Australia’s International Development Assistance Program 2012-13
Bangladesh
In 2012-13, the Australian Government will provide an estimated A$100.5 million or Taka 8.3 billion in official development assistance to Bangladesh.
“Australia remains committed to assisting Bangladesh to overcome poverty, as demonstrated by the increase in funding of A$8.5 million since the 2011-12 Budget,” said Acting High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mr Tim Bolotnikoff. “Australia’s aid program makes an important contribution to a global effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and in particular to eradicate poverty.”
This is part of the Government’s overall commitment to increase the size of the Australian aid program to A$5.2 billion from A$4.8 billion in 2011-12. This increase will maintain Australia’s Official Development Assistance at 0.35 per cent of its Gross National Income.
Australia is committed to increasing its ODA to 0.5% of GNI by 2016-17.
Managed by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Australia’s aid program in Bangladesh is focused on four areas: increasing access to child and maternal health services; helping more children gain a quality primary education; reducing the levels of extreme poverty; and, assisting efforts to combat the impacts of climate change. This assistance is in line with the Australian Government’s policy on aid, ‘An Effective Aid Program for Australia: Making a real difference – Delivering real results’.
Australian assistance to Bangladesh in 2012-13 will support the Government of Bangladesh’s Sixth Five Year Plan, Accelerating Growth and Reducing Poverty. Australian funding will increase access to quality health and education services, especially for women and children, and reduce the number of people living in extreme poverty.
Consistent with commitments made, the Government also released a new Comprehensive Aid Policy Framework on 8 May 2012. The Framework articulates a four-year vision for Australian aid that sets out how much Australia will deliver, where and why by 2015-16.
This will enable the Australian Government to work together with Bangladesh to better plan and implement aid investments more effectively over the next four years, delivering better results for the people of Bangladesh.
Australian High Commission, Dhaka
9 May 2012
For further information please contact:
Research and Communications Officer, AHC Dhaka
Tel: +88 02 8813105 (413), Mobile: 01713 048599
E-mail: [email protected]
Or
Mark Bailey, Counsellor – Development, AusAID, Dhaka
Tel: +88 02 881 3105