Development Policy Centre receives Gates Foundation grant
We are delighted to announce support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for our program of research on Australian aid.
The foundation will be supporting us with a grant of US $746,456 over three years to enable us to scale up our research, commentary and analysis on Australian and New Zealand aid.
As a result of this funding, we have been able to hire Terence Wood as a Research Fellow to expand our aid research. Terence, a former NZAID staffer, has just completed his PhD on the politics of development in the Solomon Islands. He also just completed this recent discussion paper on attitudes to ODA and NGO giving in Australia and is a regular contributor to the Devpolicy Blog.
Focus on Pacific migration
Where is the Pacific seasonal worker game changer? Why are Melanesians living in Australia better educated than their Polynesian counterparts? And could the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC) finally be taking steps to facilitate labour mobility in the region?
A three-part series on the blog looks at some of the big questions for Pacific labour mobility. Stephen Howes asks what has happened to the Coalition’s foreign policy promise to investigate the expansion of the Seasonal Worker Program, which is still hamstrung by missed opportunities for reform. Jonathan Pryke and Stephen Howes look at the education levels of Pacific migrants in Australia, which confirm the lack of opportunities for low-skilled Melanesians to migrate. And finally, Stephen asks what the future holds for the APTC, and its promising Tonga pilot.
Careers in development
Many young people are interested in a career in international development. But the popularity of the field also makes it competitive, and it can be tough for students to know where to start.
On 15 October, we will co-host a panel with the ANU Aid and Development Learning Community to give students the chance to hear from those working in the development sector. Speakers include Jacqui De Lacy of Abt JTA; Alwyn Chilver of GRM International; and Devpolicy’s Ashlee Betteridge. If you know someone trying to break into the field, let them know. Register here.
New aid paradigm under the microscope and the Cambodia deal
Robin Davies finished up his six part blog series looking at the new aid paradigm last week, focusing on benchmarks and mutual accountability in the two latest instalments. The full series is collected here. You can also read Robin’s views on aid and the Cambodia refugee deal here.
Upcoming events
Careers in development
Many young people are interested in a career in international development. Join us on 15 October for a panel where students can hear from those working in the field. Register here.
PNG’s lost decade? An assessment of service delivery progress and expenditure reforms
The next PNG budget forum will be held on 30 October at NRI in Port Moresby. It is a free event, open to all. For further details please contact Colin Wiltshire or Ron Sofe.
2015 Australasian Aid Conference
Our annual aid conference will be held on 12-13 February 2015. We are now calling for papers and registrations are open, with early bird pricing until 21 November. For details, visit the website.
Blog highlights
What would make a good budget in PNG? Paul Flanagan sets some criteria.
Robin Davies delves into the Cambodia deal.
Australia puts its money where its mouth is on innovation.
On the blog
The dangers of development NGOs sacrificing accuracy for advocacy by Joanne Wallis
Our health in the Pacific Islands: a deadly storm by Rooney Jagilly, Tenneth Dalipanda and Eileen Natuzzi
Run out of town: aid and the Australia–Cambodia refugee resettlement agreement by Robin Davies
The 2015 Papua New Guinea budget: ten criteria for success by Paul Flanagan
Whither APTC? By Stephen Howes
Pacific islanders in Australia (part 2): why are the Melanesians better educated? By Jonathan Pryke and Stephen Howes
Waiting for the seasonal worker game changer by Stephen Howes
Reflections on the new aid paradigm, part 6: much obliged by Robin Davies
Reflections on the new aid paradigm, part 5: what, me hurdle? By Robin Davies
In brief
Australia gets behind Global Innovation Fund
UPNG hiring round for economists, and more…
This is the fortnightly newsletter of the Development Policy Centre at Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, published every second Friday.
