Australia’s annual aid to Fiji to top $100 million

20 May 2013

In the 2013/14 financial year, the Australian Government will provide a record FJD105.5 million (AUD58.2 million) in official development assistance to Fiji. This is an 18% increase on the previous year’s allocation of FJD89 million (AUD49.2 million).

“We’re very proud to announce that for the first time this year we will be providing over FJD$100 million in aid funding. This demonstrates the Australian Government’s unwavering commitment to the people of Fiji,” said Joanne Choe, Counsellor for Development Assistance in Fiji.

The increased aid flows deliver on the Australian Government’s promise to double the size of AusAID’s bilateral budget to Fiji over two years.

Managed from the Australian High Commission by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Australia’s aid program is focussed on reducing poverty and improving basic health and education services in Fiji.

Ms Choe added: “AusAID is helping the poorest children to attend school more regularly and working to see more babies growing safely through their early years. We’re also helping to promote food security and increase incomes for poor families. With this increased allocation, we will be able to improve the lives of tens of thousands more people and to reach every province of Fiji.”

The number of scholarships available to students from Fiji each year is increasing in line with the budget: from 60 scholarships last year to 80 in 2013/14. Australia also remains committed to supporting credible steps towards democratic elections, building on the provision of FJD4.79 million (AUD2.65 million) for electronic voter registration, Constitution development and civic education in 2012.

AusAID’s bilateral budget to Fiji was FJD33.7 million (AUD18.5 million) in 2011/12 and is doubling to FJD67 million (AUD37 million) in 2013/14. The remaining FJD34 million (AUD18.8 million) is made up of assistance to the Australia Pacific Technical College and other regional programs operating in Fiji.

This is part of the Government’s overall commitment to increase the size of the Australian aid program to $5.7 billion from $5.2 billion 2012 -13. This will increase Australia’s Official Development Assistance to 0.37 per cent of its Gross National Income.

The 2011-12 Annual Review of Aid Effectiveness which was released in January, demonstrated that Australian aid is effective and represents value for money. It also showed that Australia is making real progress towards the targets announced in the 2012-13 budget.

***ENDS***

For clarifications or further information contact: The Public Affairs Section, Australian High Commission, Suva. Tel: (679)3382211 – Ext 246 Fax: (679) 3382065