Australia increases its aid to Tonga by $6.5m [1]
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 10:40. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
AUSTRALIA will provide Tonga with an estimated A$27.8million in official development assistance in 2010-11. This represents a A$6.5million increase compared to the estimates of official development assistance to Tonga for 2009-10.
Worldwide, Australia will provide an estimated total of A$4,349 million in official development assistance (ODA) in 2010-11. This represents an overseas development assistance to gross national income (ODA:GNI) ratio of 0.33 per cent and growth of A$530million on the 2009-10 budget estimate of A$3,818million. The Budget is an important further step in advancing the Australian Governments commitment of increasing the Australian aid program to 0.5 per cent overseas development assistance to gross national income (ODA:GNI) by 2015/16.
The 2010-11 Budget for the Australian Aid Program places a particular emphasis on helping partner countries recover from the global economic and food crises, adapting to the challenges of climate change, working towards sustainable economic growth and helping them reduce poverty and progress towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals.
The Australian Aid Program in Tonga continues to support the priorities under the Tonga-Australia Partnership for Development, including: a more efficient public sector, improved health, improved technical and vocational skills and develop transport infrastructure. In addition, the Australian Aid Program will continue to support the Tonga Police Development Program and support for Tongas political reform process. Scholarships and volunteer programs continue to be an integral part of the Australian Aid Program in Tonga and support the implementation of the Partnership.
The increase in the Australian Aid Program in Tonga includes new allocations to the education sector, funding from regional programs for improved horticultural and agricultural market access and climate change adaptation, as well as an increase in the number of volunteers in Tonga. Contact: Debbie Reschke email: debbie [dot] reschke [at] ausaid [dot] gov [dot] au telephone: 23244
Australian High Comission, Nuku'alofa, 18/05/12.