Comments

Thank you Dr. Amanda. It is interesting to note 2.8 million active mobile phones owned by almost 2.5 million people. As we all know active mobile phones correspond directly to numbers allocated by each mobile network service provider and captured in their database as active or online. A population census is important now to help telecommunication service providers plan, develop, and strategize their networks to either expand or concentrate into areas worth their ROI or directed by government under Universal Access Service. Missing data on latest population spread and density is indeed needed for forward planning.

Many years down the road now (2021) it never ceases to amaze me how many non-aid-workers (even if there is such a typical thing as an 'aid worker') have an opinion about aid work. Firstly, without a Toyota Landcruiser, a Nissan Patrol, or a Mitsubishi Pajero and the like a) many destinations could not be reached, b) aid work employees would die at increasing numbers in traffic accidents, increasing death and disability insurance liability multifold, c) maintenance and repair costs to keep anything of less quality on the road would skyrocket and d) the numbers of passengers, cargo and equipment that could otherwise be carried would have to be left behind. Secondly, being mostly duty and VAT exempt and in the quantity of (basic non-comfort) field-specs ordered directly from Toyota global, at some point a Landcruiser cost an IO or NGO no more than 17.500 USD ex-works. When sold 3-5 years later at auction they would often bring in between 25.000 and 30.000 USD, actually making fleet operation a fundraising activity. Thirdly, as a university-educated logistician I chose aid as my calling. My wife and kids didn't. Therefore to have me in the field I am no mother Theresa, I don't walk around in flipflops and plain rice and matoke every day would soon put me out of business, so yes, to continue to pay the mortgage and insurances on my house and other assets and interests in The Netherlands, to sustain a life of comfort for me and my family while I put in 60+ hours per week, to not have my family robbed, kidnapped, raped, killed in the streets of a city like Nairobi while they get on with their life as I get on with my work ... my annual payroll, housing, security, international schooling, R&R travel and other support costs to a professional organisation can be anywhere between 100.000 and 200.000 USD. However, I would manage up to 100 vehicles, trucks and drivers, oversee warehousing and distribution of millions of USDs of supplies for tens of thousands of beneficiaries, manage multiple office and operations service support contracts of tens of thousands of USDs, train and coach staff and partners in the field in efficient logistics principles, etc., etc. I'm sorry to say but I am not able to do that for free. Irrespective of all the suffering and meagre future perspectives of the fellow human beings I will try to help alleviate the suffering of during my working life, at some point I will retire in The Netherlands at a standard of living that is commensurate with being a Dutch citizen.

We are at the very trend of surging Covid-19 cases popping up everywhere in the nation. The least that was expected from our representatives (elected MPs) on 20th April, was a deliberate and thorough discussion on the current issue affecting our country and the global community. It was anticipated, a strong and brilliant solution on the current synchronized crises would come about from the government corner to rescue the declining economy, however, nothing eventuated. We are only seeing updates on Facebook. Adjournment of the parliament sitting to August, announced as a health and safety measure, was the only way out for Marape and his team to safeguard their title. Was Marape being ruthless? YES, I'd say. I say this with no political interests but with compassion for the lovely people of this nation. If you walk the streets of Port Moresby (or other towns for that matter) and interview families, you will be heartbroken by their testimonies on how they are surviving in this crises, and question, whether or not, our current government really represents the 8 million plus citizens or represents 56 or 65 (whatever the quorum it is). They are surviving with no formal employment (sacked during lock-down), chased by Police when entering informal employment, living on a deficit budget daily due to rising inflation, and ultimately in fear of contracting covid. The Hurdle is settled but the triple crises (health, economic and education) and the cries of the people is pending till August.

