Explore Australian aid and development in Asia
ARLI learning tours of Australian aid and development programs throughout Asia have visited Cambodia (2016), Myanmar (2017), Bangladesh (2018, 2020), Indonesia (2024), Laos (2025) and Timor-Leste (2026). Find out more about the aid and development context in these countries and the important role of Australia’s Official Development Assistance.
Timor-Leste
Snapshot
Timor-Leste, one of Australia’s closest neighbours, has a population of approximately 1.4 million and a Gross National Income per capita of approximately AUD$2,355 (2024). After centuries of Portuguese rule and 24 years of Indonesian occupation, Timor-Leste restored its independence in 2002. Australia is its largest development partner, supporting health, education, governance, economic development, infrastructure, food security and climate resilience. Learn more through our Timor-Leste Briefing Book, the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia Aid Map, the DFAT Timor-Leste Development Cooperation Factsheet and the World Bank’s Timor-Leste overview.
Deep Dive
Explore key resources on Timor-Leste’s development context and its relationship with Australia:
-
The Australia–Timor-Leste Development Partnership Plan 2025–2030 outlines shared objectives across essential services, inclusive economic growth, resilience and equity.
-
The World Bank’s Timor-Leste Economic Report examines the country’s economic transition, fiscal sustainability and need to generate growth beyond petroleum revenues.
-
The Development Policy Centre’s The long road to ASEAN is over: what’s next for Timor-Leste? considers the opportunities and challenges arising from Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN.
For further information, explore Australia’s development partnership with Timor-Leste, including work to improve services, strengthen resilience, diversify the economy and support all Timorese people to thrive.
ARLI Trips
The 2026 visit was ARLI’s first learning tour to Timor-Leste. Delegates travelled through Dili, Balibo, Maliana and Oecusse, meeting government representatives, community organisations and frontline program staff. Highlights included:
-
Mary MacKillop Today’s EdTech for Early Learning Project, which uses culturally relevant digital tools to support preschool teachers, children and parents.
-
World Vision’s Better Food, Better Health program, which works with communities to reduce child malnutrition and stunting through nutrition education, household food production and improved feeding practices.
-
Caritas Australia and its local partners UPO and BANO’s programs in Oecusse, supporting survivors of gender-based violence and strengthening inclusive livelihoods, climate-smart agriculture, water access and community resilience.
-
CARE’s Atensaun Proteina program, which aims to reduce malnutrition among school children by strengthening school feeding systems, improve access to protein-rich foods and promoting health and nutrition.
-
The National Eye Centre, which provides specialist treatment while training Timorese eye surgeons, nurses and optometrists.
-
UNICEF’s Youth Parliament, which equips young people with leadership, civic participation and democratic skills.
The learning tour of Timor-Leste was joined by: Alison Penfold MP, Louise Miller-Frost MP, David Moncrieff MP, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Ben Small MP and Matthew Maury (CEO of the Australian Council for International Development).
Laos
Snapshot
Laos sits at the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, with a population of about 7.7 million and a 2024 GDP near US$16.5 billion. Australia elevated ties with Laos to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2024 and focuses its development program on education, inclusive growth and climate resilience. For more information, see the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia Aid Map, the DFAT Laos Development Cooperation Factsheet and AusDevPortal summary of investment in Laos.
Deep Dive
Explore key resources on Laos’ development context and Australia’s engagement:
- Australia–Laos Development Partnership Plan 2024–2029 to see the partnership’s official strategic objectives and delivery approach across education, economic resilience and climate.
- Laos in 2024: Settling into Debt Distress (Barney, 2025) provides a concise analysis of the country’s macroeconomic context and regional diplomacy.
- Gavi Country Hub: Lao PDR for current immunisation indicators and a summary of Gavi’s support to life-saving vaccines.
ARLI Trips
The 2025 ARLI visit to Laos examined programs spanning health security, education, inclusion and livelihoods:
The learning tour of Laos was joined by: Senator Leah Blyth, Dai Le MP, Jodie Belyea MP, Andrew Wallace MP and Hon Kate Thwaites MP.
Cambodia
Snapshot
Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia, has a population of approximately 17.8 million and a GDP of AUD$72.56 billion. It gained independence from France in 1953. Australia is Cambodia’s fifth-largest bilateral aid and development partner, focusing on education, health, and economic resilience. Learn more through our Cambodia Aid Briefing, the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia Aid Map of Cambodia, the DFAT Cambodia Development Factsheet and AusDevPortal summary of investment in Cambodia.
Deep Dive
Explore critical insights on the development context in Cambodia:
- Capability Statement: Save the Children in Cambodia Civil Society Strengthening (2024) identifies opportunities for synergies and cross-sectoral collaboration in Cambodia.
