Country and Regional Programs

Assistance to PNG in 2008‑09 will reflect the four pillars of the PNG-Australia Development Cooperation Strategy 2006-2010:

Improved governance and nation building will be supported through programs covering economic and public sector reform, law and justice, and border security. Performance incentives will remain an important part of Australia's partnership with PNG. Under the Forest Carbon Partnership, Australia will provide technical assistance and expertise to assist PNG to develop a national carbon monitoring system. Australia will support the role of civil society and NGOs in enhancing governance through the new democratic governance program.

Sustainable broad-based economic growth and increased productivity will be facilitated through the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads and other economic infrastructure, supported by increased PNG Government budget contributions. Support will also be provided to enhance private sector development and improve agricultural productivity and development in rural areas. Incentive based payments will continue to be available to be integrated into the transport infrastructure program and other priority programs.

Improved service delivery and stability will include a focus on supporting public administration and governance at the sub-national level through the Provincial Performance Improvement Initiative, which now covers 17 provinces as well as Bougainville. Ongoing support for education and health will support government systems strengthening, as well as directly contribute to the delivery of basic health and education services. Australia will work with other donors and the PNG Government to develop a new sector-wide program to support the national education system. Assistance to PNG's law and justice sector will continue to strengthen the ability of PNG agencies to improve application of the rule of law.

A strengthened, coordinated and effective response to the HIV/AIDS crisis will be supported by a $100 million five year multi-sector program to prevent the spread of HIV and provide treatment and care for those most affected. This program will be complemented by up to $50 million over seven years to strengthen PNG's health sector response to HIV/AIDS. 14 sexually transmittable infections clinics will be built in PNG in 2008 to address the high prevalence of STIs and HIV/AIDS. A further 18 clinics are planned for 2009.

Assistance to Solomon Islands will be delivered through a bilateral development assistance program and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) and will focus on the following linked objectives:

Contributing to a safer and more secure Solomon Islands by strengthening the law and justice system, through upgrading court and prison infrastructure, capacity development and continued provision of technical assistance, including High Court judges, magistrates, prosecution and defence lawyers, prison personnel and advisers to the Attorney-General's Chambers. Support for law reform initiatives will also continue.

Contributing to a better functioning government to improve accountability and service delivery, including through implementation of programs to strengthen the Solomon Islands public service and provincial governments. Programs will also support improved electoral processes, strengthening of Parliaments' representative, oversight and law-making functions, and strategies to increase women's participation in government.

Encouraging sustainable broad-based growth and contributing to a more prosperous Solomon Islands, through strengthening the Government's budget development processes, encouraging key economic reforms, improving economic opportunities through transport infrastructure and rural development initiatives, and supporting reforms to increase access to telecommunications and electricity in rural areas.

Helping the Solomon Islands Government better serve the people through effective, equitable delivery of basic services, such as improved essential health services. Delivery of increased infrastructure investments such as roads, electricity, water and sanitation will also occur. Ongoing support to the forestry and lands sectors will promote economic opportunities for Solomon Islanders.

Building strong and peaceful communities will continue through community driven development which helps to improve income-generating opportunities, peace building and access to basic service delivery for rural and remote communities through livelihood and small scale activities.

Assistance to Vanuatu will focus on:

Improving governance, by supporting key justice institutions, including the police and legal sector as well helping create a demand for better governance through strengthening key democratic institutions.

Service delivery, including through supporting the Government of Vanuatu to undertake major reforms to improve the efficiency and reach of health and education services. A focus on coordination will bring together national and donor resources to improve policy and budget allocations.

Equitable growth, through assistance to remove obstacles to economic activity, particularly in rural areas. This will include regulatory reform, the introduction of competition in key sectors such as telecommunications and investment in essential infrastructure, for example road rehabilitation and maintenance.

Assistance to Fiji will focus on:

Building resilient communities, by supporting practical measures that improve community life. This will include: mitigating economic hardship by supporting rural enterprise development; continued support for improved delivery of health and education services, with a greater emphasis at the community-level; and support for regional efforts in climate change and disaster risk reduction.

