International Aid Needs Team Approach - ACFID

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The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) has recommended a ‘team approach’ to the way in which Australian Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) interact with the Federal Government.

In its submission to the 2012-13 Federal Budget, ‘Helping people overcome poverty: Investing in community solutions’ released this month, ACFID’s key recommendation proposes the establishment of 10 country-based and regional four-year Partnership Agreements between the Federal Government and NGOs, totalling $469 million over four years.

The submission says that the proposal capitalises on the strong connection between NGOs and the Australian public.

“The proposal is aimed at ensuring that our partnerships grow in the most effective, coherent manner possible. Further impact on the ground can be achieved by aligning existing NGO capacities and country presence with AusAID country strategies and priority sectors,” the report said.

Acting Executive Director for ACFID, Dr Susan Harris Rimmer, said that the ‘Team Australia’ recommendation would be a win-win outcome for all involved.

“It would capitalise on the knowledge and community links of Australian NGOs and their partners in developing countries, as well as meaning that the Australian aid program would have a greater reach, to more communities in more places than it currently does," Harris Rimmer said. 

The submission contains 25 further recommendations gathered from the knowledge and input of ACFID Member Agencies and covers the four-year period to 2015-16, when the aid budget is set to reach 0.5% of Australia's Gross National Income (GNI).

For the first time, the submission is organised by country and region and covers all of the regions in which Australia's official aid program operates.

Harris Rimmer said that the submission does not cover only the 2012-13 budget. “It covers all years up until 2015-16, when the bipartisan promise to lift the aid budget to 50 cents in every $100 of Australia's Gross National Income is set to be achieved," she said.