WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/N/AUS/25
16 November 1999
(99-4924)
Committee on Agriculture Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The attached notification in the context of actions taken within the framework of the Decision
on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform programme on
Least-Developed and Net-Food Importing Developing Countries for the financial year 1998/99
(Table NF:1 ) was received from the delegation of Australia on 8 November 1999.
_______________
In accordance with notification requirements within the framework of the Decision on
Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least-Developed
and Net Food-Importing Countries ( Table NF:1 ), the following provides details of Australia's
programmes in respect of the Decision.G/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 2
Table NF:1
Notification under Article 16:2 of the Agreement:
Monitoring of the Follow-Up to the Decision on
Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of
the Reform Programme on Least Developed and Net
Food-Importing Developing Countries: Australia
REPORTING PERIOD: Financia l Year 1998-99 (A$dollars)
(1) Quantity of food aid provided to least developed and net food-importing developing
countries:
Australia was able to surpass, by almost 11%, its Food Aid Convention (FAC) commitment to
provide 250,000 tonnes of food aid or wheat equivalent for the financial year of 1998-99.  Australia
provided 276,217 tonnes (wheat equivalent) of food aid, including 110,943 tonnes of emergency food
aid.  Of the total food aid provided, some 132,410 tonnes (wheat equivalent) or forty eight per centwas provided to Least-Developed (LDCs)
1 and Net Food-Importing Developing Countries
(NFIDCs)2. This amounted to a total of A$50.6 million in 1998-99 (Attachment A).
(2) Indication of the proportions in fully gr ant form or appropriate concessional terms:
All Australian food aid is provided on fully grant terms.
(3) Technical and financial assistance under paragraph 3 (iii) of the Decision:
The agency primarily responsible for delivering Australia's aid programme is the Australian
Agency for International Development (AusAID) . AusAID aims to reduce poverty and achieve
sustainable development in developing countries not just by improving agriculture and rural
development, but also by directing its efforts across a variety of sectors.  The Australian Centre for
International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) also assists developing countries through both bilateral
and multilateral projects.  ACIAR delivers agricultural research programmes in collaboration with
Australian institutions and their counterparts in developing countries.  A major focus of all projects is
poverty alleviation through sustainable agriculture and increased food security.
In the financial year 1998-99, Australia provided a total of A$264.3 million for programmes
within the ambit of the Decision and related to coun tries developing their food security.  Of this over
$147 million was directed to LDCs/NFIDCs.  This expenditure was channelled through a number of
programming windows including multilaterals, regional, bilateral, humanitarian/emergencyassistance, Non Government Organisations (NGOs), ACIAR and a small amount through Other
Government Departments (OGDs).
                                                     
1 Based on DAC country classification for resource flows in 1997
2 LDCs plus Barbados, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Honduras, Jamaica, Kenya, Mauritius,
Morocco, Peru, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and VenezuelaG/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 3
Direct Food security by programme for 1998-99
Programme Aid to all
countriesAid to LDCs and
NFIDCs
(A$) (A$)
ACIAR 43,525,617 24,916,536
Bilateral and Regional 75,198,200 33,842,207
Humanitarian and Emergency 41,210,908 10,997,578
Multilateral 83,413,850 67,551,512NGOs 4,840,077 4,429,924OGDs 5,894,637 4,387,600
Scholarships 10,220,000 1,260,000
  Total 264,303,289 147,385,356
All financial assistance provided through AusAID and ACIAR is in fully grant form.  Details
of assistance provided in the financial year ending 30 June 1999 follow.
(i) Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
Multilateral Core Funding
A proportion of Australia's core contributions to the multilateral development banks and other
relevant multilateral organisations is used for food security related development activities in LDCs
and NFIDCs.  The figures reflected here, however, refer to Australia's total food security contribution
to relevant agencies.  Clearly, only a part of this funding should be recognised as funding for food
security in LDCs and NFIDCs.
