2024-25 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$42.1 million

2024-25 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$121.4 million

2023-24 total Australia ODA [actual]

$110.4 million

2022-23 total Australian ODA [actual]

$142.7 million

Australia is committed to supporting the people of Myanmar through our international advocacy and our development and humanitarian assistance. Our priorities remain the cessation of violence and alleviation of the humanitarian situation, including safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance; the release of all those unjustly detained; supporting the efforts of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) to address the crisis, including through the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus; and dialogue to return Myanmar to the path of democracy.

Given the situation in Myanmar, Australia does not provide any direct funding to the military regime, and we take proactive steps to ensure our assistance to Myanmar neither goes to the regime nor lends it credibility or legitimacy.

Australia does not use political or any other affiliation as the basis for targeting our development and humanitarian assistance; we determine priorities based on need. Our development and humanitarian assistance is delivered through United Nations agencies, multilateral and regional partners, international non-government organisations (INGOs), local non-government organisations (NGOs) and local civil society organisations (CSOs).

Joint Objectives of the Australia-Myanmar Development Partnership

In the long term, the overarching goal for the DPP is a prosperous, resilient and stable Myanmar. However, the significant effects of the 2021 coup and ongoing conflict within Myanmar will make progress towards this goal gradual. Our work in Myanmar operates at the nexus of humanitarian, peace and development practice. Myanmar is subject to a protracted crisis, meaning many humanitarian operations are providing longer-term assistance that supports development goals while also working to alleviate acute suffering. Our humanitarian program addresses immediate needs and helps to improve communities' resilience to future shocks. The development program is focused on longer-term improvement and the provision of essential services, positioning us to provide greater support to specific sectors should there be substantial transformation of the situation.

Objective 1 - Support efforts to mitigate conflict and its effects, and protect space for longer-term progress on human rights, rule of law, democratic space, and gender equality and social inclusion

Australia will support CSOs, legitimate national and subnational governance entities, women and other marginalised groups to represent their communities, defend human rights and the rule of law, mitigate conflict and its effects, and take part in dialogues and decision-making processes. Programming will be aimed at supporting inclusive processes led by the people of Myanmar to help communities protect themselves from conflict and violence (including gender-based violence) and finding ways to protect democratic space and chart a course towards a democratic future.

Objective 2 - Build resilience in vulnerable communities by supporting health, education, livelihood and climate change adaptation needs.

This objective will target household- and community-level economic resilience and strengthen basic health, livelihoods and education services and systems, delivering essential economic household and community support. It both supports longer-term development objectives and, like all our programming in Myanmar, operates on the development–humanitarian continuum, given that many beneficiaries will have been affected by conflict, disasters and displacement.

Objective 3 - Build the leadership and skills of the people of Myanmar, and strengthen our people-to-people links

Australia will continue to support emerging and future leaders of Myanmar, including through our Australia Awards Scholarship program and the Mekong–Australia Partnership. The Mekong–Australia partnership and other global and regional programs will also allow us to continue work on issues important to Australia's strategic interests in the region, environmental resilience, inclusive economic growth, infrastructure and foreign investment, without working in partnership with the regime.

Objective 4 - Support the humanitarian needs of those affected by conflict, disasters and displacement

This objective responds to the complex ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, providing immediate and lifesaving assistance to vulnerable, conflict-affected and displaced people, including food, shelter, water supply and sanitation, protection services, education and health care (including sexual and reproductive health services).

Climate Change

Myanmar is highly vulnerable to climate change. It is susceptible to rising temperatures and sea levels as well as increased extreme weather events. Because Australia does not work with the regime, our support for climate change priorities will focus on building resilience in communities, assisting with agricultural livelihood development, and assisting with preparedness for and the response to climate change-driven disasters. Where possible we work with our humanitarian partners to support their readiness for the next disaster

GEDSI

This DPP will help respond to the severe challenges faced by women, girls and other marginalised communities in Myanmar, particularly members of minority ethnic groups and those displaced in the humanitarian crisis. GEDSI is mainstreamed across the Myanmar program. Several investments have gender equality and/or inclusion as specific objectives. The Women, Peace and Security agenda underpins our work in this sector, informing our approaches to women's roles and experiences in conflict environments.