Responding to intersecting global challenges through a sustained increase to Australian Aid COVID-19 is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and developing countries continue to bear the brunt of surging cases, and the wider social and economic impacts of the pandemic. [...] In this context, the Government should establish a clear pathway to increase ODA to at least 0.7 percent of GNI by 2025, with half of this aid allocated to the poorest Least Developed Countries (LDCs).5 As of 2021, 46 countries were classified as LDCs by the UN ECOSOC’s Committee for Development – 33 of these are in the African region, with 8 in Asia and 4 in the Pacific.6 The 2019 SDG Progress Re. [...] Under the Partnerships for Recovery Strategy the Government has identified and responded to the urgent need in Southeast Asia by providing an estimated $1.01 billion to the region in the 2021-22 aid budget. [...] This funding should come in the form of grants and be additional to the aid budget, in line with the commitment from wealthy countries to mobilise new and additional funding to support global climate solutions.17 Beyond this, the Government should develop a plan to scale up its climate finance to its international fair share of $12 billion annually by 2030, including by committing $700 – $920 mill. [...] We recognise the complexity and sensitivity of this situation, but urge the Government to respond to growing humanitarian need through the development of a funded, multi-year plan to protect and assist the thousands displaced by the coup and the conflict, both within Myanmar and in the border regions.
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