Australia is committed to supporting African nations as partners for regional and global stability and a rules-based international system that delivers economic growth, security and human development. With strong people-to-people links, we have a vibrant and active African diaspora who are making a valuable contribution to our relations with the African continent. Australia’s development cooperation in Africa has helped build food security and resilience, strengthen government capacity in key sectors, empower vulnerable communities, and share knowledge in areas such as climate adaptation, renewable energy and mining governance.
We deliver humanitarian and development support through partnerships, including with Australian agencies, non-government organisations (NGOs), the United Nations, and other multilateral agencies. Australian education institutions are key partners in the delivery of training and skills development for governments, civil society and the private sector. We also provide support directly to community-level organisations through small grants.
Objectives of the Australia-Africa Regional Development Partnership are:
- Increase climate resilience and food security
- Support education and health outcomes
- Support gender equality and inclusion
More information on Australia’s Regional Partnership with Africa
Australia Awards in Africa
The Australia Awards Africa Scholarship program combines Masters, Fellowships and Short Course opportunities to build skills and capabilities in key sectors, thereby contributing to social and economic development outcomes for African nations. Australia Awards directly support Australia's interests in the security, stability and prosperity of the African continent by strengthening African leadership and skills in fields such as climate change, agriculture and food security, climate change and adaptation, mining and energy, foreign policy and international security and gender, disability and social inclusion. We focus on those sectors where Australia and African nations have shared interests and where Australia has world-leading expertise to offer.
More information on Australia Awards in Africa
Australian Volunteers
The Australian Volunteers Program matches skilled Australians with organisations in partner countries to help these organisations to deliver on their own objectives. The program uses international volunteering as a people-centred approach to capacity development. The Australian Volunteers Program is part of the Australian Government's people-to-people program portfolio, connecting Australians to Australia's development program and the region.
Volunteer placements in Africa are currently focused in eastern and southern Africa, and complement other Australia's investments that contribute to poverty alleviation and economic growth. From 2018-2022, Australia has supported 107 volunteers working in 44 partner organisations in Africa. Volunteers are placed in a range of organisations in South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho and Tanzania.
The Australian Volunteers Program
Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture
The Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture is a six-year, A$76.4 million initiative co-funded by ACIAR and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Beginning in 2024, this partnership is designed to strengthen the climate resilience of African farming systems and support food security by fostering collaborative research and capacity development between African and Australian institutions.
More information on the Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture
Humanitarian Assistance
Australia provides assistance to communities in Africa affected by humanitarian crises through trusted and effective humanitarian partners, and deployments of Australian personnel. Our humanitarian assistance is strongly focused on helping address the rising food insecurity in parts of Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa. Australia also provides protection, health and livelihoods support to communities impacted by conflict. Australia has responded to humanitarian crises in Africa, having provided $56 million to the Horn of Africa and $33 million in response to the Sudan conflict since 2022.
Australia’s humanitarian action has three priorities:
- Build readiness and preparedness to support governments and communities to lessen the impact of crises and enable faster and more effective humanitarian responses.
- Respond to crises and disasters and promote humanitarian action that meets the needs of crisis-affected populations and protects the most vulnerable.
- Reinforce the international humanitarian system and work to take practical and actionable steps to strengthen adherence to international humanitarian law.