Australian and international aid agencies notes PDF

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Australian and international aid agencies Global health: The health of populations in a worldwide context that go beyond the perspectives and concerns of individual countries. Global health is about an international collaborative approach to achieving equity in health for all people worldwide. Sustainable human development: Refers to a process of people striving to achieve their full potential, lead more productive lives, expand their choices and meet their needs without compromising the opportunities for future generations to meet their own needs

Types of aid Emergency/humanitarian aid: Rapid assistance given to people or countries in immediate distress to relieve suffering during an after human-made emergencies such as wars, and natural disasters such as floods, tsunamis, or earthquakes. Emergency aid can also be called ‘humanitarian aid’  Provision of food, medicines, or shelter  Providing health workers, doctors, and emergency worker. Bilateral aid: The provision of aid from the government of one country to the government of another country.  When the Australian government provides funding for them government of Papua New Guinea to provide prevention, treatment, counselling, and education programs in relation to HIV/AIDS Multilateral aid: Aid provided through an international organisation, such as the World Bank, United Nations or World Health Organisation. Multilateral aid combines donations from a number of  Funding from the World Health Organisation for the control of disease Non-government organisation (NGO) aid: NGOs take different approaches to aid, which include specific projects or programs, emergency aid, volunteering, education and development. The aid provided by NGOs often focuses on communities.  World Vision, Care Australia, and Oxfam

The Australian Government’s aid program The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides Official Development Assistance (ODA) Official Development Assistance: Financial assistance provides by donor government agencies to developing countries or to multilateral aid agencies. Also known as aid.  The government committed 28% of the Gross National Income for overseas aid (about 28 cents per $100 dollars earnt by Australians)

How the Australian government provides aid    

Providing funds to international organisations such as the United Nations Forming bilateral partnerships with developing countries Funding non-government organisations Providing humanitarian assistant in times of need

The priorities of Australia’s aid initiatives Infrastructure, trade facilitation and international competitiveness: Improving infrastructure, such as provision of improved roads/transport systems, safe water, sanitation, healthcare and technology systems can lead to improved health and trade. This helps improve economic development, increasing opportunities for employment and increasing average incomes (and thus taxation revenue). By participating in global trade, developing countries have the opportunity to earn an income from selling goods and resources, including to developed countries. The private sector is responsible for many of the new businesses created in developing countries. Economics grow when businesses can start or expand in response to new opportunities.  Example: Providing microfinance loans so individuals can start their own businesses. Education and health: Many people in developing countries experience poor education and health outcomes which contributes to the cycle of poverty and low levels of human development. Health is improved and lives are saved when a community has access to good quality food, safe water and sanitation, and trained health workers to assist in the prevention/treatment of illness and disease. Education (for both boys and girls) is critical in improving health as people learn about health promoting behaviours as well as have the ability to earn an income to access resources such as food and health to further improve health.  Example: Contributing funds to assist children in Afghanistan attend school Gender equality and empowering women: Women and girls in developing countries often lack the same opportunities available for males in terms of education, employment and making decisions that affect their lives. This leads to billions of dollars lost due to women’s limited access to employment opportunities and gender gaps in education. By empowering women and girls, benefits are felt throughout the community/country with higher average incomes, greater levels of education and healthier families.  Example: The Australia-Pacific Parliamentarians Partnership Program helps address the low levels of women’s representation in Pacific Politics. Effective governance: policies, institutions and functioning economies: Governance affects virtually all aspects of a country’s society and economy. Stable, productive governments can work to promote the health and human development of the population. An effective government provides the foundations for economic growth, private sector investment and trade. They also deliver resources such as education, infrastructure and healthcare services that build a skilled, productive and healthy workforce.  Example: Provided advice to governments of developing countries on financial management and the establishment of institutions such as health systems, police forces and legal systems. Building resilience: humanitarian assistance, disaster risk reduction and social protection: Humanitarian aids is provided in crises/emergency situations such as natural disasters and humaninduced emergencies where human life is at immediate risk. The Australian Government recognises that humanitarian aid helps reduce suffering and saves lives and helps people get back to leading productive lives more quickly. It also recognises that countries need to develop plans to reduce the risk of disasters as well as minimise their impact.  Example: Providing funds to non-government organisations, such as the Red Cross, which provide humanitarian assistance during times of crises Agriculture, fisheries and water: Agriculture and fishing provide employment and income for many people in developing countries,

thus helping promote economic development. These resources, including water, must be managed and preserved so current and future generations will also have access to help promote food security as well as reduce poverty.  Example: In Cambodia, Australia is assisting with the efficient use of irrigation water by working with government and non-government partners.

The United Nations The United Nations: An international organisation whose purpose is to ‘bring all nations of the world together to work for peace and development, based on the principals of justice, human dignity and the wellbeing all people’.

