Comments

The field of program evaluation has a body of literature explaining the different types of evaluation use and factors affecting the take up of evaluation findings.

Thanks for the post, Lisa. DT Global is pleased to be one of the organisations participating in this RDI Network initiative. It is a topic of great importance to us, practically and intellectually, and we recognise that we need to explore better ways to address the research/policy/practice intersect in what we do. We are looking forward to our own exploration and in particular the learning we can take from working with this positively diverse peer group.

The full text of the PNG DHS, rather than just the PNG DHS Key Indicators summary, was released on 25 November. The full data set can be downloaded after registering with the DHS program <a href="https://www.dhsprogram.com/data/dataset_admin/login_main.cfm;jsessionid=4D4A488B082C0B5DF77735F25954E061.cfusion?CFID=28872781&CFTOKEN=e74b50cbc2b10c7b-3462F417-A6E4-1B58-C584822C6AC73ADD" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

No mention of the proposed golf courses? Plans for handling refuse? Thank you Michael. So very glad you are still involved and on the ground in Oecussi.

Sadly, there are so many examples around the developing world of this kind of waste: <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-02-10-8601100834-story.html" rel="nofollow">Duvalierville in Haiti</a>, the Basilica built by Houphouët-Boigny in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, and the whole of Nay Pyi Taw (including an airport which sounds very much like the one in Oecusse). Interestingly, Mr Alkatiri's party polled a good deal worse in Oecusse at the last election than they had apparently expected, and from what I heard that reflected a backlash from voters who could see clearly what was going on.

This is a every interesting because it speaks about domestic violence which is something that is a big problem in the country, more specifically South Africa. So, we really do need programs like this. In the community women need more education about the human rights violations so that they can stand up for their rights and our communities need community dialogs so we can invite the men.

Thanks Michael for this insightful piece! I visited Oecussi last year and found heaps of empty hotel left to be half built along the main road. Strategies in coping with these 'development' projects was built upon a vision that might not be envisaged soon.

I would like to thank the author for this article, as it gives another opportunity to shine the spot light on an epidemic that continues to infect our society today. Yes, the root causes should be identified and dealt at the root level. Unfortunately identifying the root causes might require immense time and resources because there may be many root causes contributing to violence against women. Identifying one or two significant root cause contributor of violence against women and addressing it in areas of significant occurrence might have more impact in dealing with this issue. On another note, I appeal to the government to consider addressing this issue more specifically in PNG's long term (Vision 2050), medium term (MTDP III & DSP) and short term (Sector Plans) development goals. That way, resources could be allocated specifically for addressing violence against women and not just for covering a broad topic such as "gender inequality". The government budget (in line with fiscal objectives) can allocate funds as well to identify root causes of violence against women and address one-off expenditures where it is reasonable to do so. Involving the equal participation of women and promoting the empowerment of women can contribute to PNG's economic growth and development however, issues facing women such as violence against women and other forms of oppression will first need to be dealt with.

Obrigado barak Michael. It is really SAD that the basic needs of the the people in Oecusse are put aside in the name of "megaprojects" - which is not even a dream but an illusion far, far, far from the realities of Oecusse. There is a HUGE contrast between the "megaprojects" (building a Luxury hotel (with swimming pool), constructing costly residences for local leaders, and international airport) and the lives of the 'ordinary - mortal' Oecusse people, whose houses are mostly constructed with 'talitahan no piku'. It is good to have big dreams but it has to be based on the reality of a given context, otherwise it is simply an illusion. It is even SADDER to see that some of the Oecusse people would believe in those 'megaprojects' and that one day oecusse would be like Singapore. But I am also aware that those who are into these 'megaprojects' are simply trying to survive in life. As an Oecusse oan, I could only hope that the genuine and goodhearted individuals, groups, organisations, who care (in many different ways) for the people of Oecusse, will continue to do so. It is in these genuine and goodhearted people that the people in Oecusse hope to have a better life in the future. Again, thanks Michael.

Great article Michael. We hope one day someone will be held accountable for all this wasted money while basic services have not improved across the country. Perhaps the responsibility doesn't rest with one group or party, but rather the whole political class.

Thank you Amanda. Indeed the situation has been solved leading to my financial ruin and public disgrace. So far nobody from the University Council has contacted me to apologize, and nobody has offered any kind of reparations. You are right that anybody in PNG can be accused of "false pretence" regarding academic credentials, and there seem to be no way to disprove them. Nobody should expose themselves, and knowledge workers should stay away from the country when they can. None of the universities offer independently or internationally accredited programs, and they are in no position to do so. There is no longer reliable internet on the campuses, so foreign academics can not communicate with their families. There is also inadequate security and no fumigation against malaria mosquitos. On the whole, they offer negative social value. Stay away.

It was all a political witch hunt instigated by the infamous and fantastically corrupt regime of Peter O'Neill, which did not like independent, foreign vice chancellors. In fact, Professor Warren was pushed out shortly after me. The six month long Sevua Inquiry in 2013 cleared my off all allegations of false pretence regarding my academic credentials, and concluded my appointment was legitimate and regular. Several times, I submitted my credentials to the University Registrar, the Department of Higher Education and All this was accepted by the University Council, which in fact renewed my term in 2015. In 2016, I received a positive evaluation on my performance as Vice Chancellor, which included my active internationalisation policy started in 2014. I negotiated and as legal representative signed over 30 international agreements beneficial to the University. From 2014 to 2017, 77 faculty and staff members went abroad to pursue higher degrees or for training. Personally I traveled no more than 70 days per year (less than 30%), meanwhile chairing over 60 meetings per year and answering over 1,100 emails per month. I set up strict cost-minimization, mission approval and reporting procedures, which personally I followed diligently. All this has been extensively documented. The only court case for "false pretence" has been thrown out by the courts on 29 January 2019, because since 2012 my accusers have not been able to produce a shred of evidence. They should be ashamed of themselves. So far nobody has communicated with me to say sorry, or offer any form of reparation. The damage to my health, my family, and personal finances of this episode has been enormous.