International Agency Expenditure (A$)
1998-99
Asian Development Fund 20,485,653
International Development Association 19,628,200
International Fund for Agricultural Development 1,500,000
World Food Programme 41,799,997
Total 83,413,850
Bilateral and Regional Programmes
Most of Australia's aid is delivered in the context of country and regional programmes.
Bilateral country strategies reflect recipient government priorities as well as Australia's capacity to
assist.  Specific projects are developed with partner countries in order to provide technical and
financial assistance to: improve agricultural productivity and sustainability, agricultural storage,forestry and fisheries, environmental management, management of water resources, the provision of
infrastructure related to food security and to assist countries adjust to the new trading environment.
In addition to bilateral programmes AusAID manages several regional programmes.  These
are often the most cost effective response to region-wide development challenges.  Expenditure at acountry/regional level is given below.G/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 4
Bilateral and regional expenditure to LDCs & NFIDCs
Country Expenditure (A$)
1998-99
Bangladesh 16,855,409
Cambodia 6,302,188
Laos 1,120,371
Malawi 34,995Nepal 354,000Solomon Islands 100,000
Sri Lanka 74,551
East Asia Unallocated (Regional) 4,633,254Pacific Islands Unallocated (Regional) 3,810,556Sub-Saharan Africa Unallocated (Regional) 300,000
World Unallocated 256,883
  Total 33,842,207
Scholarships
Scholarships in agriculture, forestry and fishing are counted as food security related activities.
In 1998-99 Australia funded 644 students (56% males and 44% females) from LDCs and identified
NFIDCs.  Of these awards, about 6%, valued at A$1.3 million were for study in agriculture, forestry
and fishing.
Humanitarian relief (in addition to food aid)
In 1998-99, Australia undertook a number of projects in relation to humanitarian relief to
LDCs and NFIDCs.  These projects, valued at A$11 million, impacted directly on agricultural
production in several countries.  Examples of programmes include assistance for internally displacedpersons in Sri Lanka and the World Food Programme for Cambodian Protracted Relief and
Rehabilitation Operation project (Attachment B).G/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 5
(ii) Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
In 1998-99, the Australian Centre for Agricultural Research expended A$43.5 million, of
which A$24.9 million was in support of research relating directly to agricultural productivity of
recipient countries.
Multilateral programmes
In 1998-99 ACIAR provided A$10.1 million to multilateral International Agricultural
Research Centres (IARCs) whose mandate is to increase global food security.  One of the major
criteria on which ACIAR bases its allocation of Australia's funds to the IARCs is the contribution of a
centre's research to economic development, poverty alleviation and sustainability (Attachment C).
Bilateral programmes
Projects funded under ACIAR's bilateral programme comprise research targeting the
following food security and poverty alleviation issues:
- animal sciences , leading to more productive livestock for smallholder farming systems
through improvements in animal nutrition, disease and parasite control, reproductive health and
animal husbandry;
- crop sciences , by developing higher yielding food crops through the use of genetically
superior cultivars, the control of diseases, and the development of environmentally safe methods to
combat pests and weeds;
- fisheries , through conservation and responsible utilisation of wild marine and freshwater
fisheries, developing superior breedstock and breeding techniques, sourcing suitable foods and
controlling disease to ensure more productive and sustainable aquaculture;- forestry , through identification of suitable fast-growing tree species for use in community
forestry to provide, amongst other uses, food crops and fuelwood for cooking.
- land and water resources , by enhancing crop production through better methods of improving
soil fertility and structure, conservation of soil and water resources, including erosion and water
management, ameliorating salinity of soil and water, and conserving agricultural land through better
cultivation practices and land management systems;
- post-harvest technology , through reduction of food wastage after harvest by ensuring that
grain, fruit, vegetables, and fish can be handled, stored, processed and transported safely and
economically between harvest and disposal to consumers; and
- economics , through economic research to underpin government policy aimed at encouraging
trade and agricultural development, and the efficient use and preservation of agricultural and natural
resources (including land and water, fish and forest resources).
