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Michael Igoe from Devex puts a slightly more positive spin on the situation (from a non-Trump point of view) suggesting that the possibility of an opposing candidate winning creates significant pressure to put forward someone credible - citing that member countries rejected Trump's pick for the International Organisation for Migration. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (also an American citizen now) a potential challenger (or nominee). Link: https://www.devex.com/news/the-world-bank-presidential-race-heats-up-94140

Interesting to hear that Nationals are now voicing and taking an active lead in this space. I have worked as for AusAID and now DFAT for the past 10 years and do identify with many of the sentiments being raised by these health workers. We have truly come 360 on many of not all of the points that are being raised. An example is the communication strategy; this has been on the cards for quite some time. I have also seen that compared to other sectors the health sector is by far one that is awashed with donors and development partners. Huge transaction costs on the part of the MHMS is one that needs to be managed well. Otherwise PHDs and staff are caught reacting to external requests rather than doing the actual implementation itself. A refreshing read. Kudos to you fellow nationals.

January 1st this year was to be the cut-off date for mobile phone users in district towns in PNG to register their mobile phone SIM cards, or face deactivation. Have any readers had their phones deactivated? Or heard of anyone’s phone being deactivated? District towns on the list for deactivation at the start of this year included Arawa and Buin in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Chuave and Kerowagi in Chimbu Province, Bogia and Gusap in Madang Province, Namatanai in New Ireland Province, Malalaua in Gulf Province, and similarly sized district centres in most other provinces. January 1st 2019 was also the cut-off date for provincial centres Wabag (Enga Province), Tari (Hela Province) and Mendi (Southern Highlands). These three provincial towns had been given five extra months for registration due to the substantial disruption caused by a huge earthquake early in 2018. Rural and remote users have until May 1st this year to register their mobile phone SIM cards before their phones are deactivated. I think this staged approach to deactivations seems to be a good idea. It has certainly given rural and remote users more time to register. It will be interesting to see how many phones are deactivated on May 1st. Experiences and thoughts of readers and mobile phone users would be welcome.

Sir Julius will always be one of the few genuine leaders this country has had the honor of being served. Downright humility in leadership style, no nonsense in decision making and being able to back it up with resource and of funding. If PNG had a few more Sir Julius', we would have been better off in all aspects of a developing nation on all fronts. He will continue to inspire many of us long after he sets sail for that resting place for natural born leaders like him... God Sir J and PNG...

Thanks Richard. You've shed light by highlighting most of the issues preventing many Papua New Guineans benefiting from the SWP. PNG has to come up with a strategy that can work better, however that's not possible in a country where bribery is prevalent. I'd support the idea of involving the mainline churches who can be trusted. There are also a good number of private and non-governmental organizations that operate in both countries.

Aid is many things, but it is largely portrayed/seen as a charity, in a rudimentary manner. This portrayal is one-sided, self-serving, reductive. Perhaps a fuller and fairer description of aid is 'benevolent self-interest'. As a form of helping hand, aid is an investment in people and countries, with the benefits of good aid projects also accruing to the investor in many forms, including economic, diplomatic, etc. If the benefits are not seen/felt in the short term, then certainly in the long term. Most people understand investment in the cold, hard, conventional, neo-liberal sense. Perhaps if Aid is explained, portrayed and sold as investment, there will be a greater level of public understanding/acceptance. Research on the return on investment should be prioritised and it should also be publicised. Reports on aid projects show spectacular failures, yes, but also some stellar successes.

The Solomon Islands health systems do not have functioning financial management system in health sector. No standard to regulate healthcare financial management. Major challenges has been in budgeting, creation of financial statements for decision making, ability to use financial statements for strategic planning, et cetera. Sadly, past AUSAID financial consultants did nothing to improve financial management in health sector. In my observations the AUSAID consultants were satellite desks of Canberra rather than building capacities and empowerment in Solomon Islands.

Thank you Francisca. We will be returning to Lae this year to share the research findings with stakeholders through a workshop. This may be an opportunity for you to attend and meet other stakeholders in Lae and Morobe. It would also be great to hear more about your work. My email is michelle.rooney@anu.edu.au. Please feel free to contact me to follow up on the timing of the workshop.

An excellent study, I am interested to know how we ( Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program) can partner with your organisation in order to get this program into the rural villages of YUS LLG in Kabum district ( Morobe Province) where the program has worked in for over the past 21 years, and FSV, seems to be on an increase and I would very much be interested to meet up with you, to further discuss further opportunities in terms of partnership and networking with you all. Thanks,

Hi Jonathan, Thankyou for a most informative and timely phenomenon. I was thinking about that in the context of the changing environments in the Pacific Islands and within the economies of these countries, and thought to myself that these changes in climate changes, the challenges in relationships domestically, the socio-economic woes of lack of health and education services and etc., are leading to little to nil productivity and employment opportunity. Labour mobility is a sure way of helping many island countries with their people sending money back home which will end in time when communities as you have mentioned will grow in New Zealand and Australia. It is interesting that you mention Melanesia, initially, laboour mobility to Australia from PNG happens where employment is secured. Where people have no land (where I come from) on the southern part of PNG, the young will opt for employment even in NZ and Australia. The seasonal fruit picking programme in New Zealand is one with those who worked in mining companies now working overseas. Not all of them, but it is the beginning of a trend which will grow because of the opportunities that exist there. Land is abundant in Melanesia and thus opportunities are many however the Government needs to support more in terms of helping more with buy and sell, even markets in Australia and NZ and USA be more accommodating simply because if they are not, then China, India etc., will come to Melanesia to stay irrespective of ideology, political bias, religion, cultural affinities etc.. A man needs food and money to look after their families. If China can bring health services straight to the village, who is to ask what? My thoughts... Regards, Alurigo

Hi Jonathan, I'm Papua New Guinean and I'd have to agree with Del Ken. Moving back home after working abroad is the preference for us. With more experience gained abroad PNGeans can come back to the Corporate sector, the government or NGOs. In addition, and that's if you own land, traditionally, you are expected to come back and settle and claim it or else your descendents will have no inheritance and therefore be considered outsiders. Maintaining a connection to his land and culture is significant.

Thanks Amanda. The phones against corruption initiative is not captured in these figures as we focus on anti-corruption organisations funded by the national government. You are right, this initiative has had some wins, although there are challenges around scaling it up, as your and Colin Wiltshire's fascinating discussion paper highlights.