Partnering for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific

Australia works closely with partners in the Pacific, Southeast Asia and across the globe to support sustainable development and help build a safer and more resilient world.

We are investing in our region to build our collective resilience and sovereignty.

We stand with our neighbours as interconnected and unprecedented global uncertainties challenge our region's economic security and stability. At every step, Australia is guided by our aspirations for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific and by the needs and priorities of our partners and region.

In 2024–25, the Australian Government will provide more than $4.96 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA). This builds on the substantial increases delivered since the October 2022 Budget, reflecting the Government's commitment to sustainable ODA growth – and to better supporting the region's priorities.

We support partners in their efforts to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and maintain momentum towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We also support bilateral, regional, and global initiatives designed to build economic integration and resilience and assist our partners to participate in and benefit from the global rules-based order.

We are implementing Australia's first long-term International Development Policy in a decade, launched in 2023. We are investing in issues that matter most to our partners. Core areas for action are climate change, locally led development and gender equality. The policy is underpinned by a rigorous performance and delivery framework to maximise the impact of Australia's development assistance.

Through our revitalised approach, Australia is partnering more effectively, respectfully, transparently, and responsively with all development partners.

Country and regional Development Partnership Plans (DPPs) are being shaped to drive bilateral and regional investments. Prepared with our partners, the DPPs represent genuine partnership, translating shared development priorities into action. DFAT continues to strengthen its development capability to drive even greater impact.

Driving equitable development remains a fundamental priority for Australia. In 2024–25 we will continue our investments in advancing gender equality (over $1.7 billion in 2022-23). In 2024 the Government is releasing an International Gender Equality Strategy to lift Australia's international ambition and commitment to deliver safety and opportunity for women and girls everywhere.

Development partnerships beyond Official Development Assistance

Official Development Assistance is only one way in which we support our developing country partners. We also contribute policy and governance expertise from across federal and state governments to build regional ties and tackle shared development challenges. Australia provides substantial financial and technical non-ODA support across biosecurity, meteorological services, maritime safety, community policing, telecommunications, and other development partner priorities.

Beyond government, Australia's world-class civil society, business, sports, media, cultural, faith-based and education institutions strengthen our development partnerships and impact. The newly established Office of First Nations International Engagement is deepening Australia's development connections with partners in our region and beyond.

Pacific Highlights

Australia shares an ocean, region and future with the Blue Pacific Continent. We work with the Pacific to prepare for and respond to shared regional challenges and achieve shared goals.

In 2024–25, Australia is delivering a record $2 billion in development assistance to the Pacific, maintaining Australia's position as the region's largest and most comprehensive development partner.

Our respect for Pacific priorities is fundamental for our development partnerships, and will be reflected in new bilateral and regional Development Partnership Plans. We are committed to delivering high-quality and impactful investments that respond to the needs of local communities across the Pacific, driving local employment, procurement and skills. Pursuing locally led development is a powerful means to strengthen both our impact and our partners' capability.

Our longstanding presence and commitment to supporting Pacific priorities continues in 2024–25, including in climate change, infrastructure, education, gender equality, health and connectivity. For example, we are supporting the region's transition to renewable energy, helping countries build climate resilience, providing more targeted climate finance, and sharing our innovations in climate adaptation. We continue to invest in climate change mitigation and adaptation by contributing $100 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility and supporting community-scale renewable energy in rural and remote areas.

Australians see the Pacific as family. We are strengthening these bonds and delivering economic support through expanding and improving the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme in line with Australian and Pacific aspirations, by embedding skills development and piloting family accompaniment. We are also enhancing longer-term Pacific aviation support through a new five year $100 million Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation Program, for a safer, more sustainable and resilient Pacific aviation sector that underpins economic growth.
 

Highlight

Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union

Australia and Tuvalu are taking the next steps in enacting our shared vision for the Falepili Union, which will help safeguard our collective peace, security and sovereignty.

Our partnership recognises that climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of Tuvalu. Australia will support Tuvalu's efforts to enable its people to continue to live and thrive at home.  That includes supporting Tuvalu's climate adaptation efforts. 

Australia is providing an additional $19 million to extend the Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, taking our total contribution to $38 million.  The project is a large-scale land reclamation and coastal rehabilitation project that will expand Tuvalu's land, creating vital space for new housing and essential services for Tuvaluans.

In addition, Australia will provide $50 million in 2024–25 to Tuvalu to secure its first undersea telecommunications cable, alongside $25 million from likeminded partners.

Southeast Asia Highlights

Australia is deepening engagement with Southeast Asia. We are listening to the region's perspectives and building our partnerships to tackle shared challenges – including climate change, inclusive and sustainable growth, gender equality, disability and social inclusion and fostering resilient communities.

