as part of their inaugural aid supplier conference.
In total, 107 organizations were represented, greater interest than anticipated, according to DFAT Deputy Secretary Ewen McDonald. “It’s a good opportunity for us all to debate some of the issues with a view to getting better outcomes,” he told the conference.
For DFAT, the conference was an opportunity to communicate policies and plans, obtain feedback from aid suppliers, and enable networking in the sector.
About the author
Lisa Cornishlisa_cornish
Lisa Cornish is a former Devex Senior Reporter based in Canberra, where she focuses on the Australian aid community. Lisa has worked with News Corp Australia as a data journalist and has been published throughout Australia in the Daily Telegraph in Melbourne, Herald Sun in Melbourne, Courier-Mail in Brisbane, and online through news.com.au. Lisa additionally consults with Australian government providing data analytics, reporting and visualization services.
