Chapter Seven: United Nations, Commonwealth and other International Organisations
United Nations development organisations
In 2003-04, Australia will provide $61.1 million in contributions to the following UN development and humanitarian organisations:
| World Food Program United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations Development Programme United Nations Children's Fund United Nations Relief and Works Agency United Nations Population Fund International Atomic Energy Agency United Nations Drug Control Program United Nations Development Fund for Women United Nations Environment Program |
$31.0 million
$7.3 million $7.0 million $5.5 million $4.2 million $2.3 million $2.0 million $0.8 million $0.4 million $0.6 million |
The UN organisations' continued engagement in the Asia-Pacific region is important in advancing the development aspirations and poverty reduction strategies of our immediate neighbours. Work with the UN complements Australia's bilateral aid program, addressing issues at a global level. In addition to core contributions made to UN organisations in 2003-04, Australia will provide an estimated $40 million towards UN-related activities undertaken through country and regional programs.
The UN is also implementing significant reforms, moving from a focus on reforming central systems to consolidating and harmonising programs at the country level. Realigning resources to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals is also a major priority for the UN organisations.
In 2003-04, Australia will refine our monitoring of UN effectiveness, formalise strategic partnerships and strengthen engagement with UN organisations to enhance aid outcomes in the Asia-Pacific region. For instance, the World Food Program and UNICEF remain important partners for Australian assistance and we will continue our support of UN organisations that we consider to be effective and relevant. Greater collaboration and monitoring and an increased emphasis on non-core contributions to the UN will encourage a greater focus by UN organisations in our region.
International health programs
In 2003-04, Australia will provide $15.2 million to international health programs. Support is provided through proven effective and efficient multilateral health organisations that complement Australian priorities. Australian funding is targeted at regional priority health needs, including maternal and child mortality, HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, particularly in Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Indonesia and the Mekong countries.
Australian support of $2.5 million for UNAIDS in 2003-04 complements our lead role in the regional response to HIV/AIDS, a growing Asia-Pacific health and economic challenge. Aid program funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO) gives Australia the opportunity to contribute to solving major health problems affecting the Asia-Pacific region. The work of WHO has been pivotal, for example, in successfully combating communicable diseases such as smallpox, polio and leprosy.
The United Nations Population Fund and the International Planned Parenthood Federation are also important partners in the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Program of Action, the basis for most partner country policies on reproductive health and population issues.
Commonwealth organisations
The Commonwealth Secretariat and associated Commonwealth development agencies will focus on consolidation and harmonisation of programs in 2003-04. Australia is taking a lead role in the review of mandates for Commonwealth bodies, emphasising the need to ensure the Commonwealth remains relevant and responsive to its members' needs and focused on strengthening development activities.
In 2003-04, Australia will contribute $12.1 million to Commonwealth development organisations and programs to improve good governance, small states development, economic policy making and institution building. Economic and social development will be supported via continued assistance for the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, providing experts, training and advice for member countries. Australia will provide support for counter-terrorism programs in the Asia-Pacific and assistance for small states and youth programs, including the Commonwealth Youth for the Future Initiative announced by the Prime Minister at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2002.
Global Conservation Trust
Food security is a growing global concern. Maintaining agricultural biodiversity will be critical to ensuring sufficient production of food crops for the future. In 2003-04, Australia anticipates contributing $2 million to the Global Conservation Trust (GCT) - a joint international initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, aiming to support the conservation of agricultural biodiversity in gene banks.