From 2024–25, Australia's $1.3 billion ODA budget to the region will be guided by eight new whole-of-government country and regional Southeast Asia Development Partnership Plans. We are committed to a high quality development program that makes a real difference and meets the priorities of our partners. 

Australia is supporting climate action and the transition to net zero in Southeast Asia. We are allocating over $57 million in 2024–25 to invest in climate-focused small and medium enterprises, deliver short courses and support policy reform under the Australia-Indonesia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership (KINETIK). We are supporting climate innovation through the Aus4Adaptation program in Vietnam. Expanded support to climate change and clean energy transition through the Australia for ASEAN Futures Initiative will enhance ASEAN-led regional energy policy and planning.

Australia will provide a further $222.5 million to support the resilience and prosperity of the Mekong subregion through the second phase of the Mekong-Australia Partnership. The Partnership will improve water security, respond to climate change and combat transnational crime.

Human development is central to our partnerships. In Laos, Australia's flagship education investment, the Basic Education Quality and Access (BEQUAL) program, is modernising the way education is delivered through teacher training and reform in the primary education sector. In Myanmar, we are investing in basic education services for children living in vulnerable and conflict-affected communities and delivering primary health care, essential health supplies and mental health services through local non-government providers.
 

Highlight

50 years of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Partnership

At the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Australia Dialogue Relations, Australia announced over $500 million in new initiatives. From deepening our economic and cultural ties, to strengthening our educational and environmental cooperation, the package reinforces Australia's commitment to Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 featured across all elements of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. The Government announced $140 million in a second phase of the Partnerships for Infrastructure program to support the policy and regulatory reforms necessary to attract quality infrastructure finance. This complemented non-ODA measures to implement the Strategy, including investment Deal Teams and a new $2 billion Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility, both of which will help to catalyse Australian private sector investment into Southeast Asia.

In partnership with the university sector, the Australian Government also announced over 75 Australia for ASEAN Scholarships and Fellowships to support the next generation of leaders from ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste to study in Australia and advance the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Climate and infrastructure finance

Australia is increasingly using innovative financing mechanisms alongside grants to meet our region's greatest challenges, including climate change and its many impacts. Our newly established Australian Development Investments uses ODA to deliver climate and gender equality outcomes by mobilising significant additional private and philanthropic finance.

We are considering climate risk in all Development Partnership Plans and increasing our climate investments, including through a new flagship facility, Climate Resilient Communities. From 2024-25 at least half of all new country and regional investments over $3 million will include a climate objective.

Australia is deploying high-quality climate finance to meet the needs of our developing country partners. This includes prioritising grant-based funding for Pacific adaptation projects and more flexible financing options to support mitigation efforts in Southeast Asia.

Australia expects to deliver $3 billion to the global climate finance goal over 2020-25.

Australia has re-joined the Green Climate Fund with a $50 million contribution. We will help countries access more climate financing from multilateral funds by embedding climate finance experts in Pacific Island countries and advocating for the needs of our Pacific neighbours in multilateral replenishments. Our pledge of $492 million towards the USD5 billion replenishment of the Asian Development Bank's Asian Development Fund (2025-28) will deliver transformative development projects such as climate resilient hospitals and schools across the Indo-Pacific's most vulnerable countries.

Infrastructure

Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific 

The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) is investing more than $1.8 billion in concessional finance and ODA grants to deliver 20 critical infrastructure projects across ten countries. From 2024-25 to 2027-28, the ODA contribution from AIFFP grants and concessional lending is estimated to be over $900 million. The AIFFP is supporting partners to build transformative infrastructure including submarine telecommunications cables, ports, wharves, roads, bridges, runways, and clean energy. We invest in climate resilient infrastructure and support the transition to net zero, with a strong focus on local content, jobs and procurement.

Announced Projects

Delivering safety and opportunity for all

Gender equality, disability and social inclusion are at the centre of Australia's development and humanitarian efforts. Our countries are made stronger, more secure and more inclusive when all people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and thrive.

Australia is developing a new International Gender Equality Strategy, International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, and an International LGBTQIA+ Human Rights Engagement Strategy to guide Australia's development, humanitarian and foreign policy efforts. We have already consulted with over 1,000 people in more than 30 countries to inform these ambitious new strategies.

Through the $65 million Indo-Pacific Gender Equality Fund, Australia is supporting regional partners to improve women and girls' wellbeing, integrate gender equality into peace and security efforts, end gender-based violence, and advance women and girls' economic empowerment and leadership. Australia is increasing our development assistance for international disability equity and rights by boosting the Disability Inclusive Development Fund to $14 million. This supports new initiatives that increase access to essential assistive technology for children with disabilities in the Pacific.
 

