Federal Aid Budget 2009/10

The Federal Government presented its Budget last Tuesday night, 12 May. The Aid Budget for 2009/10, entitled ‘A Good International Citizen’ delivered $3,818.8 million in ODA. This is an increase from the 2008/09 Aid Budget of $3,659.9 million, representing a real increase of 5.6%. Australia’s ODA has increased from 0.33% of GNI last year to 0.34% of GNI this year, progressing incrementally towards the committed 0.5% by 2015/16.

Winners this year are Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Pacific. Expenditure on education, health and infrastructure (including water and sanitation) have also increased significantly. In terms of NGO funding, the Aid Budget allocated a total of $54.4 million for the ANCP (an increase of 25.4% from 2008/09). This includes an increase of $3 million for core ANCP funding, as well as $7 million for ANCP Partnership Agreements and $0.5 million for an ANCP Innovations Fund to highlight innovative NGO approaches.

For ACFID's media release on the budget: http://www.acfid.asn.au/acfid-media-release-aid-budget09/
For Micah Challenge analysis: http://www.micahchallenge.org.au/default.asp?mail=1474
For Australia's International Development Assistance Program Budget 2009-10: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/budget/budget09/default.cfm