Contributing to an enabling environment for good governance, by support for political dialogue and consensus; technical and financial support for elections by March 2009; and support for new partnerships with civil society and regional organisations.

Economic recovery, reform and growth, through planning to engage more substantially in economic and public sector reform, with the international development banks and other donors, once a democratic government is in place or firmly in prospect.

Assistance to Tonga will focus on:

Strengthening governance and accountability, by support for public sector and political reform. Under the Economic and Public Sector Reform Program, Australia will focus on human resource management, corporate planning and public sector reform. Australia will also continue to improve compliance in taxation and customs and assist with the establishment of an Ombudsman and Anti-corruption Commission.

Promoting private sector-led economic growth through the Private Sector Recovery Facility which is aimed at promoting reconstruction of the Tonga central business district.

Improving service delivery in health and education, through supporting health management and service delivery at the community level and participating in a multi-donor Tonga Education Support Program. In relation to education, Australia will focus on in-service teacher training.

Assistance to Samoa will focus on:

Improved opportunities for employment and investment, by reforming the enabling environment for private sector development. This will include support for regulatory reform to the power sector and institutional strengthening of the tax regime.

Improved service delivery and community development, by supporting the education, health and legal sectors. This support will include improved access to quality basic and post-basic education; improved health focusing on primary and preventative health; further strengthening the police force; and improving coordination in the law and justice sector.

Assistance to Kiribati will focus on:

Education, by assisting the Ministry of Education, to improve the quality, relevance and efficiency of basic education in Kiribati. In 2008‑09 this includes supporting the setup and operation of a facilities management unit to improve the maintenance of school assets.

Human resource development, through investing in post-school academic, technical and vocational training and national human resource development planning systems to address the growing youth population and limited prospects for domestic employment. This includes implementation of the pilot scholarship program under the Kiribati Australia Nursing Initiative.

Improving public sector performance, through supporting strategic and operational planning and performance monitoring, strengthened financial management systems, and improved service delivery.

Vulnerability reduction and adaptation, through cross-sectoral support to address youth, health, environmental and social problems in partnership with regional and multilateral implementing agencies. This will include a continued partnership with other donors to address Kiribati's vulnerability to climate change, climate variability and sea level rise.

Assistance to Tuvalu will focus on:

Tuvalu Trust Fund, through annual funding contributions to the Fund, which: supports Tuvalu's recurrent budget; and is important for Tuvalu's long-term financial viability given limited alternative revenue options.

Improving fiscal and budget management, including through continued provision of in-line budget management and auditor-general advisers. Australia will also support economic and public sector reform measures to enhance revenues and facilitate private sector growth.

Improving access to quality education and vocational skills development, through provision of scholarships, improving Tuvalu's national education system, and facilitating access to technical training.

Assistance to Nauru will focus on:

Economic and governance reform, by funding positions within the government administration and providing support for Nauru's productive sectors. This work will aim to enhance budget planning, including debt management, and provide support for Nauru's fisheries and mining sectors to enhance job creation and options for alternative livelihoods.

Improved community access to basic education and primary health care services, by support for infrastructure and specialist advice. This support will include construction of a new secondary school and provision of medical specialists and supplies.

Sustainability, through reform of Nauru's utilities sector to promote energy diversification, demand management and cost-recovery as well as through support for improved environmental management and land rehabilitation.

Assistance to Micronesia will focus on:

Improving governance and public financial management, through the provision of advisers to assist in tax reform and the provision of scholarships to support management and policy development.

Support for community organisations and government agencies, through a small grants scheme.

Assistance will be provided through a delegated cooperation program with New Zealand to: Improve service delivery, in support of education, health and social services; Strengthen governance; Provide sound and affordable infrastructure; and Encourage economic growth, particularly in the outer islands.

