The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is an Australian Government statutory authority that operates as part of Australia’s aid programme within the portfolio of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It contributes to the aid programme objectives of advancing Australia’s national interest through poverty reduction and sustainable development. ACIAR funds research projects that are developed within a framework that reflects the priorities of Australia’s aid programme and national research strengths together with the agricultural research and development priorities of partner countries in five regions: Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, North Asia, South Asia and Southern Africa.

IP Australia administers Australia’s intellectual property (IP) rights system, specifically patents, trademarks, designs and plant breeders’ rights. It incorporates the Patent, Designs, Trade Marks and Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) Offices and is a prescribed agency within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR). IP Australia is engaged in development cooperation activities with a range of developing country IP Offices.

The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) is the Government-appointed accreditation body for Australia and New Zealand responsible for providing accreditation of conformity assessment bodies (CABs) in the fields of certification and inspection. JAS-ANZ accreditation demonstrates the competence and independence of these CABs. It accredits 70 CABs, which, in turn, certify some 50,000 organizations. Including accreditations and technical assistance projects, JAS-ANZ provides services in over 20 countries.

Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) is a non-government, non-profit international development agency. Its mission is to contribute to sustainable growth in developing communities through the transfer of knowledge and workplace skills. This is achieved by using the experience and expertise of highly skilled professional volunteers. ABV focuses on capacity building within micro, small, medium and large enterprises in the private sector, but also works with government agencies, local NGOs and other community-based organizations.

The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) supports a network of Australian NGOs which have a shared commitment to poverty reduction and the promotion of human rights and dignity. It provides members with a range of services and opportunities to exert influence on a broad array of themes, ranging from health and education to trade issues.

The Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network Ltd (AFTINET) is a national network on trade and investment policy. It supplies education materials, regular bulletins and speakers at public events. At an international level, it lobbies for different and fairer rules for international trade and investment. It carries out advocacy and advisory roles, such as monitoring trade and investment negotiations and providing critical re-assessment of the WTO and other trade structures and dispute processes.

Australian Volunteers International (AVI) is a development agency working in over 60 countries across Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. AVI places skilled professionals in local institutions with the overall objective of transferring capacity and assisting organizations to achieve their own objectives. It manages a range of programmes, the majority of which are funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The Centre for International Economic Studies (CIES) is part of the University of Adelaide and is actively involved in research and consultancies commissioned by Australian groups such as ABARE, ACIAR, the Business Council of Australia, DFAT and CSIRO, and by international organizations such as ADB, APEC, FAO, OECD, UNCTAD, WBI and the World Bank. Among other areas, CIES research focuses on its Asia-Pacific neighbuors, the global trading system and the WTO.

The mission of the Crawford Fund is to increase Australia’s engagement in international agricultural research for the benefit of developing countries and Australia. The Fund promotes and supports international research and development activities in which Australian research organizations and companies are active participants. It also assists in the transfer of agricultural technologies to developing countries through specialist training programs.

The Institute for International Trade (IIT) is part of the University of Adelaide. It has a major focus on trade-related capacity building and undertakes research, training and technical assistance programmes for government, the private sector and multilateral organizations. It has undertaken considerable work in the Asia Pacific region on the implications of trade agreements and in assisting developing countries in preparing for trade negotiations, whether at the multilateral, regional or bilateral level. IIT runs a unique master’s programme, “International Trade and Development”, with courses and electives covering aid for trade and the role of trade-related capacity building in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) is the nation’s leading organic certifier and provides quality cost-efficient organic certification services both in Australia and overseas. Its certification and inspection services facilitate market access throughout the world for NASAA-certified organic products.

Volunteering for International Development from Australia (VIDA) is part of the Australian Government’s volunteer program and is funded by AusAID. The VIDA Programme places skilled Australian volunteers in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region. Volunteers work with local counterparts to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development in their communities through skills and knowledge exchange, institutional strengthening and capacity building.