An independent review of Australia's aid program by world experts shows we are at the forefront of best practice in aid delivery and effectiveness.
The review by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) praised the efficiency, transparency and effectiveness of Australia's aid program.
In particular, it recommended that other countries could learn from Australia in the areas of disability-inclusive development, providing aid to fragile states and organisational reform.
The DAC chair, Erik Solheim, said: 'Australia's aid system is set up to deliver its growing aid program effectively and efficiently after impressive reform since 2010.'
The review is the result of a rigorous, independent process by the expert team, led by examiners from Canada and the European Union.
It found Australia had a good track record thanks to a real and very positive 29 per cent increase in its aid volume since 2007 and should achieve its stated goal of 0.5 per cent of gross national income (GNI) by 2017.
'The DAC welcomes Australia's dynamic approach to being a good international citizen, punching at or above its weight,' the review said.
It called AusAID's Comprehensive Aid Policy Framework a 'major achievement' and the new civil society engagement strategy 'an excellent framework' for increasing aid to and through NGOs.
'Australia's solid integration of gender equality, capacity development and disability in projects and programs is a good example of its holistic approach to development,' the review said. 'Its exceptional emphasis on disability makes it a leader in this area internationally.'
The review said Australia was 'widely appreciated as a flexible and predictable donor to protracted crises', responding 'proactively, rapidly and flexibly to new and escalating emergencies'.
Mr Solheim welcomed Australia's innovative work to reduce exposure to disasters in the Philippines. 'We would like to see this good practice expanded to all partner countries, and invite Australia to share its good practices with other donors,' he said.
The review commended Australia's 'exemplary steps to increase the transparency of its development cooperation' which made it 'one of the forerunners' in this area.
It also highlighted AusAID's 'impressive and complex restructuring' and found its strategic planning of human resource needs and implementation of workforce plans 'set it apart from other DAC members'.
AusAID Director General, Peter Baxter, said the review had been an important and thorough exercise.
'This positive assessment demonstrates that Australia's aid program is at the forefront of global efforts to reduce poverty, delivering a high quality and effective aid program that gets results,' he said.
'This assessment of Australia's approach to aid positions us as an expert on aid delivery amongst our peers.'
Mr Solheim said the review also made several recommendations for AusAID which include:
- continuing to focus its aid where it can do the most good, especially through partnerships with developing countries and other development actors
- having one clear strategy on how it will support developing countries through various channels, including aid
- telling partner governments how much aid they can expect to receive from Australia over the coming three-to-five years and passing it through partners' own budget systems
- communicating the challenges it faces in helping people overcome poverty, the successes it has had and the lessons it is learning from delivering aid, so that Australian taxpayers and other stakeholders understand the full complexity of how aid contributes to development.
As a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), Australia's aid program is subject to a peer review every four to five years.
More information
OECD Development Co-operation Peer Review–Australia 2013 [external website]