Summary

This document details the framework for the partnership between AusAID and the Asian Development Bank.

Description

AusAID's Director General, Mr Peter Baxter, and the Asian Development Bank's President, Mr Haruhiko Kuroda, signed a Partnership Framework on Development on 9 September 2009. This reflects the changing demands on the relationship due to the scaling up of Australia's aid program and the commitment by both sides to improve development effectiveness.

The ADB is an important partner for Australia. It is a significant provider of infrastructure finance in the region and its priorities align closely with ours. It has 67 member countries of which 48 are from the Asia-Pacific, including China and India. Australia is the third largest contributor to the Asian Development Fund, third largest contributor to ADB co-financing activities, and the fifth largest shareholder.

The framework is a practical document that AusAID will use to build a stronger, more robust partnership with the ADB. It is built around three objectives:

1. working together in Asia and the Pacific, emphasising a strong ADB presence in the Pacific in accordance with the '2009 Cairns Compact on Strengthening Development Coordination in the Pacific'
2. promoting greater effectiveness, particularly through donor coordination and harmonisation
3. building awareness of the partnership, including improved visibility of Australia's contributions.

AusAID-Asian Development Bank Partnership Framework [PDF 537kb]