The Government of Australia is contributing A$15 million to the Water Financing Partnership Facility, on top of an initial contribution of A$10 million. The fund, established in 2006, aims to provide more people in Asia and the Pacific with better access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation, more efficient irrigation and drainage services, and to integrate the management of water resources in river basins for sustained economic growth and environmental improvement. Other contributors include the governments of Austria, Netherlands, Norway, and Spain.

In addition, the Australian Government is contributing A$6.584 million to be paid in 2011, 2012 and 2013 to the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility (CEFPF). This facility was established in 2007 to help improve energy security in developing member countries and decrease the rate of climate change. It does this by financing new, more efficient and less polluting technologies. Australia has already contributed A$7 million to the facility. Other CEFPF partners include the governments of Japan, Norway, Spain, and Sweden and the Global CCS Institute.

“Australia’s valuable contributions to the Water Financing Partnership Facility and the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility are very much appreciated as it will strongly support ADB’s goal of providing 200 million people with safe drinking water and improved sanitation, delivering 40 million people with better irrigation and drainage services, deploy new clean energy technology, lower barriers to adopting clean energy technologies, and actively encourage clean energy programs in the region where they are needed most,” said Tadashi Kondo, Head of ADB’s Office of Cofinancing Operations.

Annual consultations will be held between AusAID and ADB to review the initiatives and the results of the funds.