Debating RAMSI
Last year, we ran a number of blog posts to mark the tenth anniversary of RAMSI. The series ran to 13 articles, making a collection that deserved to be put together – which we have, in this volume [pdf]. Stephen Howes and Terence Wood summarise the wide range of views on the progress or regress of Solomon Islands, and the success or failure of RAMSI in this blog post.
Service delivery at risk in PNG
Our Promoting Effective Public Expenditure (PEPE) project recently held its fourth budget forum at the National Research Institute in Port Moresby, with more than 120 participants in attendance. Our analysis [pdf] of the 2014 PNG Budget argued that further massive increases in the development budget and slow revenue growth threaten the ability of the government to fund core frontline service delivery functions. Dr Ken Ngangan, PNG’s new Finance Secretary, presented [pdf] on reforms underway to improve accountability and transparency of expenditure. Paul Baker, Director of PNG’s Institute of National Affairs, hit the headlines with his call for government spending to be better prioritised.
Further analysis of PEPE survey results were presented on PNG’s free education [pdf] and health policies [pdf]. While the tuition fee-free policy has increased school enrolments, average class sizes are increasingly exceeding government limits, which will require more teachers and classrooms. Health survey data indicates health facilities are mostly starved of funding and user fees are their most reliable source of revenue to deliver basic services. Dr Scott Dooley, Administrator of the Nazarene Hospital, Jiwaka Province, presented [pdf] on how the free primary health care policy will create significant funding shortfalls for his hospital.
2013 Annual Report
The digital version of our 2013 Annual Report is now available [PDF]. Please take a look. For a hard copy of the report, contact Macarena Rojas.
Seeking Research Fellows
We are currently recruiting for one or more Research Fellows to join the Development Policy Centre. We are looking for outstanding early or mid-career researchers with a strong commitment to high-quality, policy-based research; a PhD in economics, public policy or a related field; and expertise in one or more of the three fields in which the Centre specialises (Australian aid effectiveness, development in PNG and the Pacific, global development policy).
We are particularly interested in anyone who might have an interest working on and in PNG.
More details on selection criteria and the application process are available at ANU Jobs. If you have questions, contact us at devpolicy@anu.edu.au.
Aid policy: insights for policymakers and practitioners
Devpolicy Director Stephen Howes will be teaching a one-day Executive Course at the Crawford School on May 16 introducing aid policy and literature and the major debates. Watch a short video of Stephen explaining the course here, read about it here or get registration details here. It’s an excellent opportunity for those working on aid in the newly integrated DFAT, or in other government departments, to gain an understanding of the issues in aid policy.
Upcoming events
2014 Aid Budget Breakfast
The Federal Budget will be handed down on May 13, and we will once again be holding an event the very next morning to break down what it means for aid. Register here.
The Age of Choice
Annalisa Prizzon from ODI will present case studies illustrating how developing countries are managing the new aid landscape in an event on May 22. Register here.
2014 PNG and Pacific Update
The PNG Update will be at the University of PNG in Port Moresby on June 12-13 and the Pacific Update will here at ANU on June 16-17. More details on both here.
Blog highlights
New ANU research shows foreign aid improves recipient public opinion of the US.
Is a public-private hospital partnership bankrupting Lesotho’s Ministry of Health?
Robin Davies on why DAC ODA did increase last year after all.
Blog summary
You can find a list of all posts since our last newsletter on April 17 in the list below.
Behind the ODA curtain: why did global aid rise in 2013? By Robin Davies
The high cost of cheap water supply and sewerage services in Kiribati by Allison Woodruff
Debating RAMSI by Stephen Howes and Terence Wood
Beating the trolls of competition and control – can we do it? By Cath Blunt
Doing well by doing good: foreign aid improves opinions of the US by Benjamin E. Goldsmith, Yusaku Horiuchi and Terence Wood
The need for leadership and ambition in Australian development policy by Bob McMullan
In brief
Commission of Audit recommends flat aid and independent ODE
Digicel and Bemobile at Vision City
The ADRI-Sustineo Pacific Index – measuring commitment to development in the Pacific
IMF joins economic monitoring party in the Pacific
Want your own immigration queue? Host Australian asylum seekers
