Australia's Development Cooperation Program with the Philippines

The strong Australia-Philippines partnership in development cooperation, spanning more than 50 years, is now one of Australia’s largest aid programs. For the financial year 2015-2016, Australian aid flows to the Philippines are estimated at over Php2.73 billion (A$84 million).

Aid investments of around Php33 billion (A$1 billion) since 2001 demonstrate Australia’s commitment to assist the Philippines to address its development challenges. Significant contributions to Philippine development efforts over this period are in the areas of basic education, training and human resource development, public financial management, health, rural and community development, governance, assistance to vulnerable groups, infrastructure, and support to the Mindanao peace and development process.

In partnership with the Philippine Government, and with UN agencies, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, and local and international non-government organisations, industry and the business sector, Australia’s aid program has achieved much. Some highlights in recent years include:

• Continuing technical support to K-12, the biggest education reform agenda to date.  Early achievements include contributions to development of the new curriculum and assessment policy, new competency standards for teachers and education leaders and classroom construction in areas of need.
• Establishing an alternative delivery model for education to help extend education access to very remote areas in Muslim Mindanao.
• Contributing to the design, implementation and enhancement of the Philippine Government’s poverty targeting system and Conditional Cash Transfer program that assists 4.4 million poor families with a cash payment on the condition of school attendance and regular health checks for recipient children.
• Introducing a performance focus into the National Budget to provide both public sector managers and citizens with a better understanding of how resources link to results.
• Introducing a Treasury Single Account and related improvements in cash management processes saves an estimated A$75 million per annum.
• Financing advisory services to deliver the Public-Private Partnership pipeline.
• Improving local transport and access by rehabilitating 380 kilometres and maintaining 248 kilometres of provincial roads.
• Providing 120 scholarships (in 2014-15) to study in Australia. Participants included 60 public servants and 90 women.
• Encouraged policy dialogue across government, private sector, and civil society organisations, leading to increased government funding of A$97.6 million for significant reforms in education, local infrastructure, and land governance.
• Strengthening and supporting interfaith understanding and cooperation through grassroots dialogue and community cohesion activities.
• Improving access to basic and economic services and sustainable livelihood opportunities in Muslim Mindanao.
• Increasing active participation of women in peacebuilding.
• Developed hazard and risk maps on earthquake, flooding and tropical cyclone for 28 eastern seaboard provinces, and 27 cities in the Greater Metro Manila Area which are now informing land use and disaster planning, and development of projects.
• Built the capacity of 140 communities in Metro Manila on community-based disaster preparedness, benefiting at least 7 million residents.
• Provided immediate and life-saving assistance to approximately 650,000 families (or 3.25 million people) in response to several disasters and emergencies including: Typhoon Haiyan, Rammasun, Hagupit, Koppu and Melor; the Bohol earthquake; and Zamboanga conflict.

The Australian Government’s aid program in the Philippines currently focuses on: enhancing the foundations for inclusive economic growth; building stronger institutions for transparent and accountable governance; and improving the conditions for peace and stability.

It is delivered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Geoscience Australia, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Federal Police.

  Updated: January 2016

 

  Aid Investment Plan the Philippines: 2015-16 to 2017-18

 

See Also:

Australia-Philippines Agriculture Cooperation

The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

Direct Aid Program (DAP) 

 

Knowledge Products

• Handbook on Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Local Design Practices, July 2016 Download:  

  The Handbook introduces risk-based approach in designing resilient structures such as municipal hall, public market, school building, health center and evacuation centre to reduce risks and enhance adaptive capacities of the structures from earthquake, flood and severe wind. It will help government agencies, local governments and communities put into practice the build-back-better principle in retrofitting and constructing disaster and climate resilient structures. The Handbook will also be useful in other development endeavours of the private sector, non-government organizations, academe, and other bilateral and multilateral development partners. 

VIDEO:  Leaving No One Behind

Social Protection - Ensuring Economic Growth is Sustainable and Inclusive

This film showcases the positive impacts of social protection, in particular how it supports economic growth, reduces poverty and addresses inequality. It highlights case studies from three countries in the region: Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Philippines and includes interviews with experts, decision makers and beneficiaries. High profile speakers include:Dr Sri Mulyani Indrawati (Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, World Bank);Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman (Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippines) andM Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan (Cabinet Secretary, Cabinet Division, Bangladesh).

Published on 18 March 2015