Global Programs

Emergency response and support for global, regional and country level humanitarian initiatives that help improve basic conditions of life, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity during and in the aftermath of man‑made crises and natural disasters, including assistance and protection for refugees and internally displaced people.

Core support for the ICRC. ICRC plays a key role responding to conflict and meeting the needs of conflict and crisis affected populations.

Australia will continue to support effective and efficient United Nations humanitarian agencies.

Australia will continue to provide core support for the UNOCHA which plays a lead role in strengthening the United Nations' response to humanitarian crises through coordination, policy development and advocacy of the United Nations' humanitarian reform agenda. Australia has entered into a partnership agreement with UNOCHA to provide $26 million in support over four years.

Emergency food aid continues to be an important element of Australia's humanitarian program, and Australia will continue to provide core support for WFP in their key role as the lead United Nations agency in humanitarian food assistance.

Australia will continue to support the UNCERF which works to improve the speed and efficiency of funding access in the earliest days of a crisis response, as well as filling the gaps in funding for 'forgotten' emergencies.

Australia will provide increased core support to the UNHCR as the mandated lead agency to assist refugees and internally displaced people.

Australia will continue to support UNRWA to deliver services to over 4.5 million registered Palestinian refugees across its five fields of operation (the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon), through basic health and education assistance and by responding to humanitarian and emergency appeals.

Payments made in 2009‑10 reflect Australia's commitments made under previous replenishments to IDA which is the concessional lending arm of the World Bank.

Payments made in 2009‑10 reflect Australia's commitments made under previous replenishments to the Asian Development Fund which is the concessional lending arm of the ADB.

The HIPC Initiative provides multilateral debt relief to the world's poorest and most heavily indebted countries that have a demonstrated commitment to reform. Payments in 2009‑10 reflect Australia's commitments made under previous replenishments.

GEF supports projects in developing countries related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, the ozone layer, land degradation and persistent organic pollutants.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of certain substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion.

Payments made in 2009‑10 reflect Australia's pledge of $100 million over three years to the Clean Technology Fund, financing demonstration and deployment of low carbon technologies in high‑emitting developing countries.

Core funding to these agencies supports the United Nations' efforts to realise the MDGs globally.

UNICEF's program will focus on five areas: young child survival and development; basic education and gender equality, HIV and children; child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse; and policy advocacy and partnerships for children's rights. Australia has entered into a partnership with UNICEF to provide $93.6 million in support over four years.

Expanded support for WHO's lead role on global health and advocacy with partner countries to improve the delivery of health services and the systems that underpin it. Australia signed a partnership framework with WHO in March 2009 to provide $64 million in support over four years.

Expanded support for sexual and reproductive health initiatives.

Strengthened partnership to advance women's democratic participation, increase economic empowerment and reduce violence against women. Australia is currently finalising a partnership framework with UNIFEM.

Assistance will strengthen UNDP's central role in coordinating the United Nations development system and the United Nations' implementation of the MDGs. Australia signed a partnership framework with UNDP in March 2009 to provide $68.3 million in support over four years.

Expanded support for UNAID's lead role in coordinating the global response to HIV including scaling up assistance towards universal access on treatment, care and support.

Support for development and associated activities by other United Nations agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations Drug Control Program and the United Nations Environment Programme. Support for United Nations humanitarian agencies is outlined on page 62 under Humanitarian, Emergency and Refugee Programs.

Australia will continue to support the development-related work of the Commonwealth, focusing primarily on the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation which provides small‑scale, short‑term technical assistance in a range of sectors.

Support for global environment programs including the International Tropical Timber Organisation, the Global Crop Diversity Trust, international climate change adaptation funds programs and international forest carbon programs.

Support for key international health partners to take forward innovative service and financing mechanisms.

Continued support for the Global Fund international financing mechanism to assist countries address tuberculosis, malaria and HIV.

Support for global education programs; in particular the World Bank‑led Education For All Fast Track Initiative, accelerating progress towards the goal of universal primary education; and UNICEF's Back on Track Initiative, protecting children's right to education in emergencies.

Enhanced NGO engagement will support more than 40 accredited Australian NGOs undertaking community-based development work. New Partnerships will be established with larger community-supported NGOs. Support will also be provided to improve coordination and promote good practice community development principles and standards for community development programs.

Supporting the management and placement of Australian volunteers in developing countries, increasing people-to-people links and organisational capacity building. In 2009‑10 Australia will support the placement of an estimated 1,200 volunteers.

A strengthened research program will contribute to aid effectiveness with increased research funding, partnerships, capacity building and improved research communication. The 2008 round of the Australian Development Research Awards funded 41 grants totalling $12 million over three years. In 2009 new frameworks for the monitoring, evaluation and communication of research will be developed, as will initiatives designed to build the capacity of researchers in Asia and the Pacific.

Increasing awareness of development issues and the activities of the Australian development assistance program in Australia and overseas.

Supporting participants from partner countries to attend development-oriented seminars in Australia and overseas under the International Seminar Support Scheme.