Australia and the EU sign declaration to strengthen development cooperation

  • Joint media release:

Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and the European Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs have signed a declaration which will enhance and broaden our international development partnership.

The declaration marks the commencement of delegated development programs in Fiji and in South Sudan where the European Union and Australia will administer aid on each other's behalf. These arrangements – the European Union's first with a non-European donor – bring Australia and the EU closer on development matters and will ensure our aid programmes are delivered more efficiently and effectively.

Australia will delegate A$2.5 million (€1.7 million) over three years to an EU food security initiative to support the Government of South Sudan to strengthen the quality and use of food, livestock and nutrition information in decision-making. The EU will delegate €4 million (A$5.9 million) over three years to provide formal training and job placements through the Australian-Pacific Technical College for those affected by changes in the sugar industry in Fiji; this will benefit up to 1,500 people.

Delegated cooperation agreements allow donors to leverage one another's expertise and provide administrative efficiencies and greater value for money.

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