Benchmark (1) : Australian financial contribution to humanitarian mine action
programs
Government Contributions
The Australian Government, through its
international development agency AusAID, has contributed, spent or committed
around $A80.5 million to humanitarian mine action since 1996.
This represents over three quarters of the total ten-year commitment by
Australia of A$100 million to the year 2005. The Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Alexander Downer, signed the Ottawa Treaty on 3 December 1997. Funding periods
vary, with some allocations specific for times and projects/countries, and
others part of core contributions to multilateral organisations over a number of
years. New funds allocated since July 1999 are $A12.5 million (US$8 million).
Of these new funds, $A5.4 million was allocated to new mine action projects in
Cambodia, Angola and Afghanistan.
Recipients include Mine Action Centres in Cambodia (CMAC) and Mozambique
(UNDP ADP), UN agencies (UNMAS and UNDP), the ICRC and a range of NGOs. In
addition, the Australian Defence Force receives reimbursement from aid funds for
technical assistance to the UNDP ADP in Mozambique.
AusAID has made disaggregation of the details of funding available, and the
development of a policy framework for expenditure is nearing completion.
(ref: AusAID/ICBL meeting to discuss and review documents on 15/3/00).
Funding is directed - roughly in descending order of magnitude - to: core
grants (CMAC, UNDP ADP and UNMAS), mine clearance (NGOs and UNDP), integrated
programs (including surveys), mine victims, equipment and technical assistance
(including seminars and conferences) and lastly to mine awareness. It should be
noted core grant contributions cut across all aspects of humanitarian mine
action and is difficult to separate the categories.
There is a clear geographic priority for funding, with the bulk of funding
allocated for projects/action in Australia’s immediate region,
particularly Cambodia and Laos. Significant support has also provided to
countries outside of the region, in descending order: Mozambique, Angola, Sri
Lanka, and Afghanistan. Some funds will soon be available for Thailand.
The Government has also committed A$700,000 including $200,000 from sales tax
revenue from the Elton John CD “Candle in the Wind” in memory of
Princess Diana to its community participation initiative "Destroy a
Minefield". $400,0000 ofthese funds will be used to match A$1 from
the Government for every A$2 raised by the community for a mine clearance in
Cambodia. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer launched the
scheme in November 1999.
Non-Government Organisations
In addition to being the recipients of Government funding for mine action,
NGOs in Australia also provide a significant contribution to mine action work.
This includes specific projects, particularly in the areas of mine awareness and
victim assistance or through landmine sensitivity in integrated development
programs. Details of projects and funds are not available.
Commercial Organisations
One Australian company, Minelab, has donated a small amount of
equipment for use in humanitarian mine clearance. It is envisaged that
Australian businesses and corporations will make contributions to mine clearance
under the Destroy-A-Minefield scheme.
AusAID is in the process of finalising the
Government’s humanitarian mine action strategy. Consultation with NGOs,
interested individuals (including members of the Australian Network of ICBL and
commercial deminers), multilateral organisations, and Australian diplomatic
posts took place between September –November 1999. The first round of
consultations took place in September to assess priorities for the (then)
remaining A$47 million pledged by Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer for
mine action activities between 1996 -2005. (ref: email invitation toNGOs from John Munro, Director, Humanitarian and Emergencies Section, AusAID,
August 1999).
At these meetings, comments were tabled from a number of Australian
diplomatic posts in mine-affected countries. Those attending also proffered a
range of suggestions regarding regional priorities, approaches and the need for
a strategic approach that included clear evaluation criteria, quality assurance,
advocacy of the universalisation of the Ottawa Treaty and annual consultations.
Many of the suggestions have been integrated into recent funding decisions.
Accountability for outcomes varies depending on the funding channel. For
NGOs it is detailed within the scope of services of each project and in the
general AusAID accreditation requirements for NGOs. There are also guidelines
for NGOs when writing proposals, submitting progress reports and acquitting
funds.
Australia provides funding for multilateral organisations such as UNMAS and
UNDP often in the form of core contributions. Australia sees UNMAS as the focal
point for mine-related issues and activities with the UN system and supports its
role of coordinating the UN response to mine action. Australia supports UNDP in
its role as carrying responsibility for coordinating mine action in individual
mine affected countries. Australian contributions are paid into the UN
Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Clearance which is administered in
accordance with the UN financial regulations and rules. The Australian
Government holds these organisations responsible for the overall transparency of
their budgets by actively participating in the governing bodies and other fora
of these agencies.
AusAID has developed a “Multilateral Assessment Framework” to
assist with the monitoring and assessment of multilateral agencies.
AusAID’s Humanitarian and Emergencies Section coordinates all demining
policy and programming within the Australian aid program. This includes
contributions to mine action programs globally, in particular through NGOs, as
well as contributions to UN agencies. AusAID’s country program managers
for Cambodia, Mozambique and Sri Lanka are responsible for the management and
monitoring of bilateral funds allocated to mine action in those countries.
Benchmark (3): In Kind Contributions
A proportion of Australian mine action funding
includes in kind contributions, either in personnel costs or equipment. AusAID
and the Australian Department of Defence are currently finalising a joint
agreement to provide two Australian Defence Force technical advisers to the UNDP
ADP in Mozambique for the next two years (2000-01).
Funding to governments and mine action centres can include equipment as well
as personnel. Funding has been provided in the form of meeting costs and travel
for the Australian Network of the ICBL to attend the meetings of the Standing
Committee of Experts in Geneva. The Coordinator of the Australian Network,
Sister Patricia Pak Poy, has been an official member of the Australian
delegation at these meetings.
Benchmark (4): Funding Received by Australia
AusAID is unaware of any other funds received from
outside Australia.