Category: Aid & development
Aid is one of Australia’s most important contributions to ending extreme poverty and inequality around the world.
Indonesia
Indonesia has seen significant economic growth in recent years, but poverty and inequality persist. Small-scale producers receive no benefit from the country’s financial growth and for poorer people — particularly women — employment can be unstable and unpredictable. Gender inequality means women are often excluded from making decisions — both in the home and at […] Read more »
Laos
After years of isolation, Laos was once considered one of Southeast Asia’s most untainted environments. Today the country is going through its greatest period of development which has led to significant economic growth — but the development is doing little to improve the lives of 80% of the population living in remote rural areas. While […] Read more »
Pakistan
Pakistan’s performance against international indicators on poverty, inequality, exclusion and vulnerability reveals significant challenges. Gender inequality in Pakistan is prevalent and deep rooted. As a result, women are often unable to assert their social, economic and political rights. Furthermore, with around 136 million (70% of its population) people acutely exposed to natural hazards, Pakistan ranks […] Read more »
Papua New Guinea
Poverty has sharply increased in Papua New Guinea (PNG) since the mid-1990s. Today, the level of income inequality in PNG is the highest across the entire Asia-Pacific region. This damning statistic has led to the country being ranked the lowest of all nations outside sub-Saharan Africa in the United Nations Human Development Index. PNG faces […] Read more »
Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands may be small in geographic size, but its people still face the same complex challenges as any developing nation. The majority of Solomon Islanders live in widely-dispersed villages, with few opportunities for generating a significant income. Poor infrastructure only makes life more challenging, particularly during times of natural disaster. The country’s pacific region […] Read more »
Sri Lanka
It is nearly a decade since the 26 year long civil war in Sri Lanka ended. Still, many of the root causes of the conflict remain. Inequality and discrimination is widespread, while low income levels in most parts of the country mean people struggle with high food prices. Some parts of Sri Lanka continue to […] Read more »
Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste is one of the world’s newest and poorest countries — a small nation with around 74% of its population living in rural areas. It is also a land vulnerable to droughts, flash flooding, cyclones and unpredictable weather. And although rich in oil and gas, the revenue from these natural resources does not always reach […] Read more »
Vietnam
Over the past several years, Vietnam’s level of economic poverty has declined rapidly, while the gender gap also appears to be narrowing. But despite these heartening statistics more work still needs to be done. There is also a concern that the decline in gender prejudice merely disguises ongoing discrimination at household and political levels. Meanwhile, […] Read more »
