AusAid-Kiribati Partnership

Kiribati finds itself at the center of several socioeconomic and environmental challenges to sustainable development. It has a rapidly rising population — just slightly above 100,000 — spread throughout 23 islands that are only about 2 meters above sea level, on average, making its inhabitants highly vulnerable to environmental shocks caused by climate change. Kiribati’s water and food supply are also unstable, and isolation from its trading partners means higher costs for goods and services. Across Kiribati, unemployment remains a huge problem. The majority of families are often supported by one or two wage earners who are most likely working abroad. The high unemployment rate in the country is attributed to poor standards in education, leading to a largely unskilled population. As Kiribati’s largest development partner, Australia recognizes the need to improve these conditions by creating a more robust education system, developing workforce skills and improving growth and economic management. Funding levels For the period 2009-2014, the Australian government has allocated 148,021,593 Australian dollars ($133,767,003) in aid to Kiribati — an average of AU$29,604,318 per fiscal year. Australia is the largest donor to Kiribati. Below is a breakdown of Australian official development assistance to Kiribati, which is managed by the Australian Agency for International Development and other government departments: Click on the image to see a larger version of the table. Australia intends to work mainly with the government of Kiribati in its priority sectors, with support from multilateral organizations and other bilateral donors in delivering aid. Funding priorities Australian assistance to Kiribati is grounded on four key areas. Below is a breakdown of its aid by area of allocation for the period 2012-2014: Click on the image to see a larger version of the table. AusAID intends to channel most of its aid toward Promoting Opportunities for All, which has been allocated 72 percent of Australian funding for fiscal 2013-2014 — a 22 percent increase from the previous year. Actions under this area include capacity building in education, development of Kiribati’s workforce and improving the health sector. Below are some of AusAID’s projects in its primary area of intervention: - Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Sector Strengthening Program (2011-2016) targets boosting workforce skills by increasing access to education and training, and aligning courses in Kiribati with international standards. - Kiribati-Australia Nursing Initiative (2006-2014) strengthens the training of nurses, increasing their competitiveness and chance of employment. - Kiribati Education Improvement Program (2010-2015), in partnership with the government of Kiribati, UNICEF and UNESCO, aims to provide equal access to quality education for all children by 2020 and ensure their continued path toward higher levels of learning. Devex analysis AusAID assistance to Kiribati is part of a larger partnership agreement between Australia and Pacific island countries. The Pacific Partnerships for Development is targeted at achieving the Millennium Development Goals along with the development priorities set by each of Australia’s partners in the Pacific region. Promoting Opportunities for All will remain the key area of intervention for Kiribati. AusAID will continue to work closely with the Kiribati government — with support from New Zealand, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank – in areas of education, development of skills for employment, strengthening the economy and rehabilitation of infrastructure. The Australia-Kiribati Partnership for Development, signed in 2009, outlines Australian commitments to its beneficiary country. Chief among them is the guarantee of a continuously increasing level of aid in support of the Kiribati government over an extended period of engagement. This indicates that while Kiribati faces several risk factors in development, its top aid donor is poised to continue delivering assistance through 2015 and beyond. Contact: Australian High Commission, Kiribati Email: ahc_tarawa@dfat.gov.au Tel.: (686) 21-184 Fax: (686) 21-904 Join the Devex community and gain access to more in-depth analysis, breaking news and business advice — and a host of other services — on international development, humanitarian aid and global health.