Comments

Only one province in PNG has an elderly and People Living with Disability Pension for more than 10 years. World Bank has done so much ground work such as policy which is in place but political will is missing, compounded by sociopolitical and economic issues.

Thank you Australia for this opportunity 🙏 can't wait to apply for this one.

Mbk anna ini setuju bgt, harus disebar luaskan. Terus menulis untuk hal-hal yang hidden gini mbk. Semangat

Totally agree with you, Juliet! I have worked with many expatriates who are good, great and listen.

Thank you, Stephen. Your insights on PNG are much appreciated. Hope to learn more about the context there.

Many thanks, Joy! We're in this together.

Awesome piece, Anna! I FULLY support your thinking. Local is good! Huge congratulations on your new roles as well.

What a great blog! Thank you both so much for sharing these insights and experiences.

Tremendous blog from Anna. On the mark. I have worked in PNG, a place replete with talent if you care to look. Anna’s observations that locals are best placed to negotiate the political economy, embed an intervention as a local solution to a local problem and strengthen partner government ownership of the outcomes is on the money. I shudder to think of the times I have sat in a meeting with local partners who quite correctly levelled the accusation that while the development agency loved to talk partnerships, it didn’t know what a true partnership was. Thank you, Anna for your pertinent advice.

Thanks for the great blog. I agree that we need to change our language, which can help in the process of changing our thinking and the stereotypes and bias behind our language. Perhaps we need to get to the point where the more common refrain heard is: "expatriate, but good, they listen" ...?

I affirm how vital localisation is for developmental work from countries such as Australia and the US. I also suggest local mobilisation as a priority not only for aid recipients but also for donor countries. Recently, we have seen benefits from localisation in foreign countries. In Timor-Leste, USAID and MFAT (N.Z.) committed to the <a href="//www.worldfishcenter.org/press-release/press-release-usaid-and-new-zealand-embassy-join-promote-aquaculture-development”" rel="nofollow ugc">National Aquaculture Development Strategy (2012-2030)</a>. NZ and the US worked with locals and analysed how tilapia fish consumption was high, but so was the price to import it. Tilapia farming increased economic welfare, nutrition and job opportunities. <a href="//www.dfat.gov.au/geo/timor-leste/development-assistance/economic-recovery-in-timor-leste”" rel="nofollow ugc">Australia</a> also assisted by building rural roads, infrastructure grants and education. Groundwork has reaped positive results when local needs are prioritised. Local efforts are effective. But how far does the term ‘local’ spread? I would argue that, as well as the aid-receiving communities, citizens in Western countries can become a part of the localisation efforts. Communities from the US, Australia, NZ and countries involved in developmental assistance programmes can contact local leaders to support foreign aid legislation. NGOs like <a href="//borgenproject.org/”" rel="nofollow ugc">The Borgen Project</a> reach Congress members to advocate for foreign-aid legislation and expand the Federal Budget. Rallying local members is efficacious, as legislation will be offered in the House of Senate (once Congress has heard the public suggest legislation multiple times). Perhaps more discussion for citizens to contact their local electorates and MPS can increase the conversation about localisation and aid projects, as it is a worldwide effort. Overall, local communities' needs are worth supporting. Continuing local mobilisation efforts through donor countries means there is cross-awareness from donor to recipient. Aid-consciousness of western civilians also increases social issues awareness and maintains the accountability of electoral members – keeping important work in place.

Are Timor-Leste workers included in these conditions..? There seems to be very little monitoring and audits on what they are being charged..ex 12 workers in a 4 bdroom house and charged $1800 in a w.a. rural town where the expected rent would be $400 ????