Comments

Hi Bryant, Indeed you're correct, not specifically for youth: for all generations. I do not know about the European Union EU-SREIT Project in East Sepik. Tom

Hello Sadhana, The advice provided in the app is not only relevant to PNG, but very much generalisable for any cocoa farmers throughout the world (it is mostly in English, with farmer testimonies in Tok Pisin). FYI: In the first week of the app launch (17 June - 24 June), we saw over 100 downloads - ~80% from PNG, but also some downloads from outside of PNG (countries in Africa and also Israel). There is incredible promise that ACIAR could and should certainly promote the app for use in other cocoa growing countries. Tom

Is the App and advise given relevant and accessible to Cocoa farmers in the wider Pacific region and if not, could ACIAR extend it to be of use to regional farmers too?

Another seemingly important extension project for cocoa, although not specifically for youth, is the European Union EU-SREIT Project in East Sepik.

Thank you for your kind comment, Sarah. For one way forward I recommend you look up the work done by Paskal Kleden. Details are in the references in my book. If you experience any difficulties, do let me know using the email address on the book’s copyright page. Best wishes.

I’m struggling to reconcile how Australia can “emerge as a global climate leader” when our domestic activities provide no such evidence. On the domestic front, Australia has approved the closure of several major coal-fired power stations (e.g. Liddell (2023), Eraring (planned 2025), and Yallourn (planned 2028)). However, these emissions reductions are being exceeded by the approval and advancement of new fossil fuel projects such as North West Shelf oil and gas project, Scarborough gas, Barossa gas, and Mount Pleasant coal expansion which will add tens of millions of tonnes of CO₂-equivalent annually, and billions over their lifetimes. Even with our push for EVs, promotion of RE and adaptation finance, our domestic emissions cannot be ignored. Is the bar so low for global climate leadership?

Really enjoyed your article Robert, working with a small NGO for a lot of years, the team decided that rather than 'making the best of things' in reporting they were going to say things how they really were for a range of donors. None of them wanted to hear it. Big programs that did not address the actual fundamental issues continued because the lack of trackable change was neatly attributed to outside 'unavoidable' problems, not to the fundamental things the program could not change. The disjoint where aid is primarily about soft power and carrots, for which you really need to be nice and friendly, I can't see how it could really change? Genuine co-design that can design projects to work around or in spite of systems could be a way forward, but are not going to be popular with government donors. Very interested to understand more. We gave up and started a social enterprise, useful for farming but not going to shift the dial at scale.

Thank you, Miranda, for offering some hope in what seemed to be an appalling situation.

Thanks to you both for the analysis. I wonder if there is another aspect to strengthening security that requires the Pacific to increase its financial independence. Pacific nations have long been marginalized in global finance, reliant on donor-driven aid and external systems that ignore their unique challenges. As you state, geopolitical rivalries, particularly between the US and China, and worsening climate crises underscore the urgent need for financial sovereignty. For example, the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) emerges as a transformative solution, promoting regional ownership with an initial US50 million capitalization, aiming for US50millioncapitalization,aiming for US1,500 million by 2030. Unlike traditional aid, PRF will seek to integrate diverse funding sources and disburse through national systems, ensuring sustainability. Governed by Pacific leaders, it can prioritise local needs like climate resilience and sustainable energy. Beyond PRF, the Pacific must challenge outdated global finance structures that foster dependency and divert resources. By embracing innovative, Pacific-led models, the region can address vulnerabilities, balance mitigation with adaptation, and extend self-determination to trade and security, securing a resilient, autonomous future on their terms.

am really interested am from Papua new guinea I wish I could get a chance in farming

Really a great post, thanks

It would be good if more significant/substantial partners reviewed us say Vietnam and/or Indonesia but then there’s the risk of being afraid of biting the hand that feeds. The other option is to have major players who don’t have an interest such as India or South Africa.