The Australian Red Cross and the country’s foreign affairs and trade department forged a new partnership Tuesday to boost the organization’s capability to respond to humanitarian crises and help build resilience in the Asia-Pacific region.
The “genuine” partnership, announced by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, will increase the government’s appropriations to the Victoria-headquartered organization by $38.5 million — welcome news after almost two years of continuous cuts to the country’s aid budget by the incumbent Abbott government.
Peter Walton, Red Cross Australia’s head for international programs, shared that the new four-year deal allows more financial muscle for the organization’s operations in the region — considered as the most disaster-vulnerable in the world — and marks a continuation of the organization’s four-decade cooperation with the government.
About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