Assistance to Niue and Tokelau will focus on:

Human resource development, through targeted scholarships and technical assistance to strengthen capacity for management and policy development.

Social and economic development, through support to the Niue and Tokelau Trust Funds.

Assistance to the Pacific region will focus on:

Health Systems Strengthening through health workforce development and service provision under a $13.3 million initiative over four years from 2007‑08. This initiative will provide significant investment in health workforce planning and training, as well as coordination of specialist surgical and training visits in the Pacific region.

Addressing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections through the Pacific Islands HIV and STI Response Fund of up to $30 million over five years from 2008‑09. This initiative, in partnership with other donors, will strengthen the focus on prevention and continue support for testing, treatment and research.

Combating malaria in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and regionally through a $25 million initiative over four years from 2007‑08, focusing on prevention, disease management and eradication of malaria island by island.

Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases in 22 Pacific island countries through a four year, $20 million initiative from 2007‑08. The initiative will provide support to countries for national planning, legislative changes, workforce training in clinical management, creating sustainable funding mechanisms through taxation, and surveillance and research on disease burden.

Improving Education through a $48 million Pacific education program over three years from 2008‑09 focusing on improving education access, quality and universal basic education. The Australia Pacific Technical College, a $149.5 million four year initiative, supports skills development in response to national and regional labour market requirements and provides qualifications in construction and automotive trades, manufacturing, hospitality and health/community services that will enhance the opportunity for Pacific Islanders to access international labour markets.

Climate Change as part of a broader $150 million climate change adaptation initiative over three years from 2008‑09. This initiative will establish a sound policy, scientific and analytical basis for long-term Australian action to assist Pacific countries assess and adapt to the likely impacts of climate change. Sharing Australia's expertise in monitoring climate change and modelling impacts will help countries build resilience to changes.

Improving Governance through the Pacific Leadership Program. This initiative will contribute to strengthening demand for good governance by working with current and emerging leaders in the Pacific region and by supporting regional, national and local partners who are already working on leadership development issues.

Assistance to Indonesia in 2008‑09 will primarily be delivered through a country program and grant and loan components of the Australia-Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development (AIPRD). It will focus on:

Sustainable growth and economic management, by: improved natural resource management, environmental governance and response to climate change; reduced constraints to growth in infrastructure and productivity; and improved economic policy and management. This includes continuing improvements to the condition of national road networks; commencing a major new infrastructure facility to support broader infrastructure development at the national and local levels; addressing national economic management and policy in areas such as tax administration, debt management, financial sector regulation and fiscal policy; and assisting Indonesia to improve forest governance and access potential future carbon markets through support for development of a national forest monitoring and carbon accounting system, and design of pilot activities to reduce deforestation.

Improving service delivery, by better health and education access and systems, including water and sanitation to meet Millennium Development Goals. This includes the new Maternal and Neonatal Health Program in eastern Indonesia which aims to reduce maternal and infant deaths through improved access to quality services; the next phase of the HIV/AIDS program (up to $100m over 2008-2015) to significantly increase support to HIV prevention and care, particularly in Papua and West Papua; continued construction of junior secondary schools as part of the Basic Education Program; and support for rural and urban water supply and sanitation projects and programs at local and national levels.

Democracy, justice and good governance, by: strengthened capacity, accountability and responsiveness of legal, democratic and oversight institutions; and improved local government and public financial management, responding to local demand. This includes support for human rights institutions, electoral processes (including the 2009 Presidential election) and Parliament.

Safety and Peace, by: improved responses to humanitarian needs, emergencies and vulnerability to disasters; and improved capacity to ensure transport security and to counter threats from transnational crime. This includes new programs to strengthen the capacity of our Indonesian partners in management of natural disasters.

Australian assistance to the Philippines in 2008‑09 will focus on:

Basic Education, through support for programs under the Government of Philippines Basic Education Reform Agenda to assist the Philippines to achieve its MDG target for universal primary education. This includes support for school based management, rationalisation of teacher deployments to ensure coverage of remote schools, text book provision and school building construction. Increased support will be provided to improve access to and quality of education for children in disadvantaged and conflict affected areas.

