Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region
326
AusAID global and regional projects
Project title
Annual Core Contribution to General
Purpose Funds
Aims
Annual core contribution to UNODC .
Funds provided to the general purpose
funds of UNODC and an untied voluntary
contribution used to fund the support
budget and to provide program flexibility
by allowing investment in priority areas
which have not attracted special purpose/
earmarked contributions . Since 1991, a total
of $9,844,766 has been provided to UNODC .
Since 2001, 50 per cent of the core funding
has been earmarked to UNODC Regional
Office in Bangkok where it is used to support
the ACCORD (see below) .
Timeframe
1991–ongoing
Funding amount
$9,844,000 since 1991
Project title
Core Contribution — Regional
Cooperative Mechanism to Monitor
and Execute the ACCORD Plan of Action
Aims
To establish and maintain a flexible and
suitable coordination mechanism to facilitate
the execution of the ACCORD Plan of
Action among participating countries and
partners; to monitor progress; to exchange
information and in-depth analysis on drug
control trends in the region .
Funding amount
AU$800,000 since 2003–04
Projects in Regional East Asia — China,
Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam
Project title
Mekong Drugs Initiative — Alternative
Development Cooperation in East Asia,
Phase 1
Aims
Alternative development .
Rationale: Following the Minister’s announcement
of $1 million for drug control activities
in the Mekong Basin, Australia signed an
agreement with UNDCP, providing for whole
or part funding of initiatives in demand
reduction and alternative development .
These activities are seen as complementary
in addressing health and poverty aspects of
illicit drug use . There was a policy preference
for regional activities including Burma, which
was the major source of heroin reaching
Australia at that time .
Activity description: The project aims to improve
efficiency of alternative development efforts,
cross-border cooperation and networking of
alternative development agencies . The shortterm
objective is to improve the skills and
capabilities of policy makers and practitioners
in national agencies relevant to the alternative
development effort . Funding to support
Narcotics Drug Control Commissions from
China, Laos, Burma, Thailand and Vietnam
— Alternative Development Cooperation in
East Asia .
Timeframe
2000–2003 (project completed)
Funding amount
AU$500,000
Project title
Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program to
Implement the Enhancing Life Skills/Social
Competence Skills in Preventative Drug
Education in South East Asia Project
Aims
Demand reduction .
Rationale: Australia’s initial contribution
of $120,000 was provided for Enhancing
Life Skills/Social Competence Skills in Preventive
Drug Education in South East Asia .
The program was seen as having important
regional impact and has produced valuable
information and education materials, and
Australia has continued to contribute $30,000
per year as a recognised whole-of-government
priority . Information and awareness raising .
Activity description: The project aims to
reduce the incidence of drug use among
school children by enhancing their life skills
or social competence skills to resist the lure
of drugs .
Timeframe
2001–ongoing
Funding
AU$150,000 to date
327
Appendix B: Regional aid projects, in full