Key risks What actions were taken to manage risks over the past year? What further actions will be taken to manage risks in the coming year? Risk Rating Risks in in Post’s Risk Register?* Political instability in a number of fragile states continues. Ongoing monitoring of country political and economic contexts as well as development activities through our posts and partners. Ongoing monitoring through our posts and partners. High n/a Australia is unable to provide awards and engage effectively with those countries that are not eligible for student visas. Deliver a program of short courses for those countries unable to access student visas. The Awards program manager will oversee an increase in the number and variety of in-country short courses available for countries unable to access student visas by 201920. Medium n/a Humanitarian partners unable to deliver and monitor assistance due to reduced access resulting from increasing insecurity and adverse weather. Selection of humanitarian partners is based on capacity to access people in need and experience operating in focus countries. Risks will be managed in accordance with the Africa Humanitarian Risk Register High n/a Reputational risk due to reliance on a small number of implementing partners and other government departments to deliver program objectives. Regular communication with partners and other donors on progress of investments. Africa branch to engage with global programs and other government departments to facilitate information sharing with posts about funding in their countries of accreditation in 2017. Low n/a A small funding footprint in Africa may make it difficult to implement a credible aid program and maintain Australia’s credibility and strategic input with partners. Posts to engage in partnerships and key forums to maintain presence and reputation and complement Desk’s overarching management of the Australia Awards. In 2017-18, Africa posts will continue strategic engagement to identify arising country priorities. Our programs aim to build a reputation for responding flexibly to regional and national priorities, particularly through the Australia Awards and humanitarian assistance. Medium n/a *If no, consider updating the Risk Register There are no major changes to the overall risk profile in 2016-17. The number of bilateral investments has declined further because of the reduction and rephasing of the Australian aid budget in 2013-14. DFAT global programs and other Australian Government Departments continue to deliver an increasing proportion of the agriculture program. DFAT Africa Branch maintains engagement with whole-of-government partners, CSIRO, ACIAR and the Department of Energy and Environment to emphasise the importance of capturing development results. DFAT is revising the agriculture objective and benchmarks under the Sub-Saharan Africa program to reflect changes to the program delivery.
Investment name Approved budget and duration Relevance Effectiveness Efficiency Monitoring and Evaluation Connectedness Protection Gender equality Risks and Safeguards INL378 Somalia Resilience Program (SomReP) $7m 2014-17 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 n/a INL888 Somalia Humanitarian Assistance $7m 2015-17 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 n/a INL843 South Sudan Humanitarian Assistance $10m 2015-17 6 4 5 4 4 4 4 n/a INM011 South Sudan Regional Humanitarian Assistance UNHCR $5m 2016-17 6 4 5 4 4 4 4 n/a FAQC ratings Final AQCs assess performance over the lifetime of the investment (ratings are not compared to previous years).
High Level Summary Sub-Saharan Africa Performance Assessment Framework Pillar 1 Australia Awards – Africa: The development of targeted African countries is enhanced by Australia Awards and the program contributes to positive relations with Australia Indicator Baseline 2015-16 Target 2016/17 Target 2017/18 Target 2018/19 Method M&E System responsible for collecting Long-term Outcome 1: Australia Awards - Africa investment works towards achieving gender parity in its allocation of scholarships 45% 50% 50% 50% Alumni surveys, Program evaluations, Baseline Perception survey Managing contractor Palladium’s M&E system, PAN awards program manager, AWB Proportion of alumni using award acquired skills contribute to development outcomes 90% 90% 90% 90% Tracer Studies, Alumni surveys, Program evaluations, Baseline Perception survey Managing contractor Palladium’s M&E system, PAN awards program manager, AWB Targeted countries in Africa view Australia as a valued partner - Quantitative Quantitative Quantitative Baseline Perception survey as above Alumni have positive ongoing links with Australia - Quantitative Quantitative Quantitative Baseline Perception survey as above