The ACEDP is unique in the history of the Australian Government’s ODA program to China in that is does not have a dedicated counterpart agency. This is not an oversight but by design. The novel nature of the ACEDP as a two-way partnership program instead of the traditional one-way knowledge/resource transfer project required a different approach that is inclusive, dynamic and that can respond effectively to emerging policy priorities determined by the two governments.
Program Partners are those agencies that have expressed an interest in accepting the responsibilities, and the benefits, associated in working with the ACEDP. Currently, Program Partners are national-level government agencies, but future years may well see provincial and/or local-level agencies, the private sector and non-government organizations taking a more dominant role. Any agency / individual / organisation is eligible in principle to submit proposals for funding subject to it meeting the selection criteria.
The program core partners are the most direct link between the program and line ministries in Australia and China. They fulfill a crucial role in ensuring the program remains aligned to the pursuit of national policy priorities and adds value to ongoing bilateral and regional policy efforts.
Through the ACEDP, program core partners enjoy unprecedented access to corporate executives in national policy agencies and one of the long-term aims of the ACEDP is to provide strategically placed funding for the gradual development of these links. The ACEDP can thus be a useful mechanism to complement ongoing bilateral policy dialogue, eg by funding technical officer or senior official level missions and attendance at workshops and seminars.
In its first year, AusAID invited nine core partners to be the lead agencies of activities implemented through ACEDP. These agencies reflect the early emphasis of the program on water management.