Policy paper

UK-Australia Humanitarian Partnership Arrangement

Published 9 April 2024

Between the government of Australia, represented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and the government of the United Kingdom, represented by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), on shared approaches to international humanitarian action.

Introduction

1. The Government of Australia and the Government of the United Kingdom (UK) (‘Partners’) have a strong bilateral relationship and work together to strengthen international humanitarian action when preparing for and responding to crises, particularly disasters resulting from natural hazards, and slow onset or protracted crises, notably related to food insecurity and conflict.

2. Increasingly complex humanitarian challenges demand innovative approaches and agile partnerships. By working together, the Partners can extend the reach of their humanitarian action and encourage collective, coordinated action for a strengthened multilateral humanitarian system.

3. This Humanitarian Partnership Arrangement (‘Arrangement’) outlines the principles and objectives for future collaboration on humanitarian action and reaffirms the basis for ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the Partners.

4. The implementation of this Arrangement will be guided by the work plan of activities listed in Annex A (‘Annex’). The Annex identifies priority areas of work and will be updated annually, subject to mutual determination between the Partners.

Partnership principles

5. The Arrangement will be guided by the following principles:

a) Quality and transparency: Striving to deliver needs-based humanitarian action in accordance with best practice and improving the effectiveness of global humanitarian response through ongoing commitment to the Good Humanitarian Donorship principles, International Humanitarian Law, and monitoring and evaluation of assistance provided to ensure continuous improvement.

b) Cooperation: Sharing information and consulting on issues of mutual interest regarding humanitarian risks and early warning, preparedness, response, evaluations and humanitarian system reform. This may include improving accountability, value for money, impact and professionalism, and jointly pursuing those objectives in international fora and operational responses.

c) Coordination and complementarity - scale and speed: Leveraging the Partners’ different geography and interoperability to enable early action to meet the needs of affected populations when responding to sudden onset disasters. This includes fast delivery of Core Relief Items (CRIs)/Non-Food Items (NFIs) through the Australia-UK reciprocal CRI/NFI mechanism. The Partners will also work together to consider underlying drivers of slow onset and protracted crises.

d) Adaptability, effective resourcing and capacity building: Maximising future impact by exploring opportunities for improved flexibility in financing programs and through integration and joint training of current and emerging humanitarian capabilities. Where appropriate, this may include humanitarian surge capacity, emergency medical teams, search and rescue teams, and expertise in support of early recovery.

Strategic objectives

6. Australia and the UK are both committed to:

a) Maintaining the UK and Australia’s supplier-agnostic reciprocal Core Relief Items/Non-Food Items mechanism, facilitating our increased reach and speed of humanitarian response.

b) Supporting inclusive, evidence-based and locally led (where appropriate) humanitarian action including advocating for, and representing the interests of women, girls, persons identifying as LGBTQIA+ and persons with disabilities in the design and delivery of humanitarian responses, to ensure they better engage and reflect the varied voices, needs, experiences and aspirations of affected populations. This includes prioritising gender-based violence prevention, preparedness, and response, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights.

i) In line with Australia’s International Development Policy, Australia will seek to elevate the perspectives of Australia’s First Nations peoples for new ways of working across its humanitarian programs, particularly with regional partners.

ii) In line with the UK Humanitarian Framework, International Development Strategy and the November 2023 White Paper on International Development, the UK will seek to protect and prioritise the most vulnerable and marginalised, including those referenced at paragraph 6b, as well as forcibly displaced people and ethnic and religious or belief minorities.

c) Supporting early action by working to strengthen the sharing of analysis and approaches to pre-arranged finance, including through support for risk pools and anticipatory action, to more proactively approach disaster risk and ensure funds are released in a timely and targeted manner.

d) Two-way information-sharing between the Partners to establish a common understanding of humanitarian impacts and response plans, enabling effective complementary responses.

e) Doing no harm and improving research and safeguarding practices.

f) Minimising any potential negative environmental impacts of our responses, wherever possible.

Duration

7. This Arrangement will come into effect on the date of exchange of signed copies, and will continue for a period of three years unless terminated by either Partner on six months’ notice in writing.

8. Following termination of this Arrangement, the Partners will consult to determine how any outstanding matters should be dealt with.

9. This Arrangement may be extended as arranged in writing between the Partners, or a new Arrangement developed by mutual agreement of the Partners.

Amendment

10. This Arrangement may be amended at any time by the mutual written consent of the Partners.

Dispute resolution

11. Any dispute which arises out of the interpretation or application of this Arrangement will be resolved through amicable consultations and negotiations between the Partners.

Status of arrangement

12. This Arrangement embodies the understanding of DFAT and FCDO and neither creates legally binding rights or obligations, nor is it a treaty governed by international law.

Signed:

For the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Beth Delaney, First Assistant Secretary, Humanitarian Division

For the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Matthew Wyatt, Director, Humanitarian, Migration and Food Security