Middle East & North Africa

Sustainable economic development

Results 2011-2012

• Regional (Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco): Australia sponsored 10 agricultural researchers and policy makers from Egypt and five from Tunisia to attend the Fifth World Congress on Conservation Agricultural in Brisbane in September 2011.

Commitments 2012-2013

• Egypt: Increase agricultural productivity and access to high quality water for up to 140 000 small-scale farmers, covering 80 000 hectares.
• Egypt: Establish two long-term research projects between Australian and Egyptian agricultural research organisations on water use efficiency and food security.
• Regional (Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco): Egypt benefits from Australia’s contribution to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development who provide loans to small and medium enterprises.
• Egypt: The creation of over 5000 jobs in Egypt through training delivered in partnership with the German Development Agency, and through the International Labour Organisation.

Effective governance

Results 2011-2012

• Tunisia: Australia has supported the establishment of the Tunisian Electoral Commission, the delivery of public outreach campaigns designed to engage civil society and women in electoral activities.
• Egypt: Australia also supported fair and transparent elections in Egypt by strengthening electoral institutions and processes.

Humanitarian and disaster response

Results 2011-2012

• Libya: Australia was the third largest humanitarian donor to Libya, having provided $44.6 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the crisis (2010–12).
• Syria: Australia responded to the crisis in Syria with $16m (2010–12) in humanitarian assistance, including to the International Committee of the Red Cross ($8m), World Food Programme ($3m), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ($2m) and the United Nations Officer for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) ($3m)
• Yemen: Australia funded the provision of humanitarian supplies in Yemen, saving lives and significantly reducing suffering for more than 22 000 people through the Yemen Emergency Response Fund.
• Egypt: The clearance of mines in 31 130 hectares of the North West Coast of Egypt (2010–11).
• Egypt: Food aid to more than 77 000 people in Egypt affected by conflict (2010–11).

Commitments 2012-2013

• Australia will continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in the region and support international humanitarian efforts as required.

Australian ODA to Middle East & North Africa (excluding Palestinian Territories and Iraq) 2005-06 to 2012-13

The graph above shows the total funding to the Middle East and North Africa (excluding Palestinian Territories and Iraq).

The exact values are as follows:

• 2005-06: AusAID $4,301,177. OGD $11,024,428
• 2006-07: AusAID $21,016,505. OGD $15,839,784
• 2007-08: AusAID $2,063,697. OGD $10,694,771
• 2008-09: AusAID $5,892,392. OGD $7,000,394
• 2009-10: AusAID $10,171,959. OGD $3,733,375
• 2010-11: AusAID $43,935,541. OGD $5,793,096
• 2011-12: AusAID $42,113,568. OGD $6,562,011
• 2012-13: AusAID $36,363,663. OGD $4,686,832

Australian ODA to Middle East & North Africa (excluding Palestinian Territories and Iraq) by strategic goal, 2009-10 to 2012-13 (%)

View a larger version of this graph

The graph above shows Australian Official Development Assistance to Middle East & North Africa (excluding Palestinian Territories and Iraq) by strategic goal.

The exact values are as follows (&):

• 2012-13
  Saving lives: 2
  Promoting opportunities for all: 11
  Sustainable economic development: 51
  Effective governance: 4
  Humanitarian and disaster response: 2
  Cross cutting: 30
• 2011-12
  Saving lives: 2
  Promoting opportunities for all: 3
  Sustainable economic development: 14
  Effective governance: 11
  Humanitarian and disaster response: 60
  Cross cutting: 10
• 2010-11
  Saving lives: 0
  Promoting opportunities for all: 2
  Sustainable economic development: 7
  Effective governance: 2
  Humanitarian and disaster response: 77
  Cross cutting: 12
• 2009-10
  Saving lives: 1
  Promoting opportunities for all: 2
  Sustainable economic development: 1
  Effective governance: 2
  Humanitarian and disaster response: 63
  Cross cutting: 31

Other ODA in Whole of Government 2010-11 to 2011-12 ($000)

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The graph above shows the Australian Official Development Assistance to Middle East & North Africa (excluding Palestinian Territories and Iraq) by Other Government Departments.

The exact values are as follows:

• Education, Employment and Workplace Relations:
  2010-11: $619,000. 2011-12: $193,200.
• Foreign Affairs and Trade:
  2010-11: $5,171,400. 2011-12: $4,317,600.
• Immigration and Citizenship:
  2010-11: $800. 2011-12: $1,777,600.
• Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education:
  2010-11: 5,793,100. 2011-12: $6,562,000.

Research overview

Good research can lead to positive change for the world's poorest by enhancing the design and implementation of development policies and programs. That's why AusAID is committed to an innovative research portfolio and funds research, including through:

• competitive funding mechanisms (such as the Australian Development Research Awards)
• research partnerships with different Australian, international and developing country research institutions
• commissioning research to address a specific question or clearly defined research gap
• one-off research grants, when an existing program of research is relevant to the Australian aid program.

More information on how AusAID funds research

Governance & Social Development Resource Centre (UK)

Research from the UK-based Governance and Social Development Resource Centre has provided a strong analytical foundation to expand Australian assistance in the region.

GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report: Effects of the ‘Arab Spring’ on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region

This report assesses the impact of the Arab Spring on the MENA region, drawing on briefings, reports and articles to identify the main issues raised by experts.

Read the report [external website]

GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report: The Arab Spring and its impact on human rights in the MENA region

What is the current human rights situation in the MENA region and how has it changed as a result of the Arab Spring? Who are the risk groups in the region in regards to human rights abuses, with particular focus on ethnic and religious factions?

Read the report [external website]

Governance & Social Development Resource Centre (UK)

AusAID commissioned country briefs from GSDRC for the following countries: Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestinian Territories, Syria, The Republic of Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen.