Australian Political Parties For Democracy Program

The Australian Greens helps to support the development of new and emerging green parties in the Asia-Pacific region through a variety of mechanisms, one of which is the Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program (APPDP).

The APPDP was established by the Federal Government in 2005 to fund major political parties to further the development of political party systems in partner countries. The Australian Greens were added to this program in 2010 and we currently receive a budget of $200,000 per annum.

Our program is administered by the Australian Greens’ International Development Committee (AG-IDC) which comprises party members from across Australia. We also employ a part-time International Development Coordinator to organise these activities.

In the Asia Pacific region we assist Greens parties and organisations, principally in developing countries, to improve their capacity to participate in their democratic political processes at all levels of government — many for the first time.

Projects

Grants and mentoring

IDC annually assesses party building and training projects from three to four emerging parties in the region. Through small grants, the Australian Greens funds activities that build the capacity of party members to contest local elections, set up systems and procedures, and undertake training to further grow their party. IDC support is also practical and hands-on with networking, specialist support, and monitoring visits when needed to these countries.

Global Greens Congress

The Global Greens Congress (GGC) — the primary decision making body of the Global Greens — is held approximately every five years in a different region of the world. The first Congress was held in Canberra in 2001.

Asia Pacific Greens Federation

In March 2015 the APGF Congress took place in Wellington, New Zealand and the annual 2016 APGF Council meeting was held in Sydney in May following the study tour organised by the Australian Greens, and in April 2017 in Liverpool, UK following the Global Greens Congress.

At the 2015 Congress the APGF Constitution was officially adopted. In 2016 APGF expanded to include parties from the Middle East and there are currently 18 member and associate member parties in APGF.

Strengthening the Asia Pacific Greens Secretariat

The Australian Greens supports the ongoing development of the Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF) secretariat which provides support and capacity-building for a region-wide network of green political parties and organisations.