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The conclusion of the Australian financial assistance agreement to Palestine

The conclusion of the Australian financial assistance agreement to Palestine

20 March 2015 in 2015
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Together with Counsellor Suheir Gedeon, on the 20th of March 2015 the Ambassador of the State of Palestine met with Mr. Grant Morrison and Paul Raouche from the Department of International Assistance in the Department of Foreign Affairs and trade (DFAT)

The meeting was held at the request of DFAT with the aim to brief the GDOP on the latest actions taking place on the development cooperation program between Australia and Palestine. The meeting included introducing Mr. Paul Raouche as the new aid cooperation officer assigned for the Ramallah office replacing Mr. Joel Thorpe.

Mr. Grant Morrison gave a detailed report on the developments of the current Australian grant to the State of Palestine and the Palestinian people. He explained that he is currently finalizing the design of the aid program allocated for Palestinian non-governmental organizations with a budget of $ 42.5 million for the next five years. The program will be responding to the needs identified in the agricultural sector as discussed during a meeting with the Palestinian Minster of Agriculture and representatives from non-governmental organizations.

Mr. Morrison also pointed to the possibility of continued support by the Australian Government to Palestinian refugees through UNRWA. However, this has not been decided yet and will be dependant on the Australian Government’s budget that is expected to be approved in June 2015.

Furthermore, the aid allocated to UNRWA in the past five years has reached 90 million dollars.  Only 5 million dollars remained, according to the original agreement that was signed in 2011 between Australia and UNRWA.

The postgraduate scholarships to Palestinian students are expected to continue, particularly in the areas of Agriculture, and Public Management. The Australian Government has provided to date, and since 2011, more than 39 scholarships, where currently an additional 11 applications are being processed.

Lastly, the grant to the Palestinian Authority designed to support the health and education sectors through a World Bank Trust Fund, is deferred until the adoption of the budget for the year 2015 by the coalition Government that will take place in June this year.


For more information visit the DFAT Aid investment plan:

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