Australia’s reform experience shaped exchange on cooperation policy to foster trustful partnerships.
On 3 December, IDOS Director Prof. Anna-Katharina Hornidge welcomed Natasha Smith, Ambassador of Australia to Germany, at IDOS. The conversation was a great opportunity to discuss development policy reform with the representative of a key partner to Germany and Europe in the Asia-Pacific-Region. Australia is a higher education hub, fostering transregional knowledge cooperation. Its unique natural environments, including their potential for renewable energy and green hydrogen, are of immense ecological, cultural, touristic, and socio-economic value. Commitment to inclusive, democratic, and accountable governance makes Australia an important partner for fostering constructive collaboration in today’s multipolar world.
Anna-Katharina Hornidge and Natasha Smith reflected on Australia’s experience with the merger of AusAid and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, exploring both the opportunities this institutional reform created as well as the challenges associated with the loss of dedicated external cooperation structures in terms of Australia’s soft power and regional presence. Independent of institutional structures, they discussed how development policy as cooperation policy can create trustful partnerships to address shared global challenges.
IDOS thanks Ambassador Smith for her visit and the open and forward-looking dialogue.
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