Huge line-up for 2016 Australasian Aid Conference!
Each year, the Australasian Aid Conference gets bigger and better, and 2016 will be no exception. Our program is now available [pdf], and in addition to the keynotes we have already announced, we have a huge line-up of great panels. Some 75 papers will be presented across 25 panels, in addition to two plenaries and three keynotes. Some of the hot topics up for discussion in the panels include aid effectiveness, Australian aid, global health, fragile contexts, emerging donors, labour mobility, aid and the private sector, climate change and more. Peter Varghese of DFAT will deliver our opening address, and in her keynote, Kitty van de Heijden will talk about “forging a new development future” in the SDG era. Those attending the conference dinner will hear from former aid Parl Sec Bob McMullan. Plenaries will discuss Asian perspectives on the SDGs and the outcomes of the Paris climate talks. We’ll also be launching the results of our Aid Stakeholder Survey at the conference.
In previous years the conference has sold out in advance, so don’t miss out on your place: register here.
We’re also on the hunt for conference volunteers and two Summer Communications and Events Interns: details here.
Australian aid evaluations forum: development partnerships
Next week we will once again host a lively debate on some of the latest evaluations from DFAT’s Office of Development Effectiveness (ODE). On Wednesday 9 December (9.15am-12.30pm, Barton Theatre), we will discuss an evaluation of the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) and Australia’s non-core funding to the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. It should be a fascinating forum on some important partners to the aid program. Speakers will include staff from DFAT, ACFID and Devpolicy. Don’t miss our last event for the year! Program here and register here.
NGO fundraising costs up, but returns are declining
The efficiency of fundraising in the Australian development NGO sector is on the decline, according to new analysis from Jonathan Wilson, Jonathan Pryke and Stephen Howes. In two posts, they look at the overall performance of the sector on fundraising expenditure, and then look at the fundraising efficiency of individual NGOs. There’s also some interesting comments on the efficacy of NGO fundraising methods—join the discussion.
Who supports and who opposes Australian aid?
In a new discussion paper and two blogs (here and here), Terence Wood further explores survey data on Australians’ attitudes to aid.
In short, people who are more likely to support Australian aid are people who vote Green, have had higher education, are younger, or attend a religious service once a week or more. Of course it is all a lot more complex than that, so read the blogs or the paper to get the full story!
2016 PNG Budget in focus
In a series of two posts (here and here), Paul Flanagan takes a close look at PNG’s 2016 Budget. Paul concludes that even though this was always going to be a tough budget for PNG, and while fiscal consolidation is certainly needed, “more modest expenditure cuts, better prioritization, and revenue reforms would have been a better alternative” to the budget presented.
Paris climate talks: finance and the fine art of negotiation
Ahead of COP21, Stephen Howes set the scene for the negotiations, arguing that the Paris talks are “Europe gambling on China”. In the lead-up, Robin Davies also looked at what would make a respectable financing commitment from Australia. Following PM Turnbull’s pledge in Paris that Australia would provide A$1 billion over the next five years for climate financing, to be drawn from ‘our existing aid program’, Robin argued that this amount is about half of what most observers would consider to be credible. He also showed how Australia’s pledge comes up poorly when compared internationally.
2016 PNG Update
The call for papers for the 2016 PNG Update on 15–17 June 2016 at UPNG in Port Moresby is now open. Find out more details on the website.
Upcoming events
Australian aid evaluations: development partnerships
Wednesday 9 December, 9.15am-12.30pm, Barton Theatre. Register here.
2016 Australasian Aid Conference
10–11 February 2016. Registrations open. Details here.
Blog highlights
Elton John a fan of Australian aid
Ewen McDonald on White Ribbon Day
Femili PNG submission to PNG violence inquiry
On the blog
Declining fundraising efficiency: the story at the individual NGO level by Jonathan Wilson, Jonathan Pryke and Stephen Howes
Climate finance: the Paris opera, and Australia’s (un)supporting role by Robin Davies
PNG Budget 2016 – a detailed analysis by Paul Flanagan
Expenditure in PNG’s 2016 Budget – a detailed analysis by Paul Flanagan
Paris: Europe’s gamble, China’s key by Stephen Howes
The billion dollar bill: Australia’s climate finance requirement, 2016-2020 by Robin Davies
Running faster to stand still: Australian development NGO fundraising costs by Jonathan Wilson, Jonathan Pryke and Stephen Howes
Violence against women must stop by Ewen McDonald
Who opposed Australia’s aid cuts? By Terence Wood
Who supports Australian aid? By Terence Wood
In brief
Fortnightly links: understanding ISIS, democratic leadership, Australian generosity, and more…
Australian aid a tiny dancer compared to UK effort: Elton John
Summer communications and event interns + conference volunteers
Renewables and Melanesia development: events in Sydney and Canberra
Femili PNG submission to parliamentary inquiry into violence against women and children in PNG
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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