Development assistance

Working with Pacific partners to build a region that is secure, stable and economically strong is one of Australia’s highest foreign policy priorities. Closer integration among Pacific countries, and with larger economies such as Australia, is essential to the region’s long-term economic prospects.

Australia provides aid to Niue through a delegated cooperation arrangement with New Zealand. New Zealand is the major donor to Niue. Australia's assistance focuses on waste management, education, and economic recovery.

Australia is Nauru's largest bilateral aid donor. Australia’s bilateral development assistance focuses on economic governance, education, health and infrastructure. Australia supports Nauru through regional programs including social protection, labour mobility, sport and humanitarian.

Australia's development program to Fiji supports Australia’s national interest in a stable and resilient Fiji, that is a key hub for the Pacific community.

A stable, prosperous, peaceful and resilient PNG is critical to Australia's interests. We are PNG's largest development partner and its main partner on economic and security issues.

Kiribati also benefits from non-ongoing COVID-19 response measures. Funding from these measures will be included in actual figures published in the relevant Australia's Official Development Assistance: Statistical Summary.

Australia's aid program in the North Pacific is focused on the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), following the Republic of Palau’s graduation from Official Development Assistance (ODA) on 1 January 2022.

Australia is working with Vietnam to support a prosperous, secure and stable Vietnam. Australia and Vietnam agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024 and the partnership now extends across political, security, economic, development and people-to-people activities.

 Overview of Australia’s development partnership with Laos.

Australia and the Philippines have a strong and enduring partnership built on almost 80 years of bilateral cooperation, including 50 years of development cooperation.