Performance of Australian Aid, 2013-14

Today I release the inaugural Performance of Australian Aid report on the record of the Australian aid program in 2013-14.

The report is a key part of the new performance framework for Australia's aid, Making Performance Count, introduced by the Coalition Government in June 2014.

Australia's aid program is performing efficiently and effectively to contribute to the goal of promoting economic growth and reducing poverty in our region.

The report shows the Australian Government is delivering on our commitment to consolidate our aid efforts in initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region, to engage the private sector and to promote aid-for-trade.

New systems are focussed on ensuring performance is linked to funding, partner countries are mutually accountable for development outcomes, and fraud control and anti-corruption strategies are implemented.

I endorse the report's contribution to improving the accountability and transparency of Australia's aid program.

I have set an ambitious target of 80 per cent of programs to effectively address gender equality issues and have strengthened the criteria for gender assessments.A new strategy to combat challenges in this area will be implemented this year to achieve this outcome.

The report was reviewed by DFAT's Independent Evaluation Committee, chaired by Mr. Jim Adams, a former Vice-President of the World Bank. The Committee gave a positive assessment of the systems used to manage and report on the performance of Australia's aid.