2015 Australasian Aid Conference: call for papers
After the positive response to this year’s Australasian Aid and International Development Policy Workshop in February, we are pleased to announce that the conference will be back on 12-13 February 2015 at ANU, once again in partnership with the Asia Foundation, but with a slightly shorter name: the 2015 Australasian Aid Conference. The name shortening is for convenience. We are still very interested in, and welcome papers on, the “beyond aid” international development agenda.
As in 2014, the aim of the 2015 Australasian Aid Conference is to bring together researchers from across Australia, the Pacific and Asia who are working on aid and international development policy to share insights, promote collaboration, and help develop the research community.
As we did last year, we are running a call for papers. For more details on how to submit an abstract, visit the website.
Pacific Update
We are gearing up for our annual Pacific Update, which will be held at the Australian National University next week on 16-17 June. Due to larger-than-expected registrations, we have shifted the conference to the Crawford School and Molonglo Theatre. Keynote speakers include Dr Yongzheng Yang of the IMF (16 June, 9am) on “In search of a Pacific model of growth” and Professor Ron Duncan of the Australian National University (17 June, 1pm) on “Reflections on constraints to growth in the Pacific”. You can view the full Pacific Update program here [pdf] and register here. In addition to the economic updates on key Pacific economies, panels will cover topics such as trade, investment, fisheries, labour mobility, regionalism, aid dependency, the resource curse and more.
On Monday evening, we will also be screening a film about the work of Buk Bilong Pikinini, which runs libraries in PNG to promote literacy (16 June, 5.30pm, Molonglo Theatre). BbP founder, Anne-Sophie Hermann, will be present for a Q&A.
The Pacific Update is also back to back with SSGM’s State of the Pacific conference.
PNG Update: calls for government to move on the Sovereign Wealth Fund
Meanwhile, the PNG Update is in full swing with UPNG at Moresby. Day 1 saw more than 400 participants and a full day of presentations and debate, beginning with the PNG Treasurer’s opening address. The PNG Post Courier editorialises today on the need for the government “to move on SWF”, writing: “The Sovereign Wealth Fund was the subject of much discussion at the [Update]. Various speakers called for the need by Government to move swiftly on the fund; we cannot agree more.” We will be posting presentations from the Update on the web shortly.
New publications on PNG and Pacific
Coinciding with our PNG and Pacific Updates, this month we have created two new publications compiling some of the top posts on the Devpolicy Blog about economics and governance in PNG and the Pacific region more broadly. You can pick up a hard copy of these collections at the Pacific and PNG Updates, or download the publications as PDF files here.
Submission on the role of the private sector in aid
Robin Davies and Margaret Callan of Devpolicy made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into the role of the private sector in development. In it, Robin and Margaret summarise private sector involvement in the aid program so far and make seven recommendations for DFAT and the government. The submission is now available online and the authors will be summarising it in a blog post next week.
Blog highlights
Measured the right way, India’s aid is bigger than Australia’s.
Robin Davies against tied aid and on Australia’s surprising decision to continue GEF funding.
What can Australia learn from DFID’s criticised private sector efforts?
Blog summary
You can find a list of all posts since our last newsletter on 30 May in the list below.
Aid cuts wildly popular says poll … (or does it?) by Benjamin Day
Tinned fruit, anyone? Tied aid rides again by Robin Davies
A glass half full for New Zealand aid by Terence Wood and Joanna Spratt
Is India’s aid bigger than Australia’s? By Stephen Howes and Jonathan Pryke
A nice backflip on climate change financing: Australian funding for the Global Environment Facility by Robin Davies
The Global Partnership for Education: CEO Alice Albright on opportunities and challenges by Alice Albright and Jonathan Pryke
The New Zealand aid programme and policy coherence for development by Ed Challies
Robert Chambers’ ox: a personal reflection on participatory work by John McKinnon
In brief
Bishop to launch aid benchmarks at National Press Club
Lessons for Australia from DFID’s underperforming private sector development efforts
75% of Australians think poverty reduction most important for aid: Lowy Poll
