ODA Spending

How much ODA does Australia allocate to gender equality?

Australia ranked 11^th among DAC donors in terms of its overall spending toward projects related to gender equality.

In 2023, Australia’s prioritization of projects that incorporate some gender equality was 56%. Between 2021 and 2023, Australia rose from 15^th-largest to 9^th-largest donor to gender equality in relative terms.

How is Australian gender equality ODA changing?

All of Australia’s bilateral allocable ODA was screened against the gender marker by 2021, marking a significant success after years of continuous improvements in screening practices. In 2023, the government reintroduced a stronger requirement that all programs over AUD3 million ( US$2.1 million) must have a gender equality objective. 80% of development programs in their implementation will be required to address gender issues. The government also launched a new policy and performance delivery framework for Australian ODA, including key measures for Australia’s contribution to gender equality. Australia will evaluate its ODA for women’s equity institutions and organizations, as well as the number of services provided to survivors and victims of GBV. Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy indicated that Australia would develop a new international gender equality strategy following the new policy.

In 2023, Terence Wood of the Development Policy Centre, Canberra, undertook a qualitative review of outcomes from Australia’s gender-focused assistance projects. He found that a smaller percentage of Australian assistance projects had a gender focus in the Pacific than in other parts of the world. Wood noted surprise at this outcome, given that challenging gender-focused issues in the Pacific had been regularly documented in previous ODA projects.

How does Australia allocate gender equality ODA?

Bilateral Spending

Australia’s gender-focused ODA mirrors the sector and regional allocations for the country’s bilateral ODA overall.

Visit the main page of the Australia profile to see an overall sector breakdown

As in Australia’s development policy overall, the Indo-Pacific receives particular attention. Australia’s Gender Equality Fund promotes gender equality in the region.

In February 2023, Australia’s Foreign Minister announced consultations across the East Asia and Pacific region to inform a future LGBTQ+ human rights engagement strategy. This strategy would be aimed at reducing social stigma and legal discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.

In February 2025, the Foreign Minister announced Australia’s new International Gender Equality Strategy. The strategy reaffirms Australia’s commitment to gender equality and advancing the human rights of women and girls. It outlines using all tools of foreign policy to drive gender equality, including through bilateral and regional programs and relationships, multilateral diplomacy, trade, development and humanitarian assistance.

The strategy focuses on five priorities:

• Working to end sexual and gender-based violence and advance and protect women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights;
• Pursue gender responsive peace and security efforts;
• Deliver gender equitable climate action and humanitarian assistance;
• Promote women’s economic equality and inclusive trade; and
• Support locally led approaches to women’s leadership.

Multilateral Spending and Commitments

Australia channels some funding for gender equality through multilaterals including the UNFPA and UN Women.

Funding & Policy Outlook

What is the current government's outlook on gender equality ODA?

The Pacific Women Lead and Women Together initiatives are important mechanisms through which Australia supports gender equality: The Pacific Women Lead program is funded with AUD170 million ( US$128 million), while the Women Together Initiative will receive AUD300 million ( US$208 million) over five years. These two initiatives fall under the larger AUD1.5 billion ( US$1.1 billion) investment in Australia’s gender equality-focused ODA for FY2022/23, with specific focus on the Pacific and Southeast Asia. A 2023 qualitative review of outcomes from Australia’s gender-focused assistance projects, however, found that a smaller percentage of Australian assistance projects had a gender focus in the Pacific than in other parts of the world.

Australia’s development performance framework outlines that at least 80% of DFAT’s development cooperation investments should effectively address gender issues: According to POA reports, this target has never been met. The 2017/18 and 2018/19 POAs indicate 77% of development assistance investments effectively addressed gender equality in implementation. A 2018 OECD Development Co-operation Peer Review commended Australia for its policy commitment to mainstreaming gender, underpinned by strong performance targets.

Key Bodies