National Stability and Human Security, through support for peace building programs focussed at the community level, provision of economic opportunities through small scale infrastructure development and microfinance, and delivery of health services. The program will facilitate more coordinated efforts by donors in their work in conflict affected areas. Increased Australian funding will be provided through multilateral partners to support efforts to reduce the high maternal mortality rate in the Philippines.

Economic Growth, through programs to increase the quality and level of government expenditure on social services and infrastructure, by supporting improvements to national level budgeting, public financial management and public-private partnerships. The program will support improved public sector management in upgrading and maintenance of critical road infrastructure at the provincial level. Major design work will be undertaken to develop a program of assistance to improve economic opportunities for the rural poor.

Assistance to Vietnam will focus on:

Supporting inclusive growth by assisting Vietnam's efforts to effectively manage the challenges of international economic integration through expansion of performance incentives arrangements and by helping to strengthen the institutional foundations required in a World Trade Organisation environment.

Improving livelihoods of the rural poor by helping Vietnam to improve the impact of poverty reduction programs targeted at the poorest communities and ethnic minorities. Programs will assist by improving agricultural production; livelihoods; and developing infrastructure such as water supply and sanitation facilities. Assistance will be given to vulnerable communities to help prepare and implement disaster mitigation strategies.

Improving Health Service Delivery by supporting Vietnam to improve the management, financing and coordination of the health sector by bringing together national and donor programs to improve policy and budget coordination.

Assistance to Cambodia will focus on:

Reducing poverty in rural areas by increasing the value of agricultural production and agribusiness activities by supporting farmers to diversify and expand production and by strengthening market mechanisms and their accessibility to farmers. Assistance will also be provided to reduce the impact of land mines and unexploded ordnance.

Improving the health of Cambodians, particularly by reducing infant, child and maternal mortality rates, through health system financing, service delivery and monitoring activities. This support will be delivered directly through the Cambodian Government's strategic plan for health in concert with other key donors.

Strengthening the justice system by developing provincial crime prevention and community safety capacity; and improving the capacity of courts and prisons to deal with juveniles and other vulnerable groups.

Underlying all these objectives will be a renewed focus on improving the way government revenue is managed to provide timely and predictable funding to support service delivery and development priorities in Cambodia.

Assistance to Laos will focus on:

Improved outcomes in basic education by helping improve the effective resourcing and management of the Lao education system and by improving access to and quality of basic education, especially for marginalised communities in remote areas.

Supporting broad‑based economic growth through trade reforms by assisting the Lao Government to simplify customs procedures; improve legal and regulatory frameworks; enhancing the capacity of key government agencies; and improving the investment climate.

Reducing poverty in rural areas by helping the Lao Government to improve livelihoods and strengthen community resilience to natural disasters and unexploded ordnance; by improving security of land tenure; building village water supply and sanitation systems; increasing the participation of people with disabilities, including victims of unexploded ordnance, in economic and social activity; and by promoting better utilisation of government revenues for service delivery and pro-poor outcomes.

Assistance to the Mekong sub-region aims to assist sustainable broad-based growth through:

Supporting sub-regional connectivity through infrastructure investments in poorer areas of the sub-region, by improving access to markets and services for rural communities, by upgrading feeder roads and canals connecting to transport corridors and by increasing the availability of efficient and sustainable energy in rural Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Enabling sub-regional integration through promoting and facilitating cooperation. Assistance will improve the efficient cross-border movement of goods, people and vehicles in the sub-region. Improving the sustainable management of Mekong River water resources and researching climate change impacts, will be implemented through partnerships with the Mekong River Commission, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Australian assistance will focus on:

Supporting democracy, security and justice, through continued assistance with security and the rule of law, promotion of political stability and the reduction of vulnerability. This includes strengthening parliamentary, electoral and justice institutions, reinforcing the capacity of media and civil society, supporting efforts to return and resettle internally displaced people, helping to build disaster risk management and mitigation capacities, and providing emergency relief as appropriate.

