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Vietnam

How Much:

2021-22 bilateral allocation $57.2 million

2021-22 total Australian ODA

$78.9 million

2019-20  total Australian ODA

$77.9 million

What are the areas of focus?

-       Pillar 1 – health security

-       Pillar 2 – stability

-       Pillar 3 – economic recovery

What is the Impact/Examples?

Health Security:

To strengthen health security in Vietnam, Australia will promote a more resilient Vietnamese health system, better able to maintain full health service delivery in the event of further health security threats, including a future wave of COVID-19.

Stability:

Australia will support Vietnam to strengthen its institutions and train its future leaders, so they are equipped to manage future shocks and regional challenges. The new Vietnam-Australia Centre (VAC), situated in the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics will be the centrepiece of these efforts.

Economic Recovery:

To support economic recovery, Australia will provide targeted policy advice to Vietnam’s economic leaders to help reform the policy and business environment and accelerate public and private investment.

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2021-22 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$42.1 million

2021-22 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$95.5 million

2020-21 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$91 million

Prior to the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar had been navigating multiple complex transitions: from military rule to a democratic government, from a closed to an open market economy and from conflict to peace. The coup and its aftermath, combined with the impact of COVID-19, have reversed many of the gains made and significantly amplified Myanmar's humanitarian and development challenges.
Around one third of Myanmar was affected by conflict prior to the coup and there is now political instability across the country, including the use of force against civilians. This drives population displacement and humanitarian need. Over one million people in Myanmar and on the Thai-Myanmar border are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Political instability, violence and COVID-19 are exacerbating poverty and food insecurity. Essential services, particularly health and education, were already strained by the impacts of COVID-19 and are under even more pressure today. Much of the country is experiencing difficulty accessing healthcare and schooling. The combined effects of COVID-19 and the coup have severely impacted Myanmar's economy, with rising unemployment and poverty, as well as disruptions to the banking sector. Women, youth, and informal workers in urban areas are particularly vulnerable.

Australia's commitment to Myanmar's development and to supporting the people of Myanmar remains steadfast. Following the coup, Australia's development assistance in Myanmar has pivoted to ensure that it does not work with the military regime or government bodies and continues to meet the immediate needs of the country's most vulnerable people, including the poor and ethnic minorities. In redirecting our development funding, we have selected a number of trusted partners that have been able to maintain operations in the current context. This includes the World Food Programme, the United Nations Population Fund and non-government organisations that are continuing to deliver support outside government systems.

Australia will continue to work flexibly with our multilateral and non-government partners to respond to the growing development and humanitarian needs resulting from the coup and COVID-19.

Our results

Some key examples of Australian development to Myanmar in 2020-21 include:

contributing to COVID-19 assistance for 2.9 million people

providing stipends to 244,331 students to enable them to continue their education

supporting the training and engagement of 602 mentor teachers, and the training of 13,719 in-service teachers

supporting the training of over 470,000 polling staff in the lead up to the November 2020 elections

delivering humanitarian assistance in Rakhine, Kachin, northern Shan, and on the Thai border, including providing shelter to over 334,212 people and healthcare to 623,429 people.

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Fiji

How Much:

2021-22 bilateral allocation
$40.0 million

2021-22 total Australian ODA

$81.2 million

2019-20 total Australian ODA

$80.9 million

What are areas of focus?

-       Pillar 1 — Health security

-       Pillar 2 — Stability

-       Pillar 3 — Economic recovery

What is the Impact/Examples?

Health Security:
Australia is Fiji’s largest public health development partner. In 2020-21, we will further increase support to our health program, which builds institutional capacity, improves patient care (especially maternal, new-born and child health), addresses communicable and non-communicable diseases, and strengthens the health system to respond to crises such as COVID-19.

Stability:
As a key Pacific economy and a regional hub, Fiji’s stability is of great importance to the Pacific. Guided by Fiji’s long-term reform and its COVID-19 priorities, we are supporting the Government of Fiji to strengthen national policies and institutions.

Economic Recovery:

Australia moved quickly to respond to the severe impact of COVID-19 on the Fijian economy. We are contributing to Fiji’s efforts to maintain fiscal sustainability. In May and June 2020, Australia repurposed bilateral and other funding to provide budget support worth $19.5 million (including contributions for TC Harold) to promote stability and confidence in Fiji’s fiscal position.

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How much?

2021-22 bilateral allocation [budget estimate] - $20.6 million

2021-22 total Australian ODA [budget estimate] -$39.3 million

2019-20 total Australian ODA - $45.3 million

Where are the area of focus?

health security
basic education
an important foundation for Laos' stability and prosperity
economic recovery

What are the impact?/example

Pillar 1 – health security

Health security in Laos is improving, although many resource and coordination challenges persist. Australia is supporting Laos to improve its capacity to respond to health sector needs that have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Australia is focusing on strengthening capacity for key health security institutions. Training and other support is designed to help Laos understand, identify and manage COVID-19 and other communicable disease outbreaks. We are balancing institutional strengthening with support for Lao frontline health workers, mostly women, who are at the highest risk from further outbreaks of COVID-19 and other diseases. Australia is supporting equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Laos through bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives to finance, assess, deliver and monitor COVID-19
vaccines.

