Australia slips lower in foreign aid transparency ranking
18 July 2022 at 4:22 pm
The international ranking of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on global aid transparency has declined a third time.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is ranked 41, on a list of 50 countries, in the lastest Aid Transparency Index, the third time it has declined since 2018.
It marks a significant drop for Australia’s DFAT, which ranked 37 out of 47 in 2020 and 23 out of 45 in 2018.
The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) is calling on the federal government to ensure this decline in transparency is addressed urgently.
The index first launched in 2008 and is compiled biennially by UK-based non-government organisation, Publish What You Fund.
CEO of ACFID Marc Purcell says it’s a worrying trend.
“It is vital that there is transparency around where aid money is spent,” he said.
“Taxpayers need to know that their money is being spent appropriately and efficiently, and that there is accountability.
“A high level of transparency builds confidence in the overall aid program. Transparency is also key to measuring effectiveness.”
Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy says the government plans to rebuild Australia’s international development program, including taking measures to improve aid transparency and accountability.
Organisations were tested against financial tracking, impact assessment and learning, project monitoring, organisation accountability with networked data, a new addition to the data assessment strategy.
