AAC abstracts: last call
If you’re planning to submit an abstract or panel proposal for the 2017 Australasian Aid Conference (AAC), you still have time – but not much! Submissions will close on October 16. The AAC covers a wide range of topics related to aid and international development, and offers excellent opportunities to network with academics and practitioners from around the region and the world. So don’t delay – check the call for papers and access the submission portal here.
Meanwhile, the conference continues to shape up. We’re pleased to announce our second plenary session on “Asian approaches to engaging the private sector in development cooperation,” sponsored by our co-hosts The Asia Foundation, with speakers from India, Korea, China and Australia.
Organized crime in the Pacific: a new crime genre
While organised crime comes in a variety of guises, a new discussion paper by Grant Walton and Sinclair Dinnen argues that organised crime in the Pacific is best framed as a nexus between political elites and seemingly licit actors.
They propose that the systematic weakening of crime prevention and oversight institutions, the unregulated transnational movement of goods, money and people, and the shifting nature of politics and international diplomacy across the Pacific provide greater opportunities for this type of organised crime. In a blog on the same subject, they argue that tackling it will require policy makers to focus their efforts on transnational business and political elites, rather than the types of tattooed gang members that are usually associated with the term ‘organised crime’.
SCF@Nauru
Controversially, Save the Children took the contract to look after asylum seeker children in Nauru, and held it from August 2013 to October 2015. In his public lecture The Nauru Dilemma, on 17 October at 1230pm, the SCF CEO Paul Ronalds will reflect on the experience, and the dilemmas involved.
ADB@50
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) was founded 50 years ago. Our panel discussion on 26 October at 10am will feature experts from the ANU and Lowy as well as ADB VP Stephen Groff discussing the future of the ADB.
PNG Update
Now confirmed for November 3 and 4 at the UPNG Waigani Campus in Port Moresby, with sessions on the PNG macroeconomy, education, gender, sustainability, urban, health, private sector, development strategies, the drought, and roads. Program and contact details here. Attendance is free, and registration not required.
Greg Taylor scholarship for Pacific and PNG scholars
A reminder that we are still accepting expressions of interest from Pacific and PNG scholars interested in undertaking a short research placement at Devpolicy in 2016-17. Applications are accepted from students currently studying at an Australian university, and from new and emerging scholars from the Pacific and PNG. The role will see students engaged in research, with a focus on economics, for up to three months. For more information, please visit our website. Applications close October 17.
Welcome to new staff
This week Devpolicy welcomes new staff and farewells existing ones. We are joined by Henry Sherrell, a Research Officer specializing in labour mobility, and Macarena Rojas, who resumes her position as Program Officer after maternity leave. We also farewell and thank Husnia Hushang, who did a great job while Maca was away.
Upcoming events
The Nauru dilemma
1230–130pm, Monday 17 October, Acton Theatre, Crawford School, ANU. Register here.
ADB@50: what does the future hold?
10–11.30am, Wednesday 26 October, Barton Theatre, Crawford School, ANU. Register here.
Strengthening public financial management reform in Pacific Island countries
1-230pm, Monday 31 October, Barton Theatre, Crawford School, ANU. Register here.
PNG Update 2016
3–4 November, Waigani Campus, UPNG, Port Moresby. Details here.
Economic diversification and tax reform in Papua New Guinea
1230-130pm, 8 December, Barton Theatre, Crawford School, ANU. Register here.
Australasian Aid Conference 2017
15–16 February, Crawford School, ANU. Event details here.
Blog highlights
Problems with CGD’s migration index
Breaking Pacific gender barriers
On the blog
The dark side of economic globalisation: politics, organised crime and corruption in the Pacific by Sinclair Dinnen and Grant Walton
Pacific diabetes prevalence: lower than reported by Richard Taylor and Paul Zimmet
Agile aid for fragile states by Andrew Leigh and Claire Moore
Third-best in class? Australia’s migration policies through a humanitarian lens by Robin Davies
PNG through the lens of Australian newsprint media by Anthony Swan
The perils of quantifying corruption by Tatia Currie and Stephen Howes
The highest glass ceiling by Kerryn Baker
Teacher development evaluations by Robert Cannon
In brief
Fortnightly links: development unicorns, sweatshops, Afghan aid, cobalt, and more
Oil Search Foundation seeks Head of Signature Programs
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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