[Aidwatch] A win in the struggle for aid transparency

[AID/WATCH E-Bulletin]

*A win in the struggle for aid transparency*


Dear Subscriber,

After many years of campaigning, writing submissions and lobbying by 
AID/WATCH, the Australian Government has finally agreed to measures that 
will help make the Australian Aid program more transparent. Your support 
has been crucial to this.

On the 24^th November 2011 the Australian Government announced the 
Australian aid program _Transparency Charter 
<http://www.ausaid.gov.au/country/pdf/ausaid-transparency-charter.pdf>_. 
This charter commits the government to publish detailed information on 
AusAID programs and projects, including research and evaluations that 
will help organizations like AID/WATCH track where Australian aid money 
is going and how it is being spent.

Although the concept of publishing details on taxpayer funded aid 
programs is hardly rocket science, until now little detailed information 
has been made publicly available. _A recent study 
<http://www.publishwhatyoufund.org/resources/index/2011-index/>_by 
campaign group Publish What You Fund have found Australian aid 
transparency to be so 'poor' that they ranked 36^th out of 58 donors 
behind Lithuania and the Czech Republic and scored a transparency rating 
of only 26%.

A key part of the AID/WATCH _submission to the __/Review on Aid 
Effectiveness/_ 
<http://www.aidwatch.org.au/sites/aidwatch.org.au/files/AIDWATCH%20submission%20AidReview.pdf>pushed 
for the release of up-to-date and detailed information about all aid 
programs, projects and initiatives to the public in a timely and 
accessible manner, in order to improve the transparency and 
accountability of AusAID.

*But our work isn't over yet...*

As documents start to be published to the AusAID website, AID/WATCH 
congratulates the Government on this new approach but cautions there is 
more work to be done in order for Australian aid to be fully transparent 
and accountable, including meeting its commitments under the 
_International Aid Transparency Initiative 
<http://www.aidtransparency.net/>_.

AID/WATCH are also concerned that the Government has continued to link 
Australia's aid program to "advancing Australia's national interest" 
instead of a complete commitment to reducing poverty. This focus in the 
past has seen aid dollars being poured into corporate welfare and 
neoliberal reforms that have harmed the people who need help the most.

As the aid program is ramped up due to a significant increase in the aid 
budget, it is vital that AID/WATCH continues its work monitoring and 
campaigning AusAID to ensure that Australian aid policies have a genuine 
pro-poor focus and work with, rather than for or against communities.

The release of project documents, evaluations and concept papers won't 
mean much if organizations like AID/WATCH aren't able to analyse them 
and hold AusAID to account on behalf of communities in the Global South.

*What you can do*

AID/WATCH is the only independent monitor of Australian aid money. Help 
AID/WATCH continue our vital work to ensure this aid money directed 
where it is most needed.

_Donate or become a member 
<https://www.egive.org.au/website/index.php>_today!


AID/WATCH
19 Eve St. Erskineville,
NSW 2043 Australia
Ph: +61 2 9557 8944
Fax: +61 2 9557 9822

info at aidwatch.org.au
_www.aidwatch.org.au <http://www.aidwatch.org.au/>_



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