Development assistance in Kiribati
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2025-26 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]
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$26.1 million
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2025-26 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]
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$39.5 million
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2024-25 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]
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$26.1 million
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2024-25 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]
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$44.0 million
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2023-24 total Australian ODA [actual]
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$41.4 million
Australia is a long-standing partner of Kiribati. We work in partnership to deliver outcomes that align with Kiribati’s three core pillars of Te Mauri (Health), Te Raoi (Peace) and Te Tabomoa (Prosperity).
Australia’s development cooperation aligns with the Government of Kiribati’s development priorities, outlined in its ‘Kiribati Vision for 20 years 2016-2036 (KV20)’. Australia’s International Development Policy was released on 8 August 2023 and sets the long-term direction for Australia’s development program. We will work with the Government of Kiribati to implement this policy and establish a Development Partnership Plan, that will replace the Kiribati COVID-19 Development Response Plan.
Key commitments of the International Development Policy include genuine and respectful partnerships, strengths-based approaches, climate change action, gender equality and inclusion (disability and social), ensuring we work with local partners in country, innovative development financing and accountability for results.
Prior to finalisation of the Development Partnership Plan, Australia continues to work within the Partnerships for Recovery: Australia’s COVID-19 Development Response framework – which is focused on three key pillars for recovery – health security, stability and economic recovery.
Australia is Kiribati’s largest bilateral aid donor.
Pillar 1 – health security
Australia is working with Kiribati to strengthen its health system and deliver essential health services (including mental health, rehabilitation and control of communicable diseases).
Related initiatives
Kiribati-Australia Health Support Program
Pillar 2 - stability
Australia is supporting improvements to education, including by investing over $98 million since 2011 to build new, climate appropriate and fit for purpose schools. We are delivering teacher training and improved learning environments for i-Kiribati children, including those with disabilities. We continue to work with Kiribati to strengthen its law and justice institutional frameworks, including through partnering with Kiribati to reduce the incidence of gender-based violence and improve response services. All our investments focus on climate resilience, are disability inclusive and address the specific needs of women and girls.
Related initiatives
Kiribati Education Improvement Program
Pillar 3 – economic recovery
Australia is supporting policy making in Kiribati that improves livelihoods and delivers inclusive growth. The Kiribati-Development Partner Economic Reform Taskforce is a key mechanism to support the Kiribati Government’s economic reform priorities and to coordinate technical assistance. Budget support is linked to successful implementation of the reforms. Australia is also investing in quality infrastructure projects that provide local employment opportunities, including:
- the East Micronesia Cable project, that will improve telecommunications connectivity across Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia, and
- building schools, health and policing infrastructure.
Australia is supporting the development of a more capable, qualified and mobile I-Kiribati workforce. Australia’s support to the Kiribati Institute of Technology is enabling the delivery of a suite of courses, including in aged care which has a direct pathway into the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. The PALM scheme is providing employment opportunities for thousands of i-Kiribati workers each year across a range of sectors, including agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, aged care and meatworks.
Australia is also working with the Government of Kiribati to strengthen economic growth and improve access to international ports and markets, including by increasing flight connectivity between Australia, Kiribati and Central/North Pacific countries.
Related initiatives
Australia's development efforts are set out in Partnerships for Recovery: Australia's COVID-19 Development Response and the Kiribati COVID-19 Development Response Plan.
Climate and Disaster Resilience
Australia is committed to working in partnership with the Government of Kiribati to meet the needs and aspirations of its people to build resilience to climate change and disaster events.
Australia has provided approximately $20 million in bilateral climate change and disaster resilience support to Kiribati since 2016. This support is built into many programs, including in the infrastructure, education and governance sectors. This builds upon a range of regional and global climate change investments which are working directly to build climate and disaster resilience in Kiribati.
Australia is investing in efforts to protect three coastlines in Kiribati as part of a climate security initiative, Kiribati Australia Climate Security Initiative (KACSI) ($5.8 million, June 2023-Dec 2026). KACSI will look to implement high quality, inclusive and nature based sustainable coastal protection solutions to improve the resilience of Kiribati to the impacts of climate change.
Australia is also investing in climate smart technology for households and communities in Kiribati. Through the Atoll Food Futures Project, Australia works in partnership with Live and Learn to improve food security and reduce over-reliance on imported food. Identified households and communities are supported with packages that include established nurseries, biofilta foodcubes, seeds, compost training, keyhole gardens and water tanks.
Related initiatives
Kiribati - Australia’s commitment to strengthening climate and disaster resilience in the Pacific
Initiatives
Kiribati-Australia Health Support Program
Australia’s support is aligned with the priorities of the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Strategic Plan 2024-27. The Kiribati-Australia Health Sector Program (KAHSP II) ($12.65 million, 2024-31) supports Kiribati to help develop and manage an effective, inclusive and resilient health system, manage chronic conditions more effectively and deliver on inclusive health services; and to prepare for and respond to endemic communicable diseases and other climate-related, environment and health security threats. It builds on Australia's previous support to the Kiribati health sector (KAHSP 1, $9.6 million, 2018-2023) in areas such as health system strengthening (health information systems, workforce planning and health strategic planning) as well as high priority health issues (mental health, rehabilitation services and preventing and managing high-burden infectious diseases (particularly tuberculosis, leprosy and hepatitis B).
Kiribati Education Improvement Program
The Kiribati Education Improvement Program ($98 million, 2011-2023) supported Kiribati to provide a quality education to all I Kiribati girls and boys, including those with a disability. Kiribati has made significant gains over the past decade in improving standards in basic education, in terms of both access and quality. We are building on the gains, to target critical needs, in close partnership with the Government of Kiribati. Our education program is also addressing the need for strong hygiene standards, including by improving WASH facilities in Kiribati schools.
Kiribati-Development Partner Economic Reform Taskforce
The Kiribati-Development Partner Economic Reform Taskforce focuses on activities that assist Kiribati to maximise the benefits flowing from its resources and build greater economic resilience against external shocks. Australia coordinates its support with other development partners including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, New Zealand and the European Union. Development partners have agreed to focus support on the achievement of a discrete set of economic reforms identified and prioritised by the Government of Kiribati. The key reform pillars include promoting fiscal sustainability and transparency and strengthening policies to promote sustainable, inclusive and climate resilient economic growth.
Skills for Employment Program
The Kiribati-Australia Skills for Employment Program ($49 million, 2016-2026) supports the Government of Kiribati, through the Kiribati Institute of Technology (KIT), to equip the next generation of I-Kiribati with skills that are in demand in domestic, regional and international labour markets. This complements the Government of Kiribati’s 20-year vision, which aims to improve formal education, including technical vocational education and training, to support wider skills development that will better position individuals for employment opportunities. KIT offers short courses and certificate courses in English, IT, business, accounting, trades (automotive, plumbing, electrical and construction), community services, hospitality and aged care. KIT is also helping prepare individuals for their participation in the PALM scheme through the delivery of pre-departure briefings. The program is key to the ongoing success of I-Kiribati obtaining local and international employment.
Regional programs and engagement activities
- Pacific Engagement
- Australia’s Pacific regional development program
- Kiribati COVID-19 Development Response Plan
- Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific
- Pacific Community (SPC)
- Pacific Women’s Lead
- Pacific regional – climate change and resilience
- Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus)
- Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme
- Australia Awards and Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships
- Australia Pacific Security College