Australia’s new International Development Policy signals important shift towards locally-led development

IDCC MEDIA RELEASE FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF AUSTRALIAS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY, AUGUST 2023

Today the Australian Government has released its new international development policy, “Australia’s International Development Policy: For a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo- Pacific”. The Policy sets out a long-term vision, values and principles for how Australia will be a genuine, reliable development partner in our region, putting the needs, priorities and aspirations of our partners out front. Reducing climate change, increasing locally-led development, improving social inclusion and in particular gender equality and disability equity, and strengthening the participation of First Nations Australians in international development are welcome commitments. The Policy also restates Australia’s commitment to play its part in achieving the world’s collective international development ambition for poverty reduction, as stated in the 2030 Agenda, and makes clear commitments to strengthen DFAT’s development capabilities.

The IDCC strongly supports this agenda for change, and our members are ready to work with the Government to deliver it.

Joanne Choe, Chair of the IDCC Board, said:

“This new Policy is a clear statement by Australia that it is in our national interest to support the countries in our region to tackle poverty, climate change, and inequality – and we need to do this as a genuine partner, that acts with respect and humility, and comes behind local leadership.

IDCC members work on the front lines of international development, and they are uniquely positioned to influence and promote best practice in Australian-funded international development programmes and policy. Of particular importance to the IDCC is recognition in the Policy of the critical role our members play in translating policy commitments on locally-led development into programs that are designed and delivered in new ways that place local leadership, capabilities and knowledge at the forefront.”

The IDCC welcomes the introduction of a new target for programs over $3million to achieve a climate change objective, signalling the central importance of addressing climate change throughout the bilateral program. The IDCC has previously commended Government policy commitments on gender equality and continues to look forward to engaging on the new strategies that have been announced for Gender Equality, Disability Inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ human rights.

The IDCC is pleased to see the commitment to long-term multi-year country planning and review, with timeframes fitted to country contexts.

IDCC CEO Jane Haycock said:

“We look forward to clearer signals on which programs the government intends to deliver in each country and when, so that our members can plan ahead, marshalling the capabilities required for the excellence we all seek.

The IDCC welcomes the Policy’s commitments to greater transparency, public accountability, evaluation and development research. The establishment of an online portal providing access to key financial and performance data and documentation is a positive step.”

The IDCC welcomes the articulation of DFAT’s governance arrangements for the development program and the emphasis upon the much needed strengthening of DFAT’s development capabilities, including for locally engaged staff. The appointment of Senior Responsible Officers at overseas posts to oversee delivery is a promising change. We look forward to learning more about where and how many of these roles will be established and how their accountabilities and responsibilities will operate in practice.

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Enquiries to Jane Haycock, CEO IDCC, jane.haycock@idcc.org.au

The International Development Contractors Community (IDCC) is the peak body representing and advancing the interests of international development consultants and contractors working with the Australian Aid program. We are an inclusive community of international development professionals working to contribute to positive development outcomes. Our members include individual consultants, and small, medium, and large companies who are engaged by DFAT to deliver Australia’s development program.

IDCC WELCOMES STABILISATION OF THE AID BUDGET AND FUNDING FOR DEVELOPMENT CAPABILITY

The international development budget announced by the Government last night puts Australian aid back on the right path. The IDCC is pleased to see the budget commitments announced in October 2022 now reflected in DFAT’s ODA allocations, along with a commitment to incremental increases in future years. 

The IDCC especially welcomes the government’s commitment of $36.8million over four years to support enhanced development capability within DFAT.  Joanne Choe, Chair of the IDCC Board, said:

“this investment in enhancing development capability is critical to bolstering and ensuring the ongoing relevance and effectiveness of Australia’s Development cooperation in the region”.

The IDCC has previously commended Government policy commitments on gender equality and now looks forward to engaging on the new strategies that have been announced for Gender Equality, Disability Inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ human rights. We also await the Performance and Delivery Framework that will accompany the Development Policy and include important signals on how the Government will implement approaches to locally-led development and First Nations participation in development.

We note the Government’s project commitment to increase the aid budget by 2.5% for ten years beyond the forward estimates. While this longer-term planning provides welcome stability for our sector, these nominal improvements could also mean a general decline in Australia’s ODA/GNI ratio over the period. We encourage the Government to consider ensuring Australia is viewed as a more generous supporter of international development than current predictions suggest.

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IDCC welcomes Government commitment to a higher and more predictable development budget

The IDCC welcomes the Government’s commitment to increase the development budget by $1.4 billion, with an additional $470 million promised for Southeast Asia and additional $900 million for the Pacific over four years.  We are pleased to see these commitments included in DFAT’s ongoing ODA budget allocation and not as temporary and targeted measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Joanne Choe, Chair of the IDCC Board said ‘the IDCC’s members welcome this return to a higher and more predictable budget for development assistance. We welcome the increases for Southeast Asia alongside those for the Pacific, and the increased departmental budget to ensure these commitments are programmed effectively’. 

