Outsourcing Foreign Policy: Consultants and Contractors in Australian Aid (2025-2028)
Abstract
Consultants and contractors are central to achieving Australia's foreign policy goals via international development finance, but little is known about their impacts on the program. This project aims to address this crucial gap by utilising innovative methods for analysing contracts data and conducting interviews across Australia's development constituency. It expects to produce a novel understanding of outsourcing's impact on foreign policy and how to optimise it to meet policy goals. Expected outcomes include recommendations for delivering Australian aid, a publicly accessible database, and enhanced capacity for international collaboration and knowledge transfer. It will contribute to Australian development finance's effectiveness.
