Investment priority data presented in this publication reflect Australian Government priorities, based on concepts defined within DFAT. The development program investment priorities are:

1. Infrastructure, trade facilitation and international competitiveness (Infrastructure and trade). Investments in infrastructure and trade are aimed directly at supporting the private sector to expand. Better infrastructure reduces the cost of doing business, while trade facilitation ensures that businesses can take advantage of international opportunities.
2. Agriculture, fisheries and water. Agriculture and fisheries are key growth sectors and critical to strengthening global food security and improving nutrition. These sectors provide important pathways out of poverty. Increased agricultural productivity plus improved water resource management increases incomes and frees up labour to move into other sectors. For Pacific island economies, fisheries also represent a major source of domestic revenue.
3. Effective governance: policies, institutions and functioning economies (Effective governance). Investments in effective governance support the stronger operation of the public sector. An effective public sector, led by committed political leaders, invests a country's own resources into pro-growth and poverty reducing activities. It also provides a regulatory environment that supports stronger private sector growth.
4. Education. Better quality education enables young people to get the skills they need to contribute to the economy.
5. Health. Investments in health–particularly health systems–ensure that women, men and children can access better health and live healthy and productive lives.
6. Building resilience: humanitarian assistance, disaster risk reduction and social protection (Building resilience). Investments in building resilience includes providing humanitarian assistance in response to emergencies. Preventing crises is a good investment. The development program works to reduce disaster risks and promote preparedness. The development Program also strengthens social protection to provide safety nets in the face of shocks to enable the poor to build skills and increase their participation in the economy.
7. General development support. Administrative costs that are not attributableto another investment priority including multisector aid, debt relief and research where sector cannot be identified.

Key Findings by Investment Priorities

In 2017-18 the Australian Government provided $4,082.3 million of official development assistance (ODA).

Effective Governance: Policies, Institutions and Functioning Economies

Our largest efforts were focused on Effective governance at $743.7 million, or 18 per cent of total ODA, comprising:

• Governance - $673.8 million
• Mining and mineral resources - $69.9 million

Building Resilience: Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Risk Reduction and Social Protection

Building resilience accounted for $740.1 million, or 18 per cent of total ODA, comprising:

• Humanitarian assistance - $409.1 million
• Social services and food security - $153.5 million
• Environment - $94.4 million
• Conflict prevention and resolution - $83.0 million

Infrastructure, Trade Facilitation and International Competitiveness

Infrastructure, trade facilitation and international competitiveness accounted for $670.0 million, or 17 per cent of total ODA, the largest components comprising:

• Transport - $193.4 million
• Energy - $137.3 million
• Large water infrastructure $61.7 million
• Banking and Finance - $56.7 million

Education

Education accounted for $643.4 million, or 16 per cent of total ODA, comprising:

• Education, general - $334.0 million
• Scholarships funding - $309.4 million

Health

Health accounted for $545.9 million, or 13 per cent of total ODA, comprising:

• Health, general - $497.9 million
• Basic water and sanitation - $47.9 million

Agriculture, Fisheries and Water

Agriculture, fisheries and water accounted for $361.8 million, or 9 per cent of total ODA, comprising:

• Agriculture, fishing and forestry - $249.5 million
• Water resource management - $61.2 million
• Rural development - $51.1 million

General Development Support

General development support accounted for $377.4 million, or 9 per cent of total ODA.

Australian Official Development Assistance by Investment Priority,

2017-18

* Includes action relating to debt, administration costs, research and scientific institutions and other multisectors not further defined.