South Asia, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia

Estimated ODA to South Asia, Africa and Other in 2007-08 $382.0 million

South Asia

Estimated ODA to South Asia in 2007-08 $148.8 million

Despite strong economic growth over the past 15 years and significant reductions in poverty, South Asia remains one of the world's poorest regions, with many daunting development challenges. The White Paper recommended an expanded Australian aid engagement in South Asia, particularly in education and health, given the poor social indicators of the region.

Australian assistance to South Asia aims to promote good governance, to contribute to improved service delivery (particularly in health, education and natural resource management), and to respond to humanitarian needs and emerging issues of mutual concern. In the interests of efficiency, effectiveness and impact, Australia will work increasingly with strong multilateral agencies such as UNICEF, UNAIDS, the World Bank and the ADB.

New resources directed to South Asia through new initiatives will focus on maternal and child health in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Additional education support will target primary and vocational and technical education.

Key development indicators for partner countries in South Asia

Country	GNI per capita ^†($US)	Access to water (% of population)	Life expectancy (years)	Adult literacy rate (% of population)
Sri Lanka	1,160	79	74	91
Nepal	270	90	62	49
Pakistan	690	91	63	50
Bangladesh	470	74	63	na
India	720	86	64	61
Maldives	2,390	83	67	96
Bhutan	870	62	63	47

Sources: Human Development Report 2006, UNDP, and for † World Development Indicators Online, World Bank, 2007.

Table 5: Aid to South Asia in 2007-08

Country Estimate 2007-08 ($m)	Focus
Bangladesh Country Program: 32.4 Total ODA: 47.6	Assistance to Bangladesh in 2007-08 will focus on: Improving livelihoods of the rural poor, by continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to identified communities in need Increased support for education, through the Delivering Better Education initiative (Box 7). Expanding an existing program with UNICEF and a new initiative with the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), a prominent local NGO, will help improve access to primary school, particularly for girls and rural children, and focus on better teaching quality and improved local-level planning Increased support for health services, through the Delivering Better Health initiative (Box 6). New partnerships with UNICEF and BRAC will enhance the capacity for health services delivery by government and NGO providers, targeting improvements in maternal, neonatal and early childhood health.
Sri Lanka Country Program: 11.4 Total ODA: 25.0	Assistance to Sri Lanka in 2007-08 will continue to have a strong humanitarian and conflict focus. It will address the needs of communities affected by the renewed conflict and continue to support peace building processes primarily through UN and NGO partners. Support to education will be expanded through the Delivering Better Education initiative (Box 7). The program will also continue improving natural resource management.
Pakistan Country Program: 18.3 Total ODA: 27.1	Australia's assistance will focus on: Increased support for basic health care and education, through new investments to strengthen national systems for improved service delivery, including expanding existing partnerships with UNICEF, and new partnerships with the World Bank and other donors Building human capital through support for tertiary scholarships, and technical and vocational education. Australia will provide a mix of scholarships to assist Pakistan in addressing its development, education and research needs under the Prime Minister's Australia Pakistan Scholarships Program. Australia will establish a new partnership with the World Bank to improve and expand vocational and technical education Continuing reconstruction following the October 2005 earthquake, including specialist technical expertise to support the ADB's Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project, and continued work with UNICEF to help rebuild schools and health facilities.
India Total ODA: 6.3	Assistance to India in 2007-08 will continue to focus on reducing the risk and impact of HIV/AIDS, particularly among high risk groups and in the northeast. The program will also continue to foster agricultural research and institutional linkages with Australia.
Nepal Total ODA: 8.2	Assistance to Nepal in 2007-08 will focus on: Strengthening governance and improving inclusion, through ongoing partnerships with DFID to strengthen democratic practices and to increase access to safe water sources and improve sanitation among marginalised communities Supporting education, through new sector involvement to improve primary education access and quality, focusing on girls and other disadvantaged children.
Maldives Total ODA: 4.9	Australian Development Scholarships and governance activities.
Bhutan Total ODA: 3.8	Australian Development Scholarships and governance activities.
South Asia Regional Regional Program: 8.8	Continued support to address priority regional development issues, including HIV/AIDS, health, water and sanitation, and education, delivered through key regional partners — UNAIDS, UNICEF, and the World Bank, ADB and IMF. Targeted support will also continue for improved governance, including economic management.

Africa

Estimated ODA to Africa in 2007-08 $94.4 million

Table 6: Aid to Africa in 2007-08

Estimate 2007-08 ($m)

Focus

Regional Program: 40.0
Total ODA: 94.4

Continued assistance delivered through a regional development program supporting improved governance, health and food security in selected partner countries through non-government and multilateral organisations

Increased assistance (potentially twice the 2006-07 level) will be available through the Australian Fund for Zimbabwe to respond to humanitarian needs and support the work of effective community-based organisations.

Middle East and Afghanistan

Estimated ODA to Middle East and Afghanistan in 2007-08 $138.8 million

Key development indicators for partner countries in Middle East and Afghanistan

Country	GNI per capita^†($US)	Access to water (% of population)	Life expectancy (years)	Adult literacy rate (% of population)
Iraq	na	81	59	74
Palestinian Territories	na	92	73	92
Afghanistan	na	39	46	28

Sources: Human Development Report 2006, UNDP; and for † World Development Indicators Online, World Bank, 2007.

Table 7: Aid to Middle East and Afghanistan in 2007-08

Country/ProgramEstimate 2007-08 ($m)	Focus
Iraq Total ODA: 22.5	Continuing building capacity in economic management, law and justice, public sector reform and the delivery of basic services, particularly in health and agriculture.
Palestinian Territories Country Program: 4.0 Total ODA: 15.3	Australia's Development Assistance Framework 2007–2010 for the Palestinian Territories aims to improve basic services for Palestinians, in particular refugees, and to promote democracy and good governance.
Afghanistan Total ODA: 99.6	Australia's Afghanistan Development Assistance Framework 2007–2010 aims to strengthen security and governance capacity in key sectors; improve basic services, particularly for health and literacy; and provide legal livelihoods for farmers. The aid program complements the deployment of Australian military personnel to the province of Oruzgan and their support for provincial reconstruction.