Highlights

Preventing gender-based violence

We are increasing support to prevent gender-based violence through a new five-year $20 million Southeast Asia Gender-based Violence Prevention Platform (2024–29). Bringing together partner governments, civil society, and regional and international organisations, the collaborative Platform is preventing gender-based violence by building evidence and supporting transformative programs, policy and action.

Innovative financing

Australia is enhancing women's economic empowerment by enabling them to contribute to and benefit from economic development and emerging green job opportunities. In 2024–25 DFAT is providing $2.5 million (total $10 million over 4 years) to scale the 'Orange Bond Initiative'. This aims to mobilise USD10 billion of certified high-quality gender bonds by 2030. Orange Bonds channel funds to support sustainable livelihoods for women by improving their access to finance, goods and income generating assets that create inclusive, resilient and green outcomes.

Assistive technology

Improving disability equity and rights is a core commitment in Australia's International Development Policy. In 2024–25 Australia is addressing critical gaps in access to more appropriate, affordable, and quality assistive technology in the Asia-Pacific. We are increasing funding to a partnership with Pacific countries to screen school-aged children and provide eyeglasses, hearing aids, and mobility aids, enabling children with disabilities to take part more fully in their education and communities.

Australia in the world

In 2024–25, we remain committed to driving global development efforts through substantial multilateral investments and through Australian programs with global reach. The Australia Awards program leverages our world class tertiary sector to educate the next generation of leaders from development partner nations around the world. Now in its 50th year, the Australian Non-Government Organisation Cooperation Program (ANCP) is supporting more than 50 Australian NGOs to work with over 2,000 local partners to deliver community-based development outcomes. The Australian Volunteers Program is connecting skilled Australians with local partner organisations and supporting them to achieve their development goals. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) facilitates and funds vital research to improve agricultural system productivity and profitability in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Australia is also working with partners in South and Central Asia and will provide $342 million in 2024–25, addressing transboundary challenges, building skills, and deploying our expertise in water resources, agriculture, trade and infrastructure to support long-term stability and economic security. We also prioritise the specific needs of women and children, especially in emergency settings, through our UN humanitarian and civil society partners.
 

Humanitarian Action

Australia has a long-standing history of providing humanitarian assistance, and our support remains in high demand. The intensity and confluence of humanitarian challenges in today's interconnected world are without precedent. Entrenched conflicts, climate emergencies, natural hazards, rising levels of inequality and other threats are all driving human suffering and humanitarian need.

In response, Australia will provide a total of $676 million in humanitarian sector funding in 2024–25. This includes more than $120 million in flexible funding for global humanitarian partners to meet needs where they are most acute, such as in the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. We are confronting protracted crises, including supporting governments and communities hosting displaced populations.  Our funding and leadership help make the multilateral humanitarian system stronger. We continue to advocate for respect for rules, norms and international humanitarian law.

Our work will be informed by a new Humanitarian Strategy, to be released in 2024. This strategy will shape our future humanitarian action in the Indo-Pacific and beyond to reduce need and build resilience.
 

Humanitarian partners and UN development agency funding tables

Table 1: Australian ODA allocations by country, regional and global programs

1. North Pacific is no longer presented as a single funding line, with Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Palau captured as separate allocations.

2. East Asia is no longer presented as a separate region. The former East Asia Regional funding line has been consolidated into Southeast Asia Regional. The Mongolia funding line is captured under South and Central Asia (formerly South and West Asia).

All 2023–24 and 2024–25 Budget figures are Budget Estimates. Due to rounding, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals. 2024–25 figures include estimated ODA grant equivalents on AIFFP loans based on scheduled disbursements (subject to the terms of the loans).

Table 2: Australian ODA by country and region of benefit

Table 3: Australian ODA delivered by other government departments

1. Represents grant equivalent of loans for the AIFFP, administered by Export Finance Australia.

Table 4: Total ODA Sector Flows

Table 5: Australian ODA Projected Forward Estimates

All 2023–24 and 2024–25 Budget figures are Budget Estimates. Due to rounding, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.
2024–25 figures include estimated ODA grant equivalents on AIFFP loans based on scheduled disbursements (subject to the terms of the loans).

Footnote

¹ North Pacific is no longer presented as a single funding line, with Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Palau captured as separate allocations.

² East Asia is no longer presented as a separate region. The former East Asia Regional funding line has been consolidated into Southeast Asia Regional. The Mongolia funding line is now captured under South and Central Asia (formerly South and West Asia).