Pillar 2 - stability

COVID-19 is exacerbating social inequalities and increasing poverty. Australia continues to focus on sectors that help reduce poverty and alleviate other social pressures. We are also supporting Laos to mitigate the pandemic's negative impacts on disadvantaged groups. We continue to strengthen basic education, an important foundation for Laos' stability and prosperity. COVID-19 has increased disparities in basic education quality and access. Quality education is also critical to women and girls' empowerment and improved social equality. Australia continues its strong human rights engagement in Laos. A human rights-based approach is important to achieving an inclusive recovery from COVID-19. We are supporting stability and security in food and water supply. COVID-19 has heightened water, food and electricity insecurity and the potential for conflict over shared resources. We are addressing increased risks of transboundary criminal activity. Poverty and the diversion of government resources could make Laos more vulnerable to transboundary crime and social instability as a result of COVID-19. Australia continues to support the most vulnerable. Women, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities are at increased risk of poverty due to the pandemic.

Pillar 3 – economic recovery

The Lao Government recognises the need for diverse and sustainable growth to drive economic recovery. Yet its ability to deliver is constrained by significant economic and financial challenges. Australia is supporting Laos to return to economic growth and strengthen financial and economic management. We are helping to strengthen the trade and business environment. Prospects for a strong economic recovery will improve if Laos removes barriers to trade, investment and enterprise development. We are building capacity in public financial management and economic governance. COVID-19 has increased the need for Laos to maximise revenue collection and improve the efficiency of public expenditure. We continue to work with Laos to strengthen human resource development in support of inclusive growth. Gaps in human resource capacity undermine public sector governance and private sector growth. Australia is recognised in Laos for placing a high priority on gender equality and social inclusion. We consistently advocate for women to play a role in their country's growth, development, stability and security.

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1. 2021-22 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$39.3 million

2019-20 total Australian ODA

$45.3 million
2. Three pillars
1) economic recovery
Australia is supporting Laos to return to economic growth and strengthen financial and economic management. We are helping to strengthen the trade and business environment. Prospects for a strong economic recovery will improve if Laos removes barriers to trade, investment and enterprise development. We are building capacity in public financial management and economic governance. COVID-19 has increased the need for Laos to maximise revenue collection and improve the efficiency of public expenditure. We continue to work with Laos to strengthen human resource development in support of inclusive growth. Gaps in human resource capacity undermine public sector governance and private sector growth. Australia is recognised in Laos for placing a high priority on gender equality and social inclusion. We consistently advocate for women to play a role in their country's growth, development, stability and security.
2)  stability

COVID-19 has exacerbated social inequalities and Australia continues to focus on sectors that help reduce poverty and other social pressures. We also support Laos in mitigating the negative impact of the epidemic on vulnerable groups.
3) Health and safety
Health security in Laos is improving, although many resource and coordination challenges remain. Australia is supporting Laos to increase its capacity to respond to the health sector needs exacerbated by COVID-19. Australia is focusing on strengthening the capacity of key health safety agencies. Training and other support are designed to help Laos understand, identify and manage outbreaks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. We are balancing institutional strengthening with support for frontline health workers in Laos, mainly women, who are most at risk from further outbreaks of COVID-19 and other diseases. Australia is supporting equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Laos through bilateral, regional and multilateral initiatives to finance, evaluate, deliver and monitor COVID-19 vaccines.

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Australia's aid to Papua New Guinea (Group 1)

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Australia's aid to Papua New Guinea (Group 1)

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How much?  Australia is the largest donor to PNG's health sector, contributing up to 20% of PNG's domestic health budgets in recent years.

PNG is also Australia’s largest overall aid recipient, with $607.5 million pledged between 2019 and 2020 — up $29.5 million from the year prior.

Area of focus? health

Impact? maximised the influence of our investments, we focus on key areas of the health system, including workforce planning, communicable diseases, family planning, sexual and reproductive health, and maternal and child health

Example? Australia and other donors like the WHO and the World Bank, PNG was able to vaccinate at least 3.3 million children under the age of 15 within 10 months of the initial polio case.

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Room 1- Australia's aids to to Sri Lanka
health security

Australia was one of the first donors to respond to COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. DFAT, Department of Defence and Department of Home Affairs provided medical equipment, food, technical support and health related services to support Sri Lanka’s immediate needs.

economic recovery

Australia’s programs aim to support a robust, inclusive, and sustainable Sri Lankan recovery from the pandemic. Australia has redesigned the skills-building element of their portfolio to assist with faster economic recovery in selected value chains such as tourism, agriculture, and aquaculture. the private sector development work will address the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on those most vulnerable, particularly women and people with disabilities. DFAT will leverage their partnership with the World Bank to assist recovery of Small to Medium-sized Enterprises through economic policy reforms. Australia’s and Sri Lanka’s economic recoveries will be boosted through increased trade and education linkages over the longer-term, as we pursue the objectives of our bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement.

stability

Department of Home Affairs and DFAT supported vulnerable families with the distribution of dry rations and food supplies for families affected by COVID-19 lockdowns during the initial response to the pandemic. In the longer-term Australia will support stability in Sri Lanka through a range of governance and social inclusion programs. These programs are aimed at supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to increase economic growth, reduce poverty and inequality, and strengthen the capacity of relevant authorities.

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To strengthen health security in Vietnam, Australia will promote a more resilient Vietnamese health system, better able to maintain full health service delivery in the event of further health security threats, including a future wave of COVID-19. Our global health investments will help strengthen Vietnam’s health systems, provide access to lower cost health products and address other major disease burdens, including tuberculosis and malaria. We will support equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam through multilateral and regional initiatives to finance, assess, deliver, and monitor COVID-19 vaccines. Australia will continue its regional support for sexual and reproductive health. We will invest in Vietnamese innovation to support new health approaches, including the trial of artificial intelligence in COVID-19 responses.