CANBERRA — New procurement rules from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will require tenderers for Australian aid contracts to describe how they will support Indigenous participation, entrepreneurship, and business development within the country’s aid program.
A new request for tender template released in April highlights the growing importance of the Indigenous Procurement Policy within Australia’s aid program and follows announcements made at DFAT’s Aid Supplier Conference in February, where staff emphasized the importance of current and potential suppliers to better engage with Indigenous businesses.
As Devex reported last year, opportunities available to Indigenous businesses within the aid program have been limited, with more prominence given to DFAT’s corporate and security functions.