Strengthening economic development and management, by working with the Government of East Timor to improve public sector management and support the delivery of services. This includes improving budgeting practices, increasing rates of budget execution, and strengthening employment opportunities and systems through labour market research, labour-intensive infrastructure projects, and private sector development.

Improving delivery of services, by supporting implementation of the National Health Plan, improving access to safe water and sanitation practices in rural districts through a five‑year $30 million commitment, expanding vocational education opportunities for youth, and continuing assistance to improve food security and agricultural production.

Australia will provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma through UN agencies and international NGOs. Activities focus on supporting basic health, education, livelihoods and protection of vulnerable populations inside the country and on the Thai-Burma border.

Under a new East Asia Regional Strategy in 2008‑09 Australia will focus on:

Strengthening capacities for inclusive and sustainable regional economic integration through: a new phase of assistance to ASEAN to achieve its goal of an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015, under the ASEAN-Australia Development Cooperation Program Phase 2 ($57 million from 2008-2015); continued support for East Asia Summit economic and trade priorities; support for developing countries to participate in regional and multilateral trading systems; and continued assistance to APEC's capacity building initiatives for developing economies.

Strengthening capacities to safeguard regional health and human security by encouraging regional approaches to address transboundary threats and economic integration, including continuing to:

• combat the threat of pandemics and emerging infectious diseases such as avian influenza by implementing the third year of a four year, $100 million commitment, focusing on strengthening planning, prevention and response capacities and underlying systems for animal and human health in the region
• address HIV/AIDS through an HIV/AIDS Asian Regional Program of up to $65 million over eight years from 2007 including by reducing HIV-related harm associated with drug use in the region
• address people trafficking through the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project ($21 million over five years) that promotes more coordinated approaches to people trafficking within and across criminal justice systems in Southeast Asia.

Assistance to China will focus on building capacity in governance (policy reform), environment (water management and environmental governance) and health (HIV/AIDS, other communicable diseases and health systems strengthening).

Assistance to Mongolia will focus on the implementation of an increased scholarships program as a capacity building instrument for participating Government agencies, NGOs, private firms and universities.

Assistance to North Korea will focus on responding to the protracted humanitarian emergency through funding to UN and international agencies providing assistance in areas such as food aid, water and sanitation, and disaster response and preparedness.

The provision of other development assistance will depend on progress on denuclearisation.

Assistance to Africa will:

Support Africa's achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in selected countries and sectors as set out in the Strategy for Aid to Africa 2008‑2015. This will be largely through partnerships with bilateral, multilateral and non-government organisations.

Provide timely and targeted humanitarian assistance, by responding to emergency situations as well as providing programmed assistance for protracted humanitarian needs. This longer-term humanitarian support will be linked to efforts towards the Millennium Development Goals.

Support the reintegration of Zimbabwe into the international community. Australia will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to support those most in need in Zimbabwe, as well as providing assistance to civil society organisations promoting human rights, democracy and good governance. When conditions are appropriate, the Australian Government is committed to assisting the economic recovery of Zimbabwe. This assistance will be provided as part of coordinated international donor efforts.

Assistance to Bangladesh will focus on:

Improving livelihoods of the rural poor, by providing directly targeted assistance to the extreme poor — through programs with the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and by continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to identified communities in need.

Increased support for health services, through new and expanded partnerships with UNICEF and BRAC, to enhance the capacity for health services delivery by government and NGO providers. Support under this pillar in 2008‑09 will help to reduce maternal, neonatal and child deaths in rural areas through improving skills and motivation of health providers, strengthening referral linkages between public and private health facilities, increasing demand for services and providing improved emergency obstetric care.