(4) Other relevant information with respect to actions taken within the framework of the
Decision
Under new arrangements trialed in 1996-97, the total food aid component of Australia's
Humanitarian Relief Programme was allocated directly to the World Food Programme (WFP).  In
1998-99 a direct cash contribution was provided to WFP for a selected group of protracted and
emergency relief operations. These included operations in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Democratic People's
Republic of Korea and Sudan. This new arrangement gives WFP a guaranteed level of support for
selected operations. At the same time, urgent and unforeseen requirements for food aid will beconsidered under the emergency operation.G/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 6
A number of Australian non-government organisations (NGOs) receive aid programme
funding which has a direct impact on recipient countries' food security.  During 1998-99 World
Vision, the Overseas Service Bureau, Community  Aid Abroad, CARE Australia, UNICEF and the
Australian Red Cross were among the major recipi ents of Australian Government support.  In 1998-
99 AusAID funded projects related to food security through NGOs, to LDCs and NFIDCs, to thevalue of approximately A$4.4 million.  Examples  of projects undertake n through NGOs  include
integrated rural development projects in Bangladesh and Cambodia, and a rehabilitation project in
Mozambique (Attachment D).
In addition, a number of State and Commonwealth  government agencies and departments also
sponsor official exchanges with a number of countries, including in Australia's immediate region.
Outcomes from these programmes would have positiv e effects on participating countries' agriculture
and food security.G/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 7
ATTACHMENT A
(1) Quantity of food aid provided to Least Developed (LDCs) and Net Food-Importing
Developing Countries (NFIDCs):  Breakdown by commodity and recipient countries.
Recipient country Commodity
TypeQuantity
(tonnes)FAC Wheat
EquivalentTotal paid
(A$)
Bilateral Development    
Bangladesh wheat 50,000 50,000 12,605,410
Subtotal 50,000 12,605,410
Emergency/Relief    
Bangladesh wheat 4,000 4,000 1,008,320
Cambodia rice 8,607 14,632 5,000,000Sri Lanka pulses 222 444 137,191Sri Lanka rice 4,232 7,194 2,301,713
Sri Lanka sugar 106 n/a 60,970
WFP-Immediate Response Account 1,765 1,765 1,000,000
Subtotal 28,035 9,508,194
Multilateral Development - World Food Programme
Bangladesh wheat 36,500 36,500 8,384,050
Egypt flour 5,544 7,595 1,552,320Guinea rice 3,262 5,545 1,461,196
Sao Tome rice 432 734 193,536
Senegal rice 626 1,064 284,032Sri Lanka rice 1,728 2,937 774,144
Subtotal 54,375 12,649,278
WFP Cash Tranche  (*) 15,837,372
Total WFP Development 28,486,650
Grand Total   132,410 50,600,254
(*) Payment for transport of food commodities including to some none LDCs or NFIDCsG/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 8
ATTACHMENT B
Humanitarian emergency assistance (in additi on to food aid) to LDCs and NFIDCs:
Disaggregation of the funds allocated by country and project
Country of expenditure and project name Expenditure (A$)
1998-99
Bangladesh
Emergency Food Aid 920,000Emergency Food Aid Management Fee 88,320
Burma (Myanmar)
Protracted Relief Operation - Food Aid 1,000,000
Cambodia
PRRO-Rehab programme, returnees & IDP's 5,000,001
Ethiopia
Institutional Strengthening Project 80,000
Sri Lanka
Assist Internally Displaced Persons 2,500,000
Sudan
Emergency Food Aid 880,000WFP Sudan Logistics Infrastructure Rehab 529,257
Total 10,997,578G/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 9
ATTACHMENT C
Australian Centre for Agricultural Research (ACIAR): Disaggregation of the funds allocated to
the International Agricultural Research Centres (IARCs) in 1998-99
Acronym Full name and country of location 1998-99
(A$)
AVRDC Asian Vegetable Research and Development Centre, Taiwan 207,500
CABI Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International, UK 343,586
CIAT International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Colombia 474,939
