Comments

I am reminded of a similar assessment by a Zambian economist, Dambisa Moyo who saw aid in Africa as a real 'toxin'. She was upfront in calling this aid "dead aid". Some years earlier an Australian iron lady Helen Hughes saw the same plot in Pacific island countries. I hate to say that unless aid is turned upside down to allow a ground up view, more 'unstable' regions will fall into never ending cycle of corruption, poverty and aid dependency.

This is a really important story that captures some of the detail of how SWP can have meaningful effects on people’s lives so thank you for sharing it. The relationship here mirrors the most positive examples we have seen in Vanuatu with the RSE program in New Zealand. Tanna Farms presents a particularly good example of how this can mature to good effect.

As someone usually buried in the very detailed numbers of gains to GDP of remittance flows, I really loved the personal elements of this post. Thank you Kerry and family! Congratulations to the Development Policy Centre for promoting this as a policy priority. Pleased, as noted by Professor Howes, that this area is getting more prominence in the Government's White Paper. Let's beat the Kiwis! Not just in cricket, netball and in rugby, but also in our labour migration scheme support!

What a exciting and positive story. I really enjoyed reading the story and am thinking, just imagine if more farmers could do that. More Pacific communities could be changed. There is already a strong development process taking place here and both sides are winners. A good development approach when you consider it. Thanks Kerry and your family for your contribution towards this community.

Jim, Thanks very much for this review of an important book. I hate to spoil the plot, but I think it's important to point out that Edwards' conclusion that aid was toxic applies to the period 1961-81. For this period, he gives aid (or donors) a grade of F. For 1981-1994, he gives aid a grade of B-, and for 1996 to 2010, he gives it a grade of B+. This mixed assesment makes it very hard to understand the choice of "Toxic Aid" as the book's title. One can only assume that it was to help promote sales. It's certainly not a fair summary of the book's various verdicts.

Frankly, it is interesting to read this article from a technical advisor from the department of Justice & Attorney General in the previous and current governments of PM Peter O’Neill touching on corruption. As a right person in the knowledge of laws governing law and order in PNG, it would be better if the discussion touches on the factors and limitations affecting the work of the current law enforcing and prosecution bodies. The ordinary citizens of PNG are made to believe that the Ombudsman Commission, Public prosecutor, the police and fraud squad, the Taskforce Sweep and courts are not able to effectively address corruption in PNG, especially white-collar corruption. How good is ICAC to address corruption? The technical advisor to government see corruption as the big elephant in the room, how about limited funding and extreme political interference into the work of the law enforcing and prosecution bodies, is this the scary thing in the room? Leave corruption; focus on improving the mechanics of these organizations to exercise their mandated roles and responsibilities without fear and favour, is this simple or difficult thing to do. As an advisor to government, that was your input into these. What we hear often is that, the above law enforcing and prosecution bodies are often under resourced to effectively carry out their mandated tasks, the team leader for Taskforce Sweep said that one time, Ombudsman Commission and Police fraud squad office expressed the same another time so what is the point of creating ICAC and not funding it. Or are we undermining the current bodies and raise hope into ICAC to address corruption. In the last Alotau Accord, the government included fighting corruption as one of the key development priorities that leads into setting up the Taskforce Sweep. In the current Alotau Accord, no mention of addressing corruption and in fact most PNGans were aware that corruption would not be part of the 2nd Alotau Accord. The ICAC was part of the last Alotau Accord. What was your advice to government then? However, ICAC does not have solution to corruption in PNG, the real problem is the underfunding and extreme interference from top down into the work of existing law enforcing and prosecution bodies that inhibits the work of addressing corruption in PNG. That is everyone’s knowledge and concern, how your government advisory roles incorporates measures to address the existing problem will go a long way to improve corruption then creating new agency and not funding it or, quickly dismantle it when it investigates those who created it just like Taskforce Sweep.

Seventh, effective change usually requires a commitment over many years?

The answers cannot come from outside either. What is needed is to identify the right people from within, build a company with people with same thinking to become a force of change. Removal of European apartheid regime in South Africa, for example, was a product of a 'force of determination" by one man, Madiva, from within Africa itself. Removal of American racism by Martin Luther King Jr, again was an internal solution - someone made up his mind to die for it to save to Afro-Americans and Hispanics. Some good lessons to attend to. This is not to undermine outside help, however it does mean that there has to be an internal "will" to make change.

Thanks Jacqui for a very interesting and relevant article as you also served AusAID for many years so you have both knowledge as a partner (Abt JTA) as well as a donor. As far as I know, the definition of DFAT facilities in Indonesia are not the same with the facility as what you, Senator Wong and Mr. Gilling mentioned as consolidated contracts/programs into single contract manage by single contractor. ‘Facilities’ refers to more flexible ways of doing interventions – in contrast with ‘program’ which usually has its defined outcomes and activities. ‘Facilities’ focuses more on the goal of the investment.

Thank you Mikaela, as a Papua New Guinean from the Western province, I found it really exciting to read that CHWs' work is being brought to the forefront through this article. And appreciate your passion for improved health services back home. The tireless efforts of CHWs are not always acknowledged and usually they are forgotten when it comes to capacity building programs or further training opportunities. Currently, the Australian Government through the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships program offers in country training scholarships for a certificate in CHW Training and in-service candidates an opportunity to upgrade to Diploma and Undergraduate levels. Unfortunately, at completion of training, we’ve seen a significant drift to urban centres with their newfound enhanced skills. You have highlighted some approaches with the use of technology (mobile phones) that would really contribute to improving community health work. And if taken on board, I am sure those approaches can be very successful. I just hope all stakeholders involved in managing our health situation are optimistic, innovative, and caring to serve our people just as the CHWs do. Tank yu tru!

Thanks Yvonne

A good explanation of the problem, but the answer cannot be found within the most corrupt government in the Pacific and one of the most corrupt in the world. Nor should ICAC be introduced by this Government - there is a huge risk of fatal compromise, of which there are already signs. This government is continuing to institutionalise corruption for the benefit of its members.