- Restoring Life & Dignity Cambodia (Hagar International) provides a country snapshot, overview of their work and case studies from Cambodia.
For regional analysis, read the Development Policy Centre’s article on Cambodia’s post-pandemic recovery. Australia’s strategic priorities are detailed in the Australia-Cambodia Development Partnership Plan 2025–2029.
ARLI Trips
The 2016 ARLI trip to Cambodia highlighted the tragic reality of orphanage tourism, as well as some inspiring transformative projects:
The learning tour of Cambodia was joined by: Hon Dan Tehan MP, Gai Brodtmann, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds, Hon Darren Chester MP, Lisa Chesters MP, Hon Sharon Claydon MP and Charles Croucher.
Myanmar
Snapshot
Myanmar, located in Southeast Asia, has a population of approximately 54 million and a GDP of AUD$102 billion. It gained independence from Britain in 1948. Australia is a key development partner, focusing on health, education, and economic resilience. Learn more through our Myanmar Aid Briefing, the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia Aid Map for Myanmar, the DFAT Myanmar Development Cooperation Factsheet and AusDevPortal summary of investment in Myanmar.
Deep Dive
Explore critical insights on the development context in Myanmar:
Australia’s strategic priorities are detailed in the Australia-Myanmar Development Partnership Plan 2024–2029.
ARLI Trips
The ARLI trip to Myanmar took place at the beginning of 2017, before the escalation of violence. In that time they were able to visit incredible Australian-supported development projects, including:
The learning tour of Myanmar was joined by: Hon Andrew Leigh MP, Terri Butler, Trent Zimmerman, Hon Luke Gosling OAM MP, Senator Dean Smith and Hon Peter Khalil MP.
Bangladesh
Snapshot
Bangladesh, located in South Asia, has a population of approximately 170 million and a GDP of AUD$740 billion. It gained independence from Pakistan in 1971. Australia is a key development partner, focusing on health, education, and economic resilience. Learn more through our Bangladesh Aid Briefing, the Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index for Bangladesh the DFAT Bangladesh Development Cooperation Factsheet and AusDevPortal summary of investment in Bangladesh.
Deep Dive
Explore critical insights on the development context for Bangladesh:
- Tackling Gender-Based Violence in Cox’s Bazar (Care, 2023) examines the impact of Australian Aid on Rohingya refugee women and girls.
- Humanitarian solutions to improve dignity and wellbeing for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh (Hart, 2020), this paper for the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership analyses strategies to improve conditions in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
For further analysis, see Rebuilding civic spaces: A new era for civil society in Bangladesh? from the Development Policy Centre. Also review Australia’s development partnership with Bangladesh and the Australia–South Asia (Regional) Development Partnership Plan.
ARLI Trips
Highlights from the 2018 and 2020 ARLI trips to Bangladesh include:
The learning tours of Bangladesh were joined by: Hon Luke Howarth MP, Hon Shayne Neumann MP, Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Hon Damian Drum MP, Hon Ged Kearney MP, Meryl Swanson MP, Natasha Stott Despoja AM, Lisa Martin, Tracey Nearmy, Senator Wendy Askew, Angie Bell MP, Hon Kristina Keneally, Hon Anne Aly MP, Hon Josh Wilson MP and Brett Mason.
Indonesia
Snapshot
Indonesia, an archipelago in Southeast Asia, has a population of approximately 285 million and a GDP of AUD$2.26 trillion. It declared independence from the Netherlands in 1945. Australia is a key development partner, focusing on infrastructure, health, and governance. Learn more through our Indonesia Aid Briefing, the Lowy Institute’s Southeast Asia Aid Map for Indonesia, the DFAT Indonesia Development Cooperation Factsheet and AusDevPortal summary of investment in Indonesia.
Deep Dive
Explore critical insights on the development context in Indonesia:
- The Development Policy Centre’s Aid Tracker provides in depth and up to date data on Australia’s Official Development Assistance by country and region, with excellent historic data available for Indonesia.
- Australia’s strategic priorities are detailed in the Australia – Indonesia Development Partnership Plan 2024-2028.
For more analysis, review Because We Matter: Addressing COVID-19 and Violence Against Girls in Asia-Pacific (Plan International & Save the Children Indonesia, 2022), which offers recommendations to ensure gender-response and effective programming in the Asia Pacific region. Also visit the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research’s country overview of Indonesia (ACIAR) for insights on country priorities and the agriculture sector.
ARLI Trips
The 2024 ARLI trip to Indonesia highlighted transformative projects:
The learning tour of Indonesia was joined by: Senator Marielle Smith, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Senator David Shoebridge, Pat Conaghan MP, Hon Josh Wilson MP, Hon Nola Marino and Clare Armstrong.