JourneyOnline
Micah Challenge Australia has commended the findings of the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness, announced today. A particularly encouraging aspect of today’s announcement is the headline affirmation that “The fundamental purpose of Australian aid is to help people overcome poverty.”
“This is good and right” said Micah Challenge National Coordinator, John Beckett. ‘Both the review and the government’s response have acknowledged that poverty reduction is our first priority for the aid budget. This, in turn, promotes stability and serves Australia’s national interests in our region and beyond.
Micah Challenge also welcomes the response by Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, on behalf of the Government, who announced today that it will move to adopt thirty-eight of the thirty-nine recommendations made by the review panel.
The review, commissioned by the Federal Government and implemented by a committee of independent experts, has embraced many of the recommendations concerning aid effectiveness made by Micah Challenge in their submission to the review in January 2011.
Micah Challenge key campaign areas, including water/sanitation, child/maternal health and climate/environment were all highlighted as priorities areas for aid delivery. The geographic focus of the aid program will remain on the Asia Pacific region, while also recognising the potential for Australia to contribute to global initiatives focused on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia where the majority of the world’s poor live.
Mr Rudd reaffirmed the existing bi partisan commitment to increase aid to 0.5% of Gross National Income by 2015, and acknowledged the potential for Australia to do more. “This represents a big change from the 0.23 per cent we fell to in 2002-03. When we reach 0.5 per cent, we will have reached the average of the world’s wealthiest countries, but no more.”
The review has recommended a new four-year strategy for aid which will be formed in the coming months and implemented from the beginning of the 2012/13 financial year.
“The coming months will be vital for forming Australia’s response to poverty through until 2015,” said Mr. Beckett. “Our supporters have no intention of pulling back on their advocacy efforts. Time and time again, Jesus made a point to stand with those on the margins of society – this is not an optional extra,” he said.
Micah Challenge is encouraging Christians in Australia to speak to their political leaders by registering for the upcoming Voices for Justice Conference from September 17-20 in Canberra.
Mr Beckett said, “Our focus now must be on holding the government to these commitments. We need to make sure that these commitments result in increased funding to vital health and sanitation initiatives.”
“We need implementation. Implementation of targeted and effective aid is what will ultimately make a difference for the poorest people in our region and beyond.”
Micah Challenge is a global movement of Christians speaking out against poverty and injustice in support of the Millennium Development Goals. In Australia, more than 50 aid and development agencies, as well as churches, schools, groups and individual Christians endorse the campaign. See www.micahchallenge.org.au.
Photo : Effective Aid improving the lives of women and children in the Pacific. Photo courtesy of Micah Challenge Australia