Increased support for education, through significantly expanded programs with UNICEF and BRAC. In 2008‑09 these programs will target teacher education and local-level planning for government primary schools, under a multi-donor sub-sector wide program. They will also support a nation-wide non‑government network of 32,000 primary schools, focusing on disadvantaged poor rural children who are excluded from the formal system, two-thirds of whom are girls. These BRAC-managed schools also seek to address the multiple disadvantages faced by poor children with disabilities.

Assistance to Sri Lanka in 2008‑09 will focus on:

Continued support for rehabilitation of conflict affected communities, and continued support for peace building processes primarily through UN and NGO partners.

Support for basic education by working with UNICEF to deliver Australia's education sector assistance which targets education for boys and girls in grades one to nine. The primary aim will be to improve access for the most vulnerable children to quality basic education, especially children affected by conflict.

In 2008‑09 the program will continue to support improved natural resource management, including in the forestry sector.

Assistance to India in 2008‑09 will continue to focus on reducing the risk and impact of HIV/AIDS, particularly among high risk groups and in the northeast. It will also continue to foster agricultural research and institutional linkages with Australia, including linkages to address the impact of climate change.

Assistance to Nepal will in 2008‑09 will focus on:

Support for health services through joint programs with UNICEF which target maternal and child health and the delivery of essential community health services.

Strengthening governance and improving inclusion, by continuing partnerships with DFID to help strengthen democratic practices and to increase access to safe water sources and improve sanitation to marginalised communities.

Supporting education through targeted improvements to primary education access and quality, focusing on girls and disadvantaged children.

Continued support delivered through Australian Scholarships and governance activities.

Continued support delivered through Australian scholarships and small scale governance and education activities.

Continued support to address priority regional development issues, including adaptation for climate change, HIV/AIDS, health, water and sanitation, and education, delivered through key regional partners — including UNAIDS, World Bank and ADB. Targeted support will also continue for improved governance, including economic management.

Australia's assistance will focus on:

Increased support for basic health care and education, through new investments to strengthen quality and access to services, including expanding existing partnerships with UNICEF, and new partnerships with the World Bank and other donors.

Reducing poverty along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, where Pakistan's poorest and most marginalised populations live.

Building human capital through support for tertiary scholarships

Continuing reconstruction following the October 2005 earthquake, including support for the Asian Development Bank's Earthquake Emergency Assistance Project, and continued work with UNICEF to help rebuild schools and health facilities.

Assistance will focus on:

Strengthened governance capacity in key sectors (including agriculture) through targeted bilateral and multilateral training programs and to provide legal livelihoods for farmers. Australia's support includes the provision of scholarships.

Increased support for basic health and education including salary support of teachers and medical staff, improving access to health and education services.

Complementing the reconstruction activities of the Australian Defence Force in the province of Oruzgan, support for government de-mining and rural development initiatives along the border with Pakistan and continued assistance for the repatriation of Afghan refugees.

Assistance will focus on:

Responding to the humanitarian situation facing the civilian population through the provision of basic and essential services.

Building Iraq's capacity in the areas of agricultural management (including through the provision of scholarships), public financial management, human rights, law and justice and public sector reform.

Supporting international reconstruction efforts through improvement in the delivery of basic services, particularly in health and agriculture.

Other ODA includes a final tranche of debt relief estimated at $238.2 million, scheduled to be recognised in 2008‑09.

Assistance will focus on:

Supporting implementation of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan.

Improving basic services for Palestinians, in particular refugees and promoting democracy and improved governance.

Includes sectoral, thematic, scholarship and aid effectiveness program expenditure not yet attributed to particular countries or regions.

Small grants scheme administered by Australia's diplomatic posts in developing partner countries.

Supporting a Human Rights Small Grants Scheme, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, and emerging human rights issues.

Supporting business projects that demonstrate results benefiting the poor and future commercial viability, through grants awarded under open competition.

Supporting the development of leadership, partnerships and linkages amongst current and emerging leaders in the Asia‑Pacific region through scholarships and fellowship placements with Australian host organisations.