Stakeholder survey: please respond
A reminder that there is still time to complete our 2015 Australian and New Zealand aid stakeholder surveys. The surveys will be open until September 25, and only take around 15-20 minutes to complete–the perfect Friday afternoon activity!
For more details on the rationale and importance of the survey, read this blog post. You can find the links to the two surveys here. It’s your chance to have your say on Australian and/or New Zealand aid.
We’ve had a good response so far, but we do need more. You don’t have to live in Australia or New Zealand to take part–we’re particularly interested in hearing from recipients in countries that receive Australian and NZ aid. Please participate!
Australian attitudes to aid
Last week, we released a new discussion paper by Camilla Burkot and Terence Wood that looks at what Australians think about foreign aid, and what they know (or don’t know) about it.
The paper draws on findings from a range of opinion polls and surveys conducted between 2011 and 2015. The survey data suggest that Australians are supportive of aid. And most believe it should be given primarily on a humanitarian basis. But when it comes to the bottom line—the size of the aid budget—their enthusiasm wanes.
Read the summary blog here, or download the discussion paper here.
You can also hear Camilla discuss the paper with Radio Australia, or Terence talking to ABC News Radio and Radio NZ.
Femili PNG celebrates first anniversary
We recently celebrated the first anniversary of Femili PNG’s case management centre in Lae, which Devpolicy supports in a pro-bono capacity. It’s been a big year, with much achieved for survivors of family and sexual violence, but with many challenges still ahead. The anniversary was marked with an event in Lae with our partners, and in an interview our CEO and Operations Manager reflected on the hurdles that have been overcome in the first year. Stephen Howes looked at how the provision of safe house accommodation to survivors in Lae has improved, and Kath Taplin at repatriation.
If you’re interested in following Femili PNG’s work, sign up to its newsletter. You can also support its work by making a tax-deductible donation.
Another keynote for 2016 aid conference; call for papers closing soon
Kitty van der Heijden, Director of the World Resources Institute Europe Office, will address the conference on the SDGs and the Paris climate change conference. Kitty has a wealth of experience as a former senior Netherlands civil servant and her country’s Ambassador for Sustainable Development. She will be joining DFAT Secretary Peter Varghese, who will open the conference.
Registrations for the conference are now open, with early bird pricing until 10 November. Our call for papers is open until 15 October, with more details available here.
Microcredit, family planning and RCTs
In an event next week (Wednesday 23 September, 12.30pm) Jaikishan Desai will summarise the results of a cluster randomised control trial which sought to measure the impact of exposure to family planning and credit programs in two regions of Ethiopia over a three-year period. Register here.
Can the SDGs be achieved?
Chris Hoy of ODI will present a new report on how achievable the new SDGs are (all 17 of them) on Thursday 1 October (12.30pm). The event will discuss which goals we on track to achieve, and which ones will need more effort, both for the world as a whole and in different regions. Register here. (And for our recent blog debates on the SDGs, click here).
Higher education reform in PNG
On Monday 12 October (12.30pm), the Honourable Malakai Tabar MP, PNG’s Minister for the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, will discuss the issues and challenges that Papua New Guinea is currently facing in the Higher Education sector, and the reforms underway. Register here.
PNG pathways to gender parity event
On Tuesday 13 October (12pm), in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Professionals Association and PNG High Commission, we will host a panel of high-level speakers exploring gender parity issues in Papua New Guinea, and discussing how business can help.
The stellar panel includes: Ann Steele, Head of Human Resources and Senior HR Executive, ANZ PNG; Avia Koisen, Principal, Koisen Lawyers; Eric Kwa, Secretary/CEO, PNG Constitutional Law Reform Commission; The Honourable Malakai Tabar MP, Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology in PNG; Magistrate John Kaumi, Mendi District Court Senior Provincial Magistrate; Dr Linda Van Leeuwen, Capacity Building Specialist and Manager, Anitua; Gloria Sevua, Business Incubation Officer, National Development Bank Investments Ltd.
Research assistants
We’re on the lookout for research assistants for various projects. If you have strong quantitative or qualitative research skills in the areas we work in – aid effectiveness, PNG and the Pacific, and global development policy – and are interested in casual part-time or short-term full-time work – send in your CV to Anthony Swan (anthony.swan@anu.edu.au).
Upcoming events
Do microcredit and family planning programs have their intended impact on poor households?
Wednesday 23 September 12.30 – 1.30pm, Brindabella Theatre. Register here.
Can the SDGs be achieved by 2030?
Thursday 1 October 12.30 – 1.30pm, Barton Theatre. Register here.
Higher education issues and reform in Papua New Guinea
Monday 12 October 12.30 – 1.30pm, Barton Theatre. Register here.
PNG: Pathways to gender parity
Tuesday 13 October 12 – 1.30pm, Barton Theatre. Register here.
2016 Australasian Aid Conference
10-11 February 2016. Call for papers and registrations now open. Details here.
Blog highlights
The aid budget and Syrian refugees
NGOs and the private sector
On the blog
Too much of a good thing—avoiding the tyranny of context in social accountability interventions by Anna Wetterberg
Indonesian South-South cooperation: renewing the old message by Miranda Tahalele
Student boycotts at the University of Goroka: some patterns and distinct features by Ivo Syndicus
A shared value? The role of the private sector in international development by Priyanka Sunder
Putting Lae’s safe houses to work by Stephen Howes
Pacific climate diplomacy and the future relevance of the Pacific Islands Forum by Greg Fry
What do Australians think about foreign aid? By Camilla Burkot and Terence Wood
I’m in love with the SDGs, but they won’t break my heart by Jo Spratt
Assessing the shift to limited preferential voting in Papua New Guinea: money politics by Nicole Haley and Kerry Zubrinich
The international anti-corruption conference and the case of the disappearing prime minister by Grant Walton
In brief
Fortnightly links: Middle East, religion in development, East Africa, and more…
Of Osborne, Dutton, refugee costs and overseas aid budgets
Supporting survivors of violence in PNG to find safety
This is the fortnightly newsletter of the Development Policy Centre at Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University, published every second Friday.
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