Australian Embassy

The Philippines

Embassy address: Level 23-Tower 2 RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, 1200 - Telephone: 757 8100 - Fax: 757 8268

Australian Agency for International Development

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) manages Australia's Development Cooperation Program with the Philippines.

The Philippines-Australia Development Cooperation Program’s directions are determined in consultation with the Government of the Philippines and are set out in a Development Assistance Strategy.

The starting point for Australia’s intensified development effort is the Philippines’ own goals and programs for poverty reduction and sustainable development. The Philippines’ poverty reduction strategy, summarised in the policies and programs of the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2004–10, focuses on promoting livelihoods, strengthening education, achieving fiscal stability, decentralised development, and sustaining national harmony. The MTPDP also includes commitments to address the problems of insufficient infrastructure, unemployment, and inefficient basic service delivery, which impede poverty reduction.

Another important point of reference for an expanded aid program is the historical strengths of Australian aid to the Philippines and the lessons learned from current and past activities.
Australia’s objective is to make a contribution to improving prospects for economic growth, poverty reduction and national stability in the Philippines.

Under the new Australia-Philippines Development Assistance Strategy 2007-2011, the Philippines and Australia will continue to pursue the above objective by focusing on three pillars:

• Economic growth through strengthening of public economic and financial management, enhancing economic development opportunities in rural and poor areas, infrastructure upgrading and maintenance, and incorporating environmental sustainability in rural and private sector development;

• Basic education through increasing access to and improving the delivery of quality basic education through education policy reforms and strengthening of educational systems; and

• National stability and human security through improving and strengthening assistance to peace-building in Mindanao, improving capacity to counter threats from transnational crime, and strengthening preparedness and protection against disasters and emergencies.

The three pillars are closely intertwined. Access to improved basic education leads to increased opportunities and capacities for Filipinos to facilitate economic growth. Economic growth is key to poverty reduction. Progress on governance and security issues is a prerequisite for sustainable rural development, while security and stability have major impacts on the environment for private sector engagement. The Program also recognises that gender equity and environmental concerns cut across all sectors of development assistance to the Philippines.

The wide range of activities under the strategy is aimed at making a difference for millions of people and laying the ground work to ensure the benefits continue long after aid projects are completed.

Updated: July 2008

Australian Agency for International Development

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