Mark, thanks for the question Let’s distinguish between the behaviours of PNG buyers and sellers when they cross the border to transact in Indonesian Papua. Buyers will be carrying Kina, a currency they are familiar with and would find it confusing to have to convert this to rupiah in order to buy goods priced in the unfamiliar currency of rupiah. Indonesian traders are willing to accommodate them by pricing their goods in kina. The Indonesian authorities also accommodate the trade by setting up currency exchange facilities which enable Indonesians to buy and sell Kina, so that they can trade with PNG’ns. PNG sellers cross the border to sell goods which Indonesian buyers are keen to buy. They demand to be paid in Kina and Indonesian buyers must obtain PNG currency (Kina) by purchasing it through the local currency exchange. But the border closure over the past year or so has prevented PNG buyers going to Pasar Skouw so that Kina are no longer flowing into Indonesia. This means that Indonesian buyers are finding it hard to find Kina to buy goods (such as vanilla) which have been crossing the border from PNG in the the illicit cross border trade.

Dear Rohan, Many thanks for reaching out. Your feedback is much appreciated. You are doing important research on financial inclusion of PNG women which I am sure will inform our own activities. As we know it is normal to have differences of opinion here and there but by and large there is broad agreement in most areas. Your points are well noted. We agree that it is important to have an open discussion about such topics. We look forward to your continued research and articles. Best wishes.

These guys come from the primitive part of PNG and bring in their Caveman mentality. Not all Papua New Guineans are like these primitives. Sometimes we wanted to Break away from the rest of the country be ourselves as peace-loving people.

Update: I checked again. I did actually reference some Papua New Guinean female authors in my blog. This one: https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/143397

To the authors of the blog, thank you for your interest in my research, and for your critique. There are many points I would like to respond to, which I may need a full blog to do. But my main one is that I think my points may have been misinterpreted. Communication can be a difficult endeavour, especially to a wide range of audiences. The research I conducted relates to economic autonomy. Which is an important component of empowerment, but not the only component. One example you highlight is safety. I agree, and I mention this in my blog when I say in paragraph 6 "Of course, economic autonomy is not the only factor that should be taken in to consideration". I also agree that bank accounts can and do help women in PNG. My research does not suggest that bank accounts have no positive impact. Decision-makers should use all information available to them to make the best decision. This may lead to business as usual, a small change, or a bigger one. There are a number of other things, but as I said, I think I need a full blog to respond. I will be interested in your thoughts once I do. Thanks again for the interest and critique. I am sure it will lead to improved clarity and understanding for all.

I would add, sadly, that in the blogs and comments we also do not yet have a Papua New Guinean woman writing or quoted. For my part, the research article I wrote, if not the blog, does quote Papua New Guinean women authors, and of 35 references, the majority of main-authors and co-authors I quote are women. This blog by Chanel and Dahiya does quote Papua New Guinean organisations, and their main reference PFIP has many quotes from Papua New Guinean women, if not as authors. But your point is still valid and as a general comment, there is very much room for improvement in the quoting of and collaboration with Papua New Guinean women authors/researchers.

Thank you for this interesting post. I appreciate the point that a qualitative study building upon Mr Rohan Fox's quantitative data analysis could be useful. In-depth interviews with individuals or groups of people could utilise open-ended questions to unpack some of these issues. This would help to find out about women's experiences, from their perspectives. I have one question. In Mr Fox's piece, he wrote that 'mobile phone-based banking offerings' could be worth considering. I know that there have been considerable discussions on this issue in Papua New Guinea and other Pacific nations. In PNG, a range of digital financial services are offered, including mobile banking and mobile money. What is the view of the authors of this piece? Are these types of offerings relevant for and/or useful for women in PNG? Thanks again for the thought-provoking piece. Amanda

It struck me reading this article (and the one referred to) that we have 3 men discussing about the economic empowerment of women in PNG, and not a single woman is even quoted. C'mon, development sector, we need to do better than this.

Yvonne, Thanks for your response. Yes acknowledging that seasonal work programs are complex systems with a range of active players means that regular feedback loops between these players are needed to make these systems work. These loops are needed whether the focus is day-to-day operational matters or larger, more settled issues. Without established feedback loops, problems escalate leading to ad hoc reactive responses by the players that often do not address the conditions that created the problem.