Independent review of aid effectiveness

• Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness Panel

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Report cover: aid effectiveness review

08 July 2011On 16 November 2010, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, announced the Australian Government had commissioned an independent review of the Australian aid program.

The Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness Panel consisted of: Sandy Hollway AO (Chair), Professor Stephen Howes, Hon Margaret Reid AO, Bill Farmer AO and John WH Denton.

The purpose of the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness was to thoroughly examine the aid program, determine whether the program's current systems, policies and procedures were as effective and efficient as they could be, and to give advice on how to make the program more strategic over the next five years and beyond.

Given the bipartisan commitment that expenditure on aid should reach 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2015–16, this Review was timely. Australians need to feel confident that the aid program is achieving its purpose and to know that the increased funding is improving the lives of the poor.

This Review has, therefore, been a forward–looking exercise. The Review Panel has moved beyond an assessment of current aid effectiveness to propose a vision of what the aid program should achieve, and provided guidance on the steps needed to realise this vision.

The Panel has made proposals that build on what is already a good program. The main challenges relate to the rapid growth of the program, which is achievable without a sacrifice in quality, but only if a methodical program of improvement and change is pursued over the next five years.