Policy Updates

On April 13, 2024, Australia has announced it will invest a further AUD17 million(US$11 million) to extend the BPP through 2028.

Through the BPP, Australia funded a partnership with organization Gold Standard and the International Rice Research Institute to assist sustainable rice project developers. The hub assisted scaling carbon market access within Vietnam and in global markets. It aims to significantly reduce methane emissions and also to provide possibilities for more income for smallholder farmers.

The BPP promotes development by partnering with academia, not-for-profit organizations and businesses to create jobs and increase incomes. It also aims to empower women.

The four countries covered by the program are Vietnam, Samoa, Sri Lanka, and Fiji.

On April 8, 2024, it was announced that the World Mosquito Program by Monash University in Victoria, Australia, to defeat dengue fever was successfully extended to Kiribati, Fiji, and Vanuatu following successful trials in Jogjakarta, Indonesia and in Medellín, Colombia.

The World Mosquito Program was funded in part by the Australian government, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other donors. It involves introducing the Wolbachia bacteria to a local mosquito population. The bacteria inhibit the transfer of dengue virus from infected humans to a new host and is believed to provide more resistance to the Zika and Chikungunya viruses. The bacteria will then spread generationally to infect most mosquitoes.

In Southeast Asia, dengue fever particularly affects children and young adults.

Australia also announced that it would provide AUD3 million (US$2 million) in assistance to combat the spread of dengue in Laos.

On April 7, 2024, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong announced AUD45.5 million (US30 million ) for the improvement of health workforce skills and improve disease response and surveillance.

In total, six initiatives were announced to improve health systems in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a focus on disease surveillance and response, including AMR. The initiatives also included a focus on supporting individuals with disabilities.

Providers of the new programs included a range of universities and expert organizations in Australia and abroad. The funding for the initiative was part of the Australian Government’s Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.

On March 26, 2024, DFAT listed guidance on good practice in assessing the gender equality outcome of activities, including the guideline that all Australian development assistance investments over AUD3 million (US$2 million) have to include a statement of gender equality outcome.

The guidelines use the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee's gender equality policy marker to determine if the investment targets gender equality as a significant or primary objective. Guidance also covered gender mainstreaming, climate change, and disability implications.

The guidelines also included recommendations for drafting and designing for better outcomes from projects in gender equality.

On March 26, 2024, according to Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy, Tuvalu’s new government has confirmed it would proceed with the Falepili Union treaty.

This treaty enables 280 people to migrate to Australia from Tuvalu every year. It also protects Tuvalu’s statehood and respects its sovereignty. In turn, the agreement would obligate Australia to provide for Tuvalu’s national security and potentially allow an Australian a veto over other security arrangements.

Tuvalu has a population of about 11,000 people, located on 9 islands in the Pacific. Increasing flooding has been reported by Australian Broadcasting Corporation due to rising water levels.

On March 25, 2024, the forthcoming World Health Summit in Melbourne released its final detailed program.

The forum is slated to be hosted by Monash University and will focus on health issues across the Pacific and Southeast Asia. The summit will run from April 22 to 24, 2024, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

A range of international and Australian speakers are listed for the three parallel sessions being held each day at the forum. Topics include drug policy, future proofing the health workforce and strengthening health care financing in the Asia-Pacific.

Speakers include Jed Carney, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, and Helen Clark, formerly Prime Minister of New Zealand and head of the UNDP.

On March 24, 2024, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced Australia would provide AUD17 million (US$11 million) to the TB Alliance to improve access to tuberculosis treatments and develop more effective treatments, including new tuberculosis treatments for children.

The alliance has a new PeerLINC Hub in Manila, which has supported governments to introduce new treatments. Partner countries include Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

The new Australian funding would be provided through Partnerships for a Healthy Region program, which focuses on Pacific and South-East Asian countries to build equitable and resilient health systems.

On March 15, 2024, Australia updated its agreement with UNWRA and resumed providing its pledge of AUD6 million (US$4 million) to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

An additional AUD4 million (US$2.5 million) will be paid to UNICEF to provide further services for children and women.

Funding was suspended in January 2024 after claims that some UNRWA employees collaborated with Hamas during the October 7 attacks on Israel. The new agreement with UNRWA will have specific conditions on supply chain integrity and staff neutrality.

Australia has committed a total of AUD52.5 million (US$34 million) in support to Gaza since October 7 conflict broke out.

On March 8, 2024, Australia and Laos committed to work in partnership regarding human development, economics and trade, energy, environment and climate, and law enforcement.

Australia committed to provide AUD3 million (US$2 million) in the FY2023/34 to support research to eliminate dengue fever via the World Mosquito Program conducted by Monash University.

The university’s program of breeding mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria has been active in the ASEAN region as well as other countries. A rigorous evaluation in 2021 in Jogjakarta demonstrated the technique led to a reduction of 77% in dengue incidents, and an 86% reduction in hospitalizations due to dengue.

The World Mosquito Program focuses on mosquito borne diseases including yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya and dengue.

On March, 6, 2024, IFAD President Dr. Alvao Lario visited Australia to seek funding for IFAD.

Australia withdrew from the organization in 2003, citing a lack of focus on the Asia-Pacific.

Speaking at the Australian National University, Lario emphasized the benefits of IFAD’s work in Austrlia, particularly as it relates to climate adaptation in the Pacific. He also spoke at a major Global Citizen NOW event in Melbourne.

Lario stressed that IFAD focuses on low-income, rural communities and mitigating the impact of climate change on them. He also visited the Solomon Islands and held discussions with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare before arriving in Australia.