The increased development budget commitment sends an important signal to the IDCC’s members to think creatively and with ambition as we engage in the recently announced process to write a New Development Policy that responds to the threats of climate change, COVID-19 recovery and challenging economic conditions in our region and beyond.  

IDCC considers that the increase to the development budget acknowledges development assistance – in pursuit of poverty reduction – as an important tool of soft-power.  We welcome the focus on supporting sustainable and inclusive development in our region as the smart and right thing to do.  

IDCC commends the Government’s commitment to gender quality, including the reintroduction of the 80 per cent performance target and mandating that investments over $3 million have a gender equality objective.  

IDCC recognises that the impact of development assistance can be magnified when its planning and delivery is informed by deep contextual analysis, and careful planning and alignment with Australia’s diplomatic and defence engagement.   

We call upon the government to ensure the New Development Policy focuses not just on the ‘what’ of development assistance, but also the ‘how’, taking steps to fit departmental systems, structures, development capability and procurement approaches for the next generation of development engagement, enhancing a culture of constructive contestability, improved accountability, transparency, collaboration, and learning.  

IDCC welcomes increased development budget, October 2022

INITIAL IDCC REACTION TO THE OCTOBER 2022 BUDGET 

IDCC WELCOMES GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO A HIGHER AND MORE PREDICTABLE DEVELOPMENT BUDGET 

The IDCC welcomes the Government’s commitments to increase the development budget by $1,400 million, with an additional $470 million promised for Southeast Asia and additional $900 million for the Pacific over four years.  We are pleased to see these commitments included in DFAT’s ongoing budget allocation and not as temporary and targeted measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Joanne Choe, Chair of the IDCC Board said ‘the IDCC’s members welcome this return to a higher and more predictable budget for development assistance. We welcome the increases for Southeast Asia alongside those for the Pacific, and the increased departmental budget to ensure these commitments are programmed effectively’. 

The increased development budget commitment sends an important signal to the IDCC’s members to think creatively and with ambition as we engage in the recently announced process to write a New Development Policy that responds to the threats of climate change, COVID-19 recovery and challenging economic conditions in our region and beyond.  

IDCC considers that the increase to the development budget acknowledges development assistance – in pursuit of poverty reduction – as an important tool of soft-power in and of itself.  We welcome the focus on supporting sustainable and inclusive development in our region as the smart and right thing to do.  

IDCC commends the Government’s commitment to gender quality, including the reintroduction of the 80 per cent performance target and mandating that investments over $3 million have a gender equality objective.  

IDCC recognises that the impact of development assistance can be magnified when its planning and delivery is informed by deep contextual analysis, and careful planning and alignment with Australia’s diplomatic and defence engagement.   

We call upon the government to ensure the new development policy focuses not just on the ‘what’ of development assistance, but also the ‘how’, taking steps to fit departmental systems, structures, development capability and procurement approaches for the next generation of development engagement, enhancing a culture of constructive contestability, improved accountability, transparency, collaboration, and learning.  

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Enquiries to Jane Haycock, CEO IDCC, jane.haycock@idcc.org.au

International Development Contractors Community (IDCC) is the formal peak body representing international development consultants and contractors working with the Australian aid program. IDCC members have enduring partnerships with actors in the region borne from working together to deliver effective development assistance. 

IDCC WELCOMES LABOR’S COMMITMENT TO REBUILDING AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The International Development Contractors’ Community (IDCC) welcomes the election of the new Government and its commitments to rebuilding Australia’s international development program and increasing Official Development Assistance. 

The IDCC congratulates Senator the Hon. Penny Wong on her appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pat Conroy MP on his appointment as Minister for Defence Industry, and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, and Tim Watts MP for his appointment as Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The IDCC’s members will support the implementation of Australia’s reinvigorated agenda through the delivery of high quality, impactful aid programs that meet the Government’s objectives.

IDCC Board Chair Stuart Schaefer said:

‘We welcome the Government’s commitment to delivering the aid program through an appropriate balance of public sector, non-government organisations, and the private sector and its focus upon promoting accountability and aid effectiveness. 

Our members are active in all areas of Australia’s development assistance program and have essential skills and capabilities that can assist the delivery of the Government’s efforts.’

IDCC supports commitments that maximise the impact of Australia’s statecraft through combining the use of Australia’s diplomatic capability, defence and security cooperation, effective climate leadership, vital development assistance, humanitarian assistance, boosted Australian media outreach and increased people to people links strengthening our Pacific partnerships.

IDCC members welcome the Government’s commitment to prioritise Australia’s first nations culture and history in our contemporary foreign policy.  We look forward to working with the Government to implement this agenda as it takes shape.

IDCC ‘s New CEO – Jane Haycock

The IDCC Board welcomes Jane Haycock as Chief Executive Officer. Jane commences with the IDCC this week, and looks forward to working with members in implementing the priorities of the IDCC strategic plan.

“I’m honoured to lead this important peak body representing consultants and contractors working with the Australian aid program.” says Jane.

“I’m looking forward to delivering results for our members and for the broader international development community.”

Jane can be contacted via email: ceo@idcc.org.au