International Development Assistance

International development assistance is an issue of justice that should address the inequitable global distribution of wealth and debt that is the result of neoliberalism, colonialism and imperialism. Australia has an obligation to contribute to a just and equitable world by working with communities in lower-income countries to promote human rights, environmental protection, health, education and climate justice.

Principles

The Australian Greens believe that:

  1. Australia has a responsibility to contribute to ending global poverty, advancing human rights and gender equality, enhancing self-reliance, protecting the planet and ensuring well-being for all in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals.
  2. International development assistance is a global, social and climate justice issue. Australia has a responsibility to contribute to the international response to the climate crisis by compensating and working with affected communities wherever they are.
  3. Australia must decolonise and reset its approach to international aid, recognising the controlling and exploitative legacy of relationships between donor and recipient countries in regard to issues such as debt and global poverty.
  4. Poverty in lower-income countries is the result of colonisation, capitalism and their ongoing consequences – including the ongoing exploitation of people and natural resources.
  5. Australia has an obligation, particularly as a wealthy and colonial country, to encourage positive and equitable change in the social, economic and environmental conditions for citizens of partner nations through sustainable and inclusive development assistance programs.
  6. Australian development assistance programs must recognise the strengths, capabilities and knowledge of recipient countries, including through partnering with local communities, rather than relying on corporations to deliver aid programs.
  7. Development assistance programs should be consistent with a human rights-based approach; economically and environmentally sustainable; partnered with local communities and promote gender equality and empowerment, so as to enhance the political, economic and social rights of recipient communities.
  8. Australian development assistance projects must recognise the rights of Indigenous communities to free, prior and informed consent, as recognised in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
  9. Aid effectiveness requires development strategies and programs that are transparent and designed with and accountable to people living in poverty.
  10. The human rights and self-determination of women should be placed at the centre of Australian development assistance programs, which must be delivered using an intersectional feminist approach and with greater effort to ensure it is directed to a diversity of women’s organisations.
  11. Development assistance should contribute to a world free from structural inequalities, where people can determine their own futures and where trade and debt no longer exploit people, but instead promote climate, environmental and social justice.
  12. The rights of children to health care, education, shelter, good nutrition and protection from violence should be central to Australian development assistance.
  13. Australia’s development assistance should prioritise bilateral and United Nations programs for global health, education, environment and sustainable infrastructure over international financial institutions and the private sector.
  14. Development assistance programs should not be used to influence the democratic preferences of any nation.
  15. Existing or projected funding for Australia’s development assistance programs should, at a minimum, meet our international obligations.
  16. Australia must provide reparations, in addition to international development assistance, to countries and communities affected by climate change and colonisation, commensurate with relative disparities in wealth, historical and ongoing contributions to the climate crisis
  17. Australia must contribute to emergency relief and humanitarian aid to save lives and alleviate suffering of affected people during conflicts and natural disasters:
    1. with impartiality and based solely on need;
    2. with neutrality, not favouring any side in any armed conflict;
    3. independent from the political, economic, or military objectives of the Australian government in the area concerned;
    4. by civilians, except in relation to situations involving natural disasters where ambiguity over the military role is unlikely to arise; and
    5. with full implementation of international humanitarian law, refugee law, and human rights law.
  18. Australian governments must forgive loans and cancel repayment arrangements from lower-income countries, and advocate for financial institutions and foreign governments to do the same.

Aims

The Australian Greens want:

  1. A focus in Australia’s international development programs on working with recipient countries to alleviate poverty through the promotion of equality, justice, good governance and humanitarian principles.
  2. An increase in the level of Australian overseas development assistance to a minimum of 0.7% of GNI as mandated by the United Nations, with provision for increases in the event of natural disasters or conflicts requiring major humanitarian interventions and climate reparations.
  3. Full delivery on Australia’s international development and assistance commitments as tabled in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and integrated programming to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
  4. Transparency, open communication and accountability in the purpose and impact of all development assistance programs, to both the Australian people and the communities and countries the programs are designed to benefit. This includes ensuring program governance structures and processes to promote access to human rights.
  5. A non-commercial development assistance program, that:
    1. puts people and communities before business interests;
    2. is not used as a means of subsidising Australian businesses or promoting Australian business interests; and
    3. does not prioritise or advantage Australian organisations over those from recipient countries for delivery of programs.
  6. Recipient communities to determine the most appropriate way of receiving and distributing funds and assistance, to maximise benefits in the local community.
  7. Long-term development assistance programs that recognise and address the links between the climate crisis, colonisation, structural disadvantage, and poverty.
  8. Australia to play a lead role in securing global contributions to UN and other international appeals for funding, expertise and logistical support to deal with humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur.
  9. The establishment of an independent development oversight agency, separate from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
  10. No discrimination in Australia's overseas development assistance programs. 
  11. All development assistance programs and processes to have clear social and/or environmental objectives and impact statements on economic, gender, sexuality, age, diversity and disability. These to be produced in collaboration with the relevant community, to meet the needs identified by the community.
  12. Programs that focus on women, and the inclusion of gender equality objectives in all other development assistance programs.
  13. International aspects of Australian policies on trade, economic and social issues that are consistent with, and contribute to, global poverty alleviation goals.
  14. The Australian government to recognise and support the valuable role of non-government  development assistance organisations in providing critical analysis and scrutiny of the development assistance program.
  15. Transparent selection of agencies for the implementation of development assistance programs based on their effective, inclusive, participatory and partnership approach.
  16. Increased funding to ensure equitable access to healthcare services, including sexual and reproductive health, and to improve the prevention and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases..
  17. Targeted assistance, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, to communities threatened by the impacts of climate change so communities can remain together and maintain cultural cohesion, or be assisted to relocate if they choose to.
  18. Australian government agencies that:
    1. are organised, trained and resourced to carry out effective international relief work; and
    2. collaborate with not-for-profit organisations and local communities to build their emergency capacity.
  19. Collaboration with countries in disaster-prone areas to increase their resilience to disasters, enhancing the capacity of communities, governments and local organisations.
  20. Good governance guidelines and structures within aid programs which ensure that they serve the interests of those most disadvantaged.
  21. Transparency and accountability in the reporting and evaluation of Australian international aid spending to maximise program delivery.
  22. The removal of any discrimination against small non-government organisations in Australia’s funding and tendering processes.
  23. To reduce reliance on commercial contractors and the private sector in the delivery of Australian aid programs.
  24. Development assistance programs that should be independently evaluated and delivered within an appropriate time frame.
  25. A  legislated framework to provide greater Parliamentary oversight of the development assistance budget.
  26. Codes of conduct in the aid sector which effectively prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.
  27. Robust consultation when designing new development assistance programs.  
  28. Support for women’s leadership and decision-making in all aspects of Australian international development programs with a focus on addressing the particular needs and challenges facing women and girls.

(International Development Assistance Policy as amended by National Conference June 2024)