Program 1.13: ODA NGO, volunteer and community programs

Objective
To assist developing countries through contributions to non-government organisations, volunteer and community programs.

Deliverable	2013–14 result	Reporting
To assist developing countries through contributions to non-government organisations, volunteer and community programs.	met	below

Key performance indicators	2013–14 result	Reporting
Achievement of significant development results.*	met	below & App. 5
Demonstrated organisational effectiveness.*	met	below & App. 5

* Program 1.13 KPIs were revised over the course of the 2013–14 reporting period. In the Portfolio Budget Statements 2013–2014, the KPIs of then AusAID program 1.7 included a reference to tier 2 and tier 3 headline results under the Comprehensive Aid Policy Framework (CAPF). The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2013–2014 subsequently indicated that a revised set of KPIs for the Australian Aid Program was under development. Revised performance information was published in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2014–2015. A new aid policy and performance framework was launched on 18 June (see Aid overview). In line with the Requirements for Annual Reports, the department has reported against the former and current performance information for the entirety of the reporting period. Aggregate reporting of performance over the year against tier 2 and tier 3 CAPF headline results is at App. 5.

Overview

The department’s partnerships with civil society organisations enhance the effective delivery of the aid program. Civil society organisations can deliver services directly, facilitate local enterprise and self-sufficiency, utilise extensive networks and help reduce reliance on government. The Civil Society Engagement Framework—developed in consultation with NGOs—underpinned our work in this area.

Over the coming year the department will refresh the framework to reflect the department’s civil society engagement across all foreign, trade and development priorities in line with the new aid policy.

Partnership with the Australian Council for International Development

The department worked with the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) to promote a professional and accountable development NGO sector. We drew on the knowledge, skills and strengths of ACFID members in the implementation of Australian aid. ACFID and its members played an important role in the development of the new performance framework, including participating in an informal working group convened by Parliamentary Secretary Senator Mason.

The Australian NGO Cooperation Program

The department provided $131 million to 44 accredited Australian NGOs to deliver projects that alleviate poverty in developing countries under the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). We accredited six new organisations to the ANCP and signed partnership agreements with ten of the largest Australian NGOs to support programs that contributed to poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Through the ANCP, we helped deliver 667 projects in more than 60 countries, directly benefiting the lives of more than 20 million people. We also introduced changes to the program to improve delivery and enhance results, updating the grants management system, ANCP Online, to simplify reporting processes and to capture program results in gender, disability and private sector areas. We commissioned an independent evaluation of the ANCP by the department’s Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE) for 2014–15.

The department conducted an evaluation of nine NGO activities located in Cambodia, including initiatives focused on women and people with a disability. The evaluation noted that NGO performance and quality was notably stronger than the last assessment in 2006. The department also conducted in-country monitoring of programs in Ethiopia, Thailand, Peru, Nepal and Zimbabwe. NGOs and their local partners demonstrated strong program results. As a result of the monitoring visits, we recommended improved Australian aid branding of NGO activities, development of enhanced risk analysis in some programs, and greater cooperation between Australian NGOs to enhance development results.

Overseas aid gift deduction scheme

The department continued to simplify and streamline the process through which Australian charities are granted approval to offer tax deductible receipts for public donations for their international development activities. An online processing service commenced, with over 30 organisations taking the opportunity to move away from the existing paper-based process.

Engaging with Australian business on development

Strengthening private sector development is a key objective of the aid program. Closer engagement between the department and the business community, in Australia and in our partner countries, helps us to deliver on this goal and maximise the impact and effectiveness of our programs.

We strengthened links with the Australian business community through secondments, workshops and conferences, engagement with industry groups and direct outreach. We focused on identifying practical ways to work together to boost women’s economic empowerment, infrastructure development and vocational education and training.

In July 2013 the department signed an MOU with Carnival Cruises Australia to combine resources, networks and experience to enhance economic growth in the Pacific. The MOU outlined areas for joint cooperation in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, focusing on vocational education and training, recruitment of local staff, direct sourcing of handicrafts, artwork and local produce where possible, and support for tourism development.

The department supported the National Dialogue on the Role of the Private Sector in Development and Aid for Trade at the University of Adelaide. The forum provided an opportunity for Australian business leaders, government and academia to share best practice approaches to private sector development initiatives. The forum resulted in the formation of the Australian Trade and Development Business Network and the department maintained regular engagement with this group.

The department seconded an officer to the Business Council of Australia to enhance linkages and improve understanding of the international priorities of Australian businesses.

We convened a business roundtable on Africa in Perth and promoted partnerships with the private sector under the Australia Awards program and through the mining skills development initiative. We engaged with the Australia–Africa Mining Industry Group at the annual Africa Down Under conference in Perth. The department used aid funding to build regulatory capabilities in developing countries through the International Mining for Development Centre, and supported enabling policy frameworks such as the Africa Mining Vision.

Following the Australia Papua New Guinea Business Council Expo in May 2014, we held a business roundtable to share lessons with the private sector on aid delivery in Papua New Guinea.

The department built the evidence base for private sector development activities in developing countries. We worked with the Overseas Development Institute to identify best practice models for donor partnerships with business in Vietnam, Burma, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

Australian Volunteers for International Development

We invested $55.3 million supporting more than 2006 Australian volunteers in 43 countries under the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program.

More than 80 per cent of volunteers were on assignment in the Indo–Pacific region, focusing on governance, health, education, and social infrastructure and services in a range of non-government, government, educational and small business organisations. The largest volunteer programs were in Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

In January 2014, the ODE released the findings of its independent evaluation of the AVID program. The evaluation confirmed that Australian volunteers are making an effective contribution to the capacity of host organisations, providing their staff with new knowledge and skills and developing people-to-people links.

In response to the ODE evaluation, the department introduced reforms to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the AVID program including by: consolidation of the program under a single brand; a more targeted geographic reach; an increase in involvement by posts; more formal support networks for both volunteers and host organisations; a refocus on developing the long-term capacity of host organisations; and implementation of a simplified performance monitoring system.

The department worked closely with its three AVID delivery partners—Scope Global (Austraining International), Australian Red Cross and Australian Volunteers International—to implement the ODE reforms, and to mobilise, manage and support volunteers.

Figure 24: AVID by region, 2013–14

2,006 Australian Volunteers for International Development working around the world