Australia's International Development Policy outlines how Australia will support Southeast Asia in our shared development priorities. In 2026–27, Australia is directing its $1.35 billion development program in Southeast Asia to meet the region's highest needs and advance our collective interests.
Australia's development cooperation in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and with ASEAN tackles some of the region's most pressing priorities - inclusive economic growth, energy security, climate change and the clean energy transition, gender equality, knowledge and skills development, and resilient communities.
Our approach to regional development cooperation is outlined in the Southeast Asia Regional Development Partnership Plan. It complements the seven bilateral Development Partnership Plans with Southeast Asian countries.
Australia's regional and multi-country partnerships and programs tackle shared challenges across Southeast Asia. We work closely with ASEAN and the Mekong subregion, uphold ASEAN centrality through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and support more than $500 million in new ODA and non-ODA initiatives announced at the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.
Regional program highlights
Australia's development cooperation with ASEAN underpins our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by delivering meaningful outcomes. Australia's flagship ASEAN development program, the Aus4ASEAN Futures Initiative, is supporting over 35 projects, including to draft the ASEAN Strategy on Carbon Neutrality, progress the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), deliver an ASEAN Tariff Finder, provide technical support for the ASEAN Community Vision, and funding $6.9 million towards the ASEAN-Australia Energy Cooperation to support the ASEAN Centre for Energy and the ASEAN Power Grid. More information on our development cooperation with ASEAN.
Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) aims to bolster economic growth and resilience in Southeast Asia by supporting the development of quality infrastructure. P4I supports partners' efforts to improve infrastructure policy and regulation, build a pipeline of investable projects, attract quality financing and enhance infrastructure productivity. Working across eight countries and with ASEAN, the program has assisted partners to accelerate transport connectivity, the clean energy transition, telecommunications reforms and supported more than 9,500 infrastructure professionals from across the region to build their technical and policy expertise.
The Mekong-Australia Partnership (MAP) responds to transboundary challenges to support a more resilient and inclusive Mekong subregion. Australia works with Mekong partners in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar to improve water security and climate change resilience; prevent and counter transnational crime; enhance economic resilience and subregional integration; build leadership and skills through scholarships and masterclasses; and support inclusive development for a more equitable future. MAP is delivering 30 additional Australia Award scholarships per year for Mekong scholars, and a $50 million portfolio of climate resilience activities including supporting biodiversity, climate-resilient agriculture and protecting livelihoods of remote communities impacted by climate change.
Australia is investing $160 million over 10 years (2024–2034) to enhance our Southeast Asia Maritime Partnerships. This will expand Australia's maritime cooperation with regional partners and contribute to our interests in a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. Australia is supporting government and institutional cooperation through practical maritime activities to help address shared challenges and uphold international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Investing in Women program improves women's economic participation. Since 2016, Investing in Women has partnered with more than 188 companies, reaching over 1.1 million employees and mobilising over $290 million to support women-led businesses in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar.
The Southeast Asia and Australia Government Partnerships program (SEAG2G) is enabling 29 Australian government agencies to deepen and sustain partnerships with their counterpart agencies in Southeast Asia. Fifty-four partnerships are underway across all countries in Southeast Asia and ASEAN, in areas such as food security and innovations for sustainability, biosecurity, transnational education, competition and consumer protection, economic governance, energy, climate change, social protection and human rights.
