Australia is working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of development efforts through a range of global programs.

Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation and the Busan Agreement

In 2011 Governments, NGOs, private sector organisations and other development partners came together to discuss and agree broad principles for effective development cooperation. The Busan Agreement recognised the value that all development partners bring to international development cooperation, and set out broad principles for cooperation: ownership of development priorities by developing countries, a focus on results, inclusive partnerships, transparency and accountability.

Born out of the Busan Agreement the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) aims to bring together all development partners to: maintain and strengthen political momentum for more effective development co-operation; ensure accountability for implementing Busan commitments; and facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing of lessons learned.

Australia is a strong supporter of the GPEDC and continues to engage in its global monitoring activities and high-level meetings. Australia contributed to the 2016 global monitoring round of the GPEDC, which drew record participation and diversity–81 developing countries, 125 development partners, and hundreds of civil society organisations, private sector representatives, and foundations participated. The monitoring round focused on strengthening developing country institutions; transparency and predictability of development cooperation; gender equality; and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Development Assistance Committee

The OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) is an international forum for donor governments to exchange policy experience and identify good practice. The DAC sets and monitors global standards in key areas of overseas development assistance, compiles development statistics and facilitates peer reviews of members' development programs.

Australia is an active member of the DAC, contributing to reform efforts currently underway to increase the forum's relevance and impact. Australia has also played an active role in efforts to modernise Official Development Assistance (ODA) measures, standards and systems. This has included: adjustments to the way ODA loans are measured; a commitment to target ODA to countries most in need; updates to peace and security directives and work on a new measure for 'total official support for sustainable development' to complement the ODA measure.

Australia contributes to shaping the analytical work of the DAC, including through support for the DAC Program of Work and Budget as well as work to improve peer review process. Australia takes part in DAC policy networks, including for gender equality, fragility and governance (for which Australia is co-chair). Australia also works with those bodies and programs that align closely with Australia's development priorities, in particular on conflict and fragility, leveraging other drivers of development such as domestic finance, and development finance statistics.