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Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
Programs in Thailand
Australia’s development cooperation with Thailand has been reducing significantly from 2004-05 as Thailand graduates from being an ODA recipient. Australia’s current assistance is primarily focused on building Thailand’s capacity to address economic and public sector governance issues.
Country overview
Thailand is enjoying its highest levels of prosperity since the regional economic crisis of 1997. According to the World Bank, Thailand’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of $1,980 is more than double that of the West Asia and Pacific average of $950 GNI per capita (2002).
In terms of quality of life, Thailand ranks 74 out of 175 countries on the UNDP’s 2003 Human Development Index. This relatively high level of development and Thailand’s important position in the Mekong sub-region, both geographically and economically, have provided a sound basis for the evolution of the Australia-Thailand development cooperation relationship from donor-recipient to development partnership in the region.
In late 2003, Australia and Thailand concluded a Free Trade Agreement that symbolised the significant shift from an aid to a trade relationship. It also reflected Thailand’s development status and the maturity of the Australia – Thailand relationship.
Australian assistance to Thailand
Estimated ODA 2006-07: $ 5.3 million
Since the provision of the first educational scholarships to Thai students, Australia has been supporting Thailand’s development for over 50 years. Historically, Australian assistance has largely concentrated on developing Thailand’s infrastructure and rural sectors, but has evolved over the last decade in response to Thailand’s economic development to focus on governance and regional trans-boundary issues.
In November 2003, the Royal Thai Government publicly expressed its desire to move away from being an aid recipient. As a result, Australia’s development cooperation with Thailand was reduced significantly in 2004-05.
Australia’s bilateral assistance will continue to be primarily focused on strengthening Thailand’s capacity to address economic and public sector governance issues, through building linkages between Australian and Thai public sector agencies.
The Australian Asia Regional Program complements Australia’s bilateral assistance to Thailand by addressing transboundary development challenges (including people trafficking, HIV/AIDS, animal & human health issues and anti-narcotics programs), and strengthening regional cooperation and economic integration.
See East Asia Regional Program.
Aid activities in Thailand
Post-Tsunami Assistance
Following the tsunami of December 2004, Thailand requested Australian assistance with rehabilitation of damaged areas of the Andaman Sea coastline. AusAID agreed to provide $400,000 towards an 18-month program to improve the long-term Thai capacity to manage the coastal zone sustainability through the benefit of Australian experience in tropical coastal management. The project is managed by CRC Reef and will make a major contribution towards resolving the problem of poorly coordinated coastal management.
The project will produce shared GIS database systems with a focus on coastal zone resource management for Similan Islands and Hat Chao Mai regions. It will focus on the development of collaborative coastal zone management decision making structures at national, provincial and local levels which could be adapted for other coastal settings.
Asia Public Sector Linkage Program (PSLP)
The Asia Public Sector Linkages Program (PSLP) aims to improve public sector capacity for governance and management for nationally determined development outcomes in selected partner Asian countries. PSLP offers departments and agencies of Australian federal, state and territory governments, as well as Australian public universities the opportunity to compete for grant funding that will:-
- transfer capacity – building skills and expertise to their public sector counterpart institutions in partner countries
- support strengthening of sustainable development-focused public sector bilateral and regional linkages.
Three PSLP funding Rounds are opened each year, at the beginning of each March, July and November.
Further information, application details and PSLP documents are available at
www.ausaid.gov.au/pslp.
Scholarships
Australian Scholarships is an Australian Government initiative to build partnerships and increase mutual understanding, knowledge and innovation in the Asia Pacific Region. Thai students are eligible to apply for Australian Scholarships. Further information is available at www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/overview.cfm.
Trilateral cooperation
Australia and Thailand are currently exploring options for assisting Thailand to participate as an aid donor in the region.