In August 2010, Australia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands agreed on a new Partnership for Development to reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The Partnership guides Australia's aid to the Marshall Islands and focuses on the priority areas of increased access to clean water and sanitation, and affordable, sustainable energy.
Australia has invested $11.5 million in total ODA in the Marshall Islands over the last three years. Our investment has contributed to important development results, including:
- increased water security on Kwajalein atoll through the provision of household water catchment tanks to 310 households (approximately 4,340 people)
- the development of a national Energy Policy and Energy Roadmap, which has allowed the Marshall Islands take proactive steps to recover from the 2009 energy crisis and national state of emergency
- emergency assistance to the 2010 dengue outbreak
- provision of essential scholarships to allow Marshallese students to study at Pacific regional and Australian institutions. These scholarships are helping the Marshall Islands address human capacity gaps at all levels of government and private sector.
Following the Government’s announcement on 17 December 2012 to reprioritise resources within the aid budget, the 2012-13 budget estimate for the Marshall Islands bilateral program was reduced by $200,000. This consists of a deferral of funding to a regional International Organization for Migration (IOM) disaster risk reduction project into future financial years.
Australia expects to provide $6.7 million in development assistance to the Marshall Islands in 2012-13.
Australia remains committed to delivering results in the Marshall Islands, including:
- continuing to improve access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation by financing the design of a major water and sanitation program for the island of Ebeye, with the Asian Development Bank.
- helping the Marshall Islands reduce energy costs and improve efficiency through a review of electricity tariffs to strengthen cost recovery and the rehabilitation of deteriorated fuel tanks.
- continuing to support tax reform to increase the Marshall Islands’ internal revenue.
- upskilling of the workforce in key sectors through the provision of scholarships.
More expected outcomes can be viewed under the ‘See our results’ tab above.