CIFOR Center for International Forestry Research, Indonesia 400,000
CIMMYT International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre, Mexico 1,149,002
CIP International Potato Centre, Peru280,340
IBSRAM International Board for Soil Research and Management,
Thailand 668,732
ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas,
Syria 391,726
ICIMD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development,
Nepal 150,190
ICIPE International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology,
Kenya20,000
ICLARM International Center for Living Aquatic Resources
Management, Philippines738,004
ICRAF International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, Kenya 355,000
ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid
Tropics, India1,025,635
IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute, USA 635,203
IFS International Foundation for Science, Sweden 100,000
IIMI International Irrigation Management Institute, Sri Lanka
511,251
ILRI International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya 652,750
IPGRI International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Italy 600,000
IRRI International Rice Research Institute, Philippines 1,199,456
ISNAR International Service for National Agricultural Research,
Netherlands200,000
Total10,103,314G/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 10
ATTACHMENT D
(4) Other relevant information with respect to actions taken within the framework of the
Decision: Projects through the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) programme
disaggregated by country, project and NGO delivering the programme.
Country, project name and NGOExpenditure (A$)
1998-99
Bangladesh
HEED Programme, Tear Australia Inc 40,956
Integrated Farming Development, Rotary Australia World Community
Service 23,630
Joyramkura PHC Project, Tear Australia Inc 30,000
Paharia Community Development Programme, Australia Baptist World
Aid 33,750
Pari Community Development Programme, Australia Baptist World Aid 30,000
Prottasha Community Development Programme, Australia Baptist World
Aid 47,250
Symbiosis Community Development Programme, Australia Baptist
World Aid 115,473
Bangladesh Total 321,059
Cambodia
Integrated Rural Developmt/Takeo & Kandal, Australia Lutheran World
Service 215,967
Svay Rieng Community Development Programme, National Council o f
Churches in Australia 35,250
Cambodia Total 251,217
Ethiopia
Bakelo Food Security Project, Christian Children's Fund of Australia Ltd 45,092
Ethiopia Total 45,092
Jamaica
Agricultural Training Programme, Salvation Army 44,850
Jamaica Total 44,850
Mozambique
Rehabilitation and Training Programme, National Council of Churches
in Australia 43,000
Mozambique Total 43,000
Nepal
Biodiversity Conservation & Comm Develop, Association for Research
and Environmental Aid Ltd 43,072
Nepal Total 43,072G/AG/N/AUS/25
Page 11
Country, project name and NGOExpenditure (A$)
1998-99
Solomon Islands
Lauru Kastom Garden Project, Appr opriate Technology for Community
and Environment 24,880
Village First Integrated Rural Devel, Appropriate Technology for
Community and Environment 90,730
Solomon Islands Total 115,610
Tanzania
Agricultural Extension Programme, Salvation Army 24,070
Tanzania Total 24,070
Togo
Micro-enterprise Development Togo, PLAN International 32,681
Togo Total 32,681
Uganda
Cattle Dispersal in Seven District s, Christian Children's Fund o f
Australia Ltd 359,191
Kumi District Devel Programme, Tear Australia Inc 56,391
Organic Farming Training Centre, Quaker Service Australia 41,250
Uganda Total 456,832
Zambia
Environmental Rehabilitation & Protection, Australians Care for
Refugees 48,387
Zambia Total 48,387
East Asia Unallocated
Indo China Permaculture Programme B 62,348
East Asia Unallocated Total 62,348
Sub-Saharan Africa Unallocated
Africa Community Development Programme, Caritas Australia 506,062
Africa Development Programmes, World Vision of Australia 2,198,546
Sub-Saharan Africa Unallocated Total 2,704,608
World Unallocated
Pilot Initiatives Programme, CARE Australia 237,098
World Unallocated Total 237,098
Total 4,429,924
__________