While many Australians are noticing changes to their superannuation and bank balances, they are not the only ones affected by the financial crisis. The plummeting dollar directly impacts international development assistance and Australian development agencies are having to use more funds to send agreed budgetted amounts to overseas partners.
Donor agencies are thinking carefully about how to manage this situation so that our partners do not suffer. QSA is able to deliver on all this year's promises, but needs increased support in order to continue its assistance. Our project partners are living in countries that have been most dramatically affected by the financial crisis, with rising prices, particularly of imported items such as fuel or cement, and increasing inflation all impacting on their ability to make ends meet.