The role of the United Nations Promoting world peace and security Main focus of the United Nations Security Council. When a decision is made by the Security Council all member states are expected to respect and support that decision.  Issue a ceasefire  Send military observers or a peacekeeping force to help reduce tensions  Implement economic sanctions  Establish a blockade  Initiate collective military action Human rights Human rights relate to the conditions and entitlements that every human is entitled to regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, country of origin, religion, or any other characteristic. The United Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that sets out the basic human rights and freedoms to which all men and women are entitled. By this declaration, governments accepted the obligation to ensure that all human beings are treated equally. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity. All people have the right to life, liberty and security, freedom of expression, the right to work and be education, the right to food and housing, freedom from slavery, a fair trial and equal treatment before the law. Providing humanitarian assistance Assisting developing countries in times of crises/emergency. The United Nations coordinates its response to various crises through all key United Nations humanitarian bodies such as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Food Programme (WFP).  Emergency food and water drops after a natural disaster  Providing shelter for displaced persons Promoting social and economic development The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Assists governments in implementing policies, programs and strategies that aim to improve economic and social conditions.  Promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress  Promoting trade opportunities for developing countries  Identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems  Facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation  Encouraging universal respect for human rights  Promoting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

The World Bank works to enhance the economies of developing countries by working with governments and businesses in those countries.  Providing loans to fund projects that increase economic activity  Providing technical assistance, policy advice, and education relating to economics

World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Organization (WHO): The principal health organisation within the United Nations system. The WHO works to provide leadership in engaging and supporting countries to respond to a range of global health issues and improve the health of their citizens.

The priorities of the World Health Organization 1. Advancing universal health coverage Universal health coverage refers to all people being able to obtain health services regardless of their ability to pay  Providing funding to train and employ health workers  Increasing access to medical technology and essential medications  Providing guidelines to help countries establish health systems 2. Health-related Sustainable Development Goals The new agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals aims to be relevant to all countries and focuses on improving equity to meet the needs of women, children, and to poorest, most disadvantaged people. Maintaining and enhancing these gains will see further improvements in global health. 3. Addressing the challenge of non-communicable diseases and mental health, violence, injuries and disabilities The increasing global burden of non-communicable diseases, as well as disability, violence and injuries, has significant health consequences for individuals, families and communities and places considerable strain of existing health systems in both developed and developing countries.  Improving access to affordable pharmaceuticals to tackle lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular disease  Development new technologies for the treatment of conditions  Developed the Global Action Plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 4. Implementing the provisions of the International Health Regulations (2005) International Health Regulations allows for the monitoring and tracking of the spread of disease  Tracks the spread of disease so interventions can be put into place  Sending health workers and training local health workers in the case of a health outbreak 5. Increasing access to essential, high-quality, effective and affordable medical products Involves improving access to safe, quality, affordable and effective medicines  Provides grants for the development of products to be made locally  Creating national regulations to increase access to medicines/equipment/technologies  Assisting countries to develop as essential medication list  Providing vaccinations to prevent the spread of disease 6. Addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants  Assist with improving governance for health and development

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Assist countries in making policies and implementing strategies based on individual needs Assisting with improving access to resources such as water, sanitation, education, employment, food, healthcare

Australian NGOs that promote global health and sustainable human development World Vision Australia Name of non-government organisation: World Vision Australia How they are funded: Through a variety of activities such as child sponsorship, the 40 hour famine, general donations, emergency relief appeals, and corporate support of projects. Also receives money through the Australian government’s aid program. Current projects/strategies they are involved in World Vision’s 7-11 Strategy for Maternal and Child Health: Aims to address the main contributors to mate:rnal and child mortality by focusing on core interventions which tackle health and nutrition issues for mothers and their children. This strategy is delivered through a range of projects including: training and supporting Community Health Workers; training and equipping health staff, including midwives; intensive feeding programs for malnourished children; and agricultural training/ Health issues being addressed: Maternal mortality, infant mortality, malnutrition Explain how they promote health: By addressing the main issues which contribute to malnutrition Explain how they promote sustainable human development

Australian Red Cross Name of non-government organisation: Australian Red Cross How they are funded: Through individual and corporate donations, and funding from the Australian government’s aid program. Current projects/strategies they are involved in: Overseas aid projects: Australian Red Cross works to save lives, alleviate human suffering and protect dignity, especially in times of disasters, armed conflicts and other humanitarian crises. Explain how they promote health: By preventing a rise in mortality during times of crises, preventing the spread of disease and ongoing injuries Explain how they promote sustainable human development:

Oxfam Australia Name of non-government organisation: Oxfam Australia How they are funded: Mainly funded through donations from the general public Current projects/strategies they are involved in: HIV and AIDS response: Oxfam Australia works directly with people affected by HIV and AIDS around the world, helping them to regain a sense of hope. They are working with local organisations to train and support home-based carers – local volunteers who support the ill, elderly and orphaned. Local

partners educate women and men about legal, sexual and reproductive rights and work with traditional leaders to challenge practices that may facilitate the spread of HIV and AIDS. Explain how they promote health: By preventing a rise in mortality during times of crises, preventing the spread of disease and ongoing injuries Explain how they promote sustainable human development:...