Aid stakeholder surveys: one more week!
We’ve had a really positive response to our stakeholder surveys so far, but would love to hear from you if you haven’t already responded. To give you a final chance, we’ve extended the closing date by a week to Friday 2 October.
For more details on the rationale and importance of the surveys, read this blog post. You can find the links to the two surveys here. 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.
ANU-UPNG jobs in economics and public policy
As part of the growing partnership between ANU Crawford School of Public Policy (where Devpolicy sits) and the University of Papua New Guinea School of Business and Public Policy (UPNG SBPP), and with funding from the Australian aid program, we are now advertising four academic positions in economics and public policy (junior and senior). The successful candidates will be ANU faculty but based in Port Moresby as Visiting Fellows at UPNG SBPP, where they will teach, research and engage in outreach and service activities alongside their UPNG colleagues. This is an opportunity to have an impact and make a difference. Check out the job ads here. More positions will be advertised in the coming days: keep an eye on this link if you are interested.
PNG: 40th anniversary, new discussion paper, events
Last week, PNG celebrated its 40th anniversary of independence. To mark the day, we had a round-up of content from the web and a book review by Tess Newton Cain. Stephanie Copus-Campbell wrote on the amazing ladies of Hela.
We’ve also just published the 2014-15 Survey of Recent Developments in the PNG economy, a joint effort between faculty of the UPNG Division of Economics and the Development Policy Centre. The paper was presented at the State of the Pacific conference in Canberra earlier this month, and at the PNG Update in Port Moresby back in June. It analyses the macro and fiscal risks that the PNG economy is now facing, as well as the structural reform challenges.
And a reminder that we have two great PNG events coming up: a lecture by PNG’s Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology on 12 October, and a panel on gender parity in PNG, bringing together the public and private sectors, on 13 October. Be sure to register!
Debunking aid dogmas; building aid floors
Robin Davies debunks the popular myths of declines in aid to LDCs and to recent low-income graduates. But he is worried about the risk of future aid declines. Long-term aspirational targets (such as the EU’s goal of 0.2% of GNI to LDCs by 2030) are of no practical value, but Robin argues for floors in aid commitments to these countries: set at $50 per capita for LDCs and $25 for low-income graduates.
A new PM and a new ministry
It has been a tumultuous fortnight for Australian politics—we have a new Prime Minister (again), with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop playing a powerful role in the change. And in the subsequent reshuffle of portfolios, we now have a Minister for International Development and the Pacific (Steven Ciobo). What does it all mean? Robin Davies looked at Turnbull’s views on international development and climate change, Ashlee Betteridge reported on Ciobo’s rise, and former Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Bob McMullan provided some advice on aid and international development to the newly-promoted.
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, with discussants from DFAT and Oxfam. Register here.
For some insight into what may be discussed at the event, Chris has summarised the report on the blog.
This week we’ve also had a post on the SDGs by Camilla Schippa of the Institute for Economics & Peace. Catch up on the full series here.
2016 AAC call for papers closing soon
Just a reminder that our call for papers for the 2016 Australasian Aid Conference (10-11 Feb) will be closing on 15 October. You can find more details here. Registration is open, with early bird pricing until 10 November.
2016 PNG Update: save the dates
The 2016 PNG Update will be held on 15-17 June 2016 at the University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby. A call for papers will be announced shortly.
Devpolicy turns five
This week marked five years since our centre began. A big thank you to everyone who has supported our work in our first five years.
Upcoming events
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
Three new books reviewed: on ACFID, PNG and global health
What were the outcomes of ‘Forum fortnight’ in the Pacific?
Lessons for development from rugby union
On the blog
Strengthening local actors key to effective disaster response by Peter Walton
Can the SDGs be achieved by 2030? By Chris Hoy
Why are so few Pacific islanders working in PNG? By Carmen Voigt-Graf
Peace and data in the SDGs by Camilla Schippa
Fifty years of coordination against the odds: a history of ACFID by Ashlee Betteridge
The Rugby World Cup – lessons for development by Glenn Banks and Gerard Prinsen
In-line insights: five years in Vanimo by Tess Newton Cain
The amazing ladies of Hela by Stephanie Copus-Campbell
Two dogmas of development financing: aid floors for the bottom billions by Robin Davies
Universal rights and quality of life: an interview with Tewodros Melesse by Camilla Burkot and Tewodros Melesse
A tale of two forums by Tess Newton Cain and Matthew Dornan
In brief
ANU-UPNG jobs in economics and public policy
Fortnightly links: crises, charts, sinking islands and worms (yes, again)
Building Myanmar’s aid transparency
Some proposals for Malcolm Turnbull and Steven Ciobo
Book review—Epic Measures: One doctor. Seven billion patients.
International development and Pacific elevated in Turnbull reshuffle
ANU agricultural researcher recognised in PNG honours
Celebrating 40 years of independence for PNG
Malcolm Turnbull on international development
Child mortality in the Pacific region: latest UNICEF findings
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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