ABSTRACT
The bulk of Australian non-government ‘development’ agencies were pleased to endorse the Jackson Committee’s recommendation for a doubling of government funding to non-governmental organisations, with plans for further increases and for the rationalisation of government-funded non-governmental organisations (NGO) programs. The Jackson Committee certainly recognised a number of faults in NGO performance. The Australian Development Assistance Bureau (ADAB)/NGO Project Subsidy Scheme (PSS) was set up in 1974 to encourage the Australian community’s involvement in overseas aid programs through support for the activities of Australian NGOs, to support effectively the development of people in the Third World, and to encourage people-to-people contact and strengthen the links between Australian and indigenous NGOs. The PSS has been administered by a Committee for Development Co-operation, composed of equal numbers of nominees from ADAB and the NGOs. NGO programs supported under the scheme have tended to focus on agricultural programs, water supply, health and education and community development.
