Australian NGOs fear aid in the firing line yet again

Australia’s international development agencies are preparing for hard times ahead, predicting the nation’s already reduced foreign assistance budget could be further hit as aid again becomes a scapegoat in this year’s May budget announcement.

“While it would be catastrophic to the program for even more savings to be found from the Australian aid program it is nevertheless possible,” Andrew Johnson, political engagement manager at World Vision Australia, told Devex. He stressed that unless Prime Minister Tony Abbott assured the public that the budget for the aid program will be protected, “the aid community will continue to be concerned that further savings will be found and we believe this will do untold harm.”

Johnson fears further cuts to be more far-reaching, and may impact programs supporting the most vulnerable people, including health, education and WASH. Whole regions could see a loss of Australian funding and the political engagement managers is even expecting global programs to take a hit. New initiatives will likely be off the table as well.