The Make Poverty History Coalition has applauded the Government’s Response to the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness, released last week.

The Government Response recognised that we need to do more about poverty around the world, noting that it is unacceptable for 22,000 children to die every day from preventable causes. The Review also found that Australia has a good aid program, which has made progress in helping people overcome poverty.

“The Government Response to the Aid Review will help to ensure a better targeted, more accountable and more effective aid program for Australia,” said Tim Costello and Andrew Hewett, Co-Chairs of Make Poverty History.

There will be five strategic goals of Australia’s aid program in the future:

• Saving lives;
• Promoting opportunities for all;
• Sustainable economic development;
• Effective governance; and
• Humanitarian and disaster response.

These five strategic goals are likely to form a well-balanced platform to help Australia meet its MDG obligations to reduce poverty. However, saving lives through support for effective health services must be given the priority it needs.

Currently Australia is only providing around half of its fair share of global health aid even though we know that this type of aid can be extremely effective and will save the lives of millions of people.

“Just last month Australia gave child vaccines the priority they deserve by significantly increasing funds to the Global Vaccines Initiative – this will save the lives of around 200,000 children over five years. Now Australia needs to provide our fair share for basic health services, water and sanitation, maternal and child health and preventing and treating HIV, TB and malaria. This can only be done if the Government increases the share of the aid program which goes to health.” Mr Costello said.

As Mr Rudd said when releasing the Aid Review: “Unless the program begins by saving lives, for example for children under five, then there is little else that can be done. Assuming therefore that lives have been saved, the next task therefore is to provide opportunities for all – both in education, in employment, and the opportunities to develop self‐reliance. “

Mr Hewett said: “Now that we have a clear direction for the aid program the next step is for the Government to take a broader view of development cooperation. Australia needs to work more actively to ensure that there are fairer international trading rules, access to medicines for all, less international corruption and tax avoidance which damages poor countries and a sustainable climate.”

Make Poverty History made 12 major recommendations to the Aid Review of which six have been taken up. MPH will still be working to ensure that the Government sets a timetable to reach the international target of 0.7% of national income to aid, includes developing country communities in decision making, places women at the centre of the program and its management and works with other G20 nations to reduce non-aid barriers to development.

For comment or more information, please contact Joelle Auffray on 03 9251 5288