Comments

From Robyn Alders on Bikpela wok na liklik mani: smallholders’ decisions on cash crops in PNG
Thanks Mike for this excellent piece of work. It's really important that the factors influencing farmer-decision making be better understood.
From Joanne Crawford on Migration seems to be shifting gender norms in Tonga
It would be helpful to know who in households were surveyed given issues around adequacy and accuracy of household surveys generally and specific issues with proxy respondents. Multiple members? Or one person, providing responses about themselves and others?
From Cameron Hill on A shot at the title: why DFAT should change its name
Thanks, Andrew. To steal from the title of a previous blog, perhaps we can at least hope for an "improved omelette": https://devpolicy.org/improving-the-omelette-the-case-for-a-deputy-secretary-for-development-20180123/
From Andrew Rowell on A shot at the title: why DFAT should change its name
Good stuff Cameron. I also put in a short sub to the DFAT Aid Policy Review based around this point - hoping that a one-para, one-idea submission might stand a better chance of being noticed than some of the omnibus contributions! On the one hand it's a symbolic change, but on the other it's a continuing signal to the public, the media, international community and DFAT staff themselves that this development stuff is back on the agenda and warrants serious attention. I also agree w Scott that we shouldn't write off unscrambling the egg given the issues he raises around organisational culture, and Minister Conroy's comments reported today on AusAID and DFAT are certainly interesting in that regard.
From Cameron Hill on A shot at the title: why DFAT should change its name
Thank you, Scott. I agree that legislated/statutory development agency would certainly be an advance (and it wouldn't be inconsistent with Australia's "national interests", broadly conceived), but it is unlikely in the current circumstances. In our submission to the development policy, Terence Wood and I have argued for a legislated aid budget framework: https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/new-international-development-policy-submission-development-policy-centre-australian-national-university.pdf There's no reason that such legislation couldn't also include development effectiveness requirements, an idea that Labor took to the 2016 election: https://electionwatch.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1971147/Tanya-Plibersek-transcript-foreign-aid.pdf We've also recommended a stand-alone, legislated Development Finance Institution in our submission to DFAT's development finance review: https://devpolicy.org/publications/submission-to-dfat-development-finance-review-2022/ The Minister has offered some further thoughts on development capability and leadership in DFAT here: https://goodwillhunterspodcast.com.au/episodes/episode-2-the-dna-of-development-with-minister-pat-conroy/
From Raphael Merx on Local leadership in donor-funded programs
“Local, but good.” what an awful phrase. And what a well-written blog! Really convincing argument about presumably more neutral internationals vs better networked locals too. Another incentive for local staff to deliver better results is that they can't just "game the system" and leave the country, which is an option for internationals.
From Jo Pradela on Feminism up in lights: the chance of a decade
Thanks Juliet!
From Scott Bayley on A shot at the title: why DFAT should change its name
It is certainly possible to unscramble the egg although it would be expensive and it would end the practice of using the aid program to cross subsidise the foreign affairs function. The cultures of diplomacy and development aid are not very compatible. A short term vs long term focus, please elites vs systems and community development, etc. The Australian aid program should be recreated as a statutory authority with a clear purpose and mandate. This would help to insulate the aid program from the political opportunism that has been the cause of so many project failures.
From Athman Ali on Local leadership in donor-funded programs
Local IS good... love it. This issue has a nasty side effect... it sets qualified local staff up for a path to lower earnings for the rest of their lives... regardless of how competent they are. Every organization I know asks for salary history before giving an offer... regardless of what the job is. Results in huge inequity. A minor change in hiring for what the job requires and offering remuneration based on what the job requires can go a long way in solving this inequity.
From Phoebe Ryan on Feminism up in lights: the chance of a decade
Love your work, Jo! Great piece.
From nolly on Why were so many MPs re-elected in Papua New Guinea’s 2022 elections?
Interesting
From Jotam on Changes in Papua New Guinea’s fresh food marketplaces
Thank you Bill for your support to Kelta Potatoe Ltd. I agree that transportation is a challenge for farmers especially from the Highlands region, who market to Port Moresby. If interested, please refer to my earlier article on a value-chain analysis. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/shipping-cost-obstacle-fresh-produce-subsector-png-jotam-sinopane/ I hope to publish a brief on our report - am not at liberty to share the complete report. Warm regards
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