Australian NGOs give their recommendations for DFAT aid review

CANBERRA — The Australian aid program is in the early stages of a policy refresh, according to staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at its recent procurement forum, with work happening internally to begin identifying new priorities — and how to embed them into the program. Australian NGOs are a key partner in the delivery of the aid program. Their views are expected to be sought to identify which elements of the program are working and what shifts may be required to make Australian aid relevant in the world today. Speaking with Devex, NGOs highlighted priority areas in the Australian aid program to maintain: a focus on gender, building greater support for disability-inclusive development, and increasing engagement by the private sector, introduced by former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. “Australian NGOs have long-standing and effective partnerships ... in the countries where we operate. The aid program could take more advantage of these strategic relationships.” --— Emma Tiaree, principal executive for global engagement and programs, CARE Australia NGOs also recommend a focus beyond the Indo-Pacific, responding to the climate crisis, and building clarity into what the aid program is aiming to achieve and how this will be measured. Devex spoke to six NGOs to find out what their expectations from the aid review are, and how that can shape Australia’s influence in global development in the coming years. Amnesty International Australia Nikita White, Amnesty International campaigner At Amnesty International, we are recommending the Australian government undertakes its review of the aid program with a view to further support the Rohingya people who are currently living in Bangladesh. Our research has identified the need for more health support — including psychosocial support — in this environment, as well as education support. Currently, there are half a million Rohingya children in Bangladesh who are currently banned from accessing education. But we are also asking the Australian government to review its support for the Myanmar military. While the Australian government is providing financial support to the Rohingya refugees, it is also funding the military that have committed atrocities against them. To create these shifts, the objectives of the aid program will need to be clearly aligned with human rights and ensure we are not supporting regimes in breach of international human rights laws. The role of human rights and the consideration of human rights in the aid program is far from clear. That is really worrying for us. There was strong incentive in the aid paradigm introduced by Julie Bishop on economic performance, and while this is important it should be equally important that we assure that our money is not going to human rights violations and abuses. We also think that the government should continue to focus on the gender imbalance and maintain the empowerment of women as a key part of the aid program. Indicators focusing on performance, benchmark, and value will also be critical. Australian Council for International Development Bridi Rice, director of policy and advocacy A new development cooperation framework must do two things. First, be unequivocal in its strategic clarity. The primary purpose of Australia’s development program is and should continue to be reducing poverty and addressing human development needs. If development is used transactionally, in a short-term and purely self-serving manner, it loses sight of this purpose and then fails to deliver on long term dividends for Australia. Second, it should demonstrate imagination in responding to the goals our partners have for the region and the challenges they face. We must listen and establish, long-term meaningful nation-to-nation partnerships if we are to stand any chance of creating a region and a world that meets Australian interests. A new development cooperation framework gives us the chance to assess how we meet the most pressing needs of the region while also deepening our international relationships. A new framework should give a vision and strategic steer for a modernized development cooperation policy as well as set out a practical performance framework to match. Australian Red Cross Fiona Tarpey, international head of influence and advocacy There are three main areas of preliminary thinking for us. A key area is around the growing need and financial need for humanitarian assistance — regionally and globally. Over the past four to five years we have seen increasing humanitarian need and we’re seeing the need overtaking the financing available. That’s a critical issue for the aid review and at the same time crises are becoming longer and protracted — so what does this mean for the aid program? The second point is the focus on localization. Our research, which focuses on the voice of the Pacific, shows there is a demand for decision-making to be Pacific-led and based on partnerships. This is a principle that needs to be strongly applied in the aid program. And the other area that jumps out is the growing need around climate change. The Red Cross recently put out a report called “The Cost of Doing Nothing” and it highlighted that climate change is a humanitarian issue — and the demand and impact on humanitarian assistance will be exacerbated by climate-related disasters. The projections are steep increases in people affected and costs. So we need to see that really examined in an aid program review with measures introduced supporting preparedness, response, and adaptability. CARE Australia Emma Tiaree, principal executive for global engagement and programs In our rapidly changing world, Australia's aid strategy should be regularly tested to ensure it aligns with the changing global poverty landscape, the most effective role Australia can play, and the latest evidence of how change happens. CARE wants to see the aid program respond to the most pressing global challenges where the Australian development and humanitarian sector can have the most impact. These challenges will see poverty increase in fragile and conflict settings, putting the gains made by long-term development at risk in disaster-prone countries that are least equipped to cope with the climate crisis. We want to see better alignment with the aid program's priorities for change and how it invests in that change. There are proven business models for lifting people out of poverty backed by decades of evaluations, many of which DFAT has funded. DFAT should rely less on individual consultants to offer a single solution to a development problem and better utilize the evidence of what works from its trusted development partners. Bishop's focus on gender equality should remain a priority. We know that inequality continues to be a root cause and effect of poverty. Holding women back from education, jobs, leadership roles, health care, and safety holds back society. There is more to be done, particularly in addressing the high rates of gender-based violence in the region and tackling the harmful gender norms that perpetuate this crisis. The private sector plays a pivotal role in investing in social impact. Australian NGOs have long-standing and effective partnerships with Australian companies and local businesses in the countries where we operate. The aid program could take more advantage of these strategic relationships. Save the Children Australia Paul Ronalds, CEO We need to recalibrate the aid program to ensure that Australian aid is invested in the things that will have the greatest impact and promote resilience in our neighbors. The evidence is clear, this means more investment in human capital — tackling challenges like the 50% of children in Papua New Guinea who are malnourished, or the endemic rates of violence against children in the Pacific — and less focus on infrastructure. But it’s currently a zero-sum game. Unless we are willing to raise our total aid investment from its lowest level ever, there will inevitably be winners and losers. UNICEF Australia Felicity Wever, director of international programs Of concern is the ongoing decline in the level of ODA [official development assistance] and specifically that targeted at human development outcomes. For UNICEF Australia, we see investment in children and young people as a priority and believe that focusing on core thematic areas of health, education, and child protection are paramount. Geographically, there has been a strategic shift by the government to the Indo-Pacific region. While there is immense need in the region, we would also highlight the very significant needs in other parts of the world, particularly where there are complex humanitarian emergencies and protracted crisis which cannot be ignored. There have been some welcome shifts in the aid program, including more strategic multiyear packages of support for humanitarian crises. The focus of the aid program on women and girls, as well as disability inclusion, is definitely something we would like to see continue and to expand. There is an opportunity to ensure that support for gender equity take a broader view and looks more meaningfully at issues for young girls.