Banking on Aid
An examination into the delivery of Australian aid through the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
A report by Manna Gum and Oxfam Australia.
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For the last decade the World Bank and Asian Development Bank have been described as the ‘key partners’ of Australia’s aid program. Other than AusAID itself, the banks are the single largest channel for delivering Australian aid and, following the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness, Australian contributions to the banks are set to grow substantially.
Until recently, there has been little clear or consistent data that adequately describes the role of the banks in the Australian aid program. Moreover, while both of these institutions have been the subject of sustained and vigorous critique internationally, there has been relatively little debate about them within the Australian development community.
Banking on Aid presents data which more fully describes the role of the banks within Australia’s aid program and surveys the arguments being made for and against the them – it argues that the role of the banks in Australian aid should be the subject of more critical debate.