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Australian Aid to South Africa

Australia has strongly supported South Africa’s efforts for democratic change and development in a range of ways. A key element in this support has been assistance through the Australian Government’s aid program, managed though AusAID. Australian aid is focused on Australia’s developing neighbour countries in the Asia Pacific region. However Australia has had a long-standing aid commitment to Africa, primarily in South Africa and Mozambique, with targeted assistance to other countries in the region. The specific aim of the program in Africa is to promote good governance at both national and community levels, particularly by strengthening basic service delivery.
Australia has provided formal bilateral development assistance to South Africa since 1994, although as part of Australia’s broader efforts to bring democracy to South Africa, scholarships were provided to disadvantaged South Africans in exile for almost 10 years before 1994. In addition, from 1988, AusAID provided up to R3.2m per year for community capacity building activities and in-country scholarships. Post 1994, Australian aid provided assistance to South Africa to achieve the goals set out in its Reconstruction and Development Program and its Growth, Employment and Redistribution macro-economic strategy.

Australia’s formal program of assistance to South Africa commenced in 1994 and has totalled about R480m since then. Currently Australia provides around $A10 million (approximately R48 million) in development assistance to South Africa each year. This is primarily delivered through NGOs, two large scale projects working in partnership with South African government departments and the Australian Development Scholarship Scheme.

The program in South Africa consists of the following components:

South Africa Capacity Building Program (SACBP)

The SACBP has been providing capacity building assistance to the public sector in South Africa since 1964. Initially as the Public Sector Support Program (1994 to 1997), then as the SACBP Phase II (1997 to 2000) and currently as the SACBP Phase III 2000 to December 2004).

The Program continues to be focused on strengthening the capacity of selected national government agencies and, where relevant, non-governmental organisations, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of management, policy development and service delivery, through technical cooperation providing access to relevant Australian systems, expertise and experience.

South African Vocational Education and Training Program (SAVET)

The SAVET program supports the imlementation of learnerships through the development of partnerships between relevant Sectoral Education Training Authorities (SETAs) and selected Further Education Training Authorities. Specifically the SAVET program has developed learnerships in Sports, Primary Agriculture, Electrical Engineering and Furniture making. The SAVET program povides policy and implementation support to the participating departments which are directly related to the implementation of Learnerships. It is possible that the Program may be extended to June 2005.

Bilateral Program

Australia South Africa Local Government Partnership Program - ASALGP

The ASALGP, funded by the Australian Government, supports the development of South African local government. The project is a practical partnership; building skills, ability and knowledge of people in all spheres of government to help provide services to people living in poverty. The project works in KwaZulu-Natal and Free State.
The broad goal of the project is to enhance the contribution of South Africa Local Government to socio-economic development, poverty alleviation and improving quality of life of the people of South Africa. The objective is to build capacity for efficient, effective and equitable provision of essential services and infrastructure by municipalities, in cooperation with provincial agencies and other key stakeholders. The project will finish in March 2005.
Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)

The Australian Government provides 83 scholarships to 10 countries in Southern and Eastern Africa. These scholarships are for Postgraduate Diploma and Masters level courses only for a maximum of 2 years duration, no Ph.D or undergraduate applications will be considered.

Africa Regional Small Activities Scheme (ARSAS)

ARSAS provides funding of between R50,000 and R200,000 (US$8,500 – US$35,000) for community based development projects in the Southern African Region. ARSAS accepts applications throughout the year and the selection panel sits approximately three times per year to select projects. Competition for funds is intense.

Regional Program

Africa Governance Facility (AGF)

The Governance Facility is designed to provide responsive and flexible support to whole of government interests consistent with the strategic framework for support to Africa.

The Facility has three components: (i) Support for Democratisation – to focus on support for strengthening electoral processes, parliamentary systems and committee structures and anti corruption measures; (ii) Support for Trade Liberalisation – to strengthen international trade policy development through a focus on research and building capacity for the analysis of country-specific trade liberalisation issues, including impact of trade reform on the economy, formulation of negotiation positions for trade agreements that reflect poverty and growth concerns, assessing technical barriers to trade and analysis of agricultural and services issues; and, (iii) Support for Emerging Issues – to include support for public sector reform, improvements in economic and financial management and other whole of government emerging issues identified on an on-going basis. AGF is expected to commence in November 2004

Commonwealth 2006 Sports Program

Australia has been funding sports development in South Africa since 1993 and has contributed a total of about R16 million over the past ten years. In 1997 Australia announced funding for sport development programs in the Commonwealth, including Africa, until 2006. The AA2006 intended to extend the Australian/South African knowledge and experience gained in sport development to other selected countries in southern Africa.
One of the most tangible successes of the AA2006 is the community sport clubs pilot project in the Buffalo City Council area near East London in the Eastern Cape. The philosophy underpinning the Active Community Club Project is that a multi-sport community club established and run by community members can contribute much to community and human development through sport, recreation and cultural activities.

This has entailed the establishment and continued development of five community clubs, three in the Mdantsane urban area and two in outlying villages. Youth volunteers have been trained as coaches and about 70 junior under-11, under-13 and under-15 netball, rugby and cricket teams formed. Internal club competitions involve up to 1,000 children during a season, culminating in sport carnivals where all the clubs participate in championship play-offs. In this way, communities with limited resources are able to provide opportunities for members of all ages to experience healthy lifestyles and to develop social cohesion.

Australian Partnerships with African Communities (APAC)

The new APAC program worth R250m commenced in mid-2004 and will run over the next 5 years. APAC is a partnership between AusAID and selected NGOs to respond to development challenges such as HIV/AIDS and food security in targeted partner countries. Some R26m of this will be spent in South Africa.


Direct Aid Program
This program assists community organisations to access small amounts of funding (usually less than R50, 000) to support their activities. Typically, funds are granted for the purchase of equipment, tools or furnishings necessary for the community organisation to carry out its role.

Click here for a funding proposal application form

Click here for details on the Direct Aid Program (DAP)

Further information and guidelines to the various programs can be obtained from the following AusAID staff;

Programs Contact Person Contact Details

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