In the Federal Budget for 2026-27, delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday, May 12, total Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) for Nepal has further shrunk compared to previous years. The total aid, which stands at $25.4 million (budget estimate) in the current year 2025-26, has been reduced to $23.7 million (budget estimate) for the year 2026-27. What does this consistent decline in ‘Australian Aid’ in the post-COVID years signify? In the third part of our conversation with Felicity Volk, former Australian Ambassador to Nepal, we discuss Australia’s foreign aid policy, the influence the Nepali diaspora can exert on Australian politics, the expertise of the Nepal Army, and the potential roles Nepal could play in the context of Australia’s relations with India and China. Volk spoke to SBS Nepali after her appointment last year to the Board of Directors of the Australian Himalayan Foundation, a charity working in Nepal and the Himalayan region. Disclaimer: We would like to inform you that the opinions expressed in the segment are those of the participants themselves and do not reflect the views or endorsement of SBS.
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