21 Mar 2008

Australia's overseas aid agency needs improvements in some areas - says report

10:18 am on 21 March 2008

A review of the effectiveness of the Australian Government's international aid agency, AUS/AID identifies several areas where the quality of service can be improved.

This includes broadening the ways Australia engages in fragile states.

The report says that around half of the AUS/AID funding is directed to fragile states in the Asia-Pacific region and this spending represents a vital challenge for the agency.

The Rudd Government has indicated its aim is to not only increase the level of Australia's overseas aid, in line with the growing contributions of other developed nations, but also to make it more effective.

It says this requires regular reviews of current performance and of research into world's best practice in development assistance.