The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has overall responsibility for development co-operation policy and is responsible for most of Australia’s ODA budget. Within DFAT, development-related work cuts across many divisions, with geographic divisions and embassies responsible for managing country and regional development programmes. A Development Program Subcommittee provides oversight and governance of the overall development co-operation programme to ensure that it is consistent with the government’s policy. It advises the Secretary of DFAT and the Executive Committee, and engages with the department’s other subcommittees.
DFAT has around 1 500 staff working on development, 32% of whom are in-country offices and embassies abroad. Approximately a quarter of all staff working on development are locally engaged.
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Treasury, and other federal departments and agencies contribute to Australia’s development co-operation efforts. The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade provides additional accountability towards Australia’s Federal Parliament.