Australia’s International Development Assistance Program 2013-14
Vietnam

In 2013-14, the Australian Government will provide an estimated A$159.1 million (equivalent to over VND 3.3 trillion) in official development assistance to Vietnam.

“Australia remains strongly committed to assisting Vietnam to overcome poverty and ensure sustainable development, as demonstrated by the increase in funding of A$6 million,” said Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Hugh Borrowman.

This is part of the Government’s overall commitment to increase the size of the Australian aid program to A$5.7 billion up from A$5.2 billion in 2012-13. This will increase Australia’s Official Development Assistance to 0.37 per cent of its Gross National Income.

Australia remains committed to increasing its ODA to 0.5% of GNI; however the Government has decided to defer this scale up by one year to 2017-18.

Managed by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Australia’s aid program in Vietnam is focused on five main areas: human resource development, infrastructure, reducing the negative impacts of climate change, improving public health by increasing access to safe water and sanitation, and economic reform.

Australian assistance to Vietnam in 2013-14 will continue to support the Cao Lanh Bridge project, with construction expected to begin this year. When completed, the Bridge will deliver significant economic and social benefits by improving access to markets and basic social and health services for residents in the densely populated central Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.

Australia will continue to assist Vietnam to undertake economic reforms, improve access to essential infrastructure services such as water supply and sanitation and build transport linkages that connect poor areas to key transport and economic corridors.

Australia will also continue support to Vietnam’s climate change response with a particular focus on the Mekong Delta region by working with provincial governments and communities on adaptation measures to protect and promote peoples’ livelihoods.

Australia will provide up to 250 Australia Awards Scholarships to Vietnam in 2013-14. These awards are designed to develop the skills of the Vietnamese people so they can contribute to development in Vietnam across government agencies, universities and community organisations. Additional Australia Awards will be provided through other Australian government programs.

The 2013-14 Budget continues to implement the Government’s Comprehensive Aid Policy Framework (CAPF). The CAPF enables the Australian Government to work together with Vietnam to better plan and implement aid investments more effectively, delivering better results for the people of Vietnam.

The 2011-12 Annual Review of Aid Effectiveness, which was released in January, demonstrated that Australian aid is effective and represents value for money. It also showed that Australia is making real progress towards the targets announced in the 2012-13 budget.

Media Enquiries:

Mr. Tran Nam Anh, Tel: (+84-4) 3774 0